I've only ever used the Internet from work.
How much will ALL the gear cost to get set up at home ?
2007-11-01 05:54:13 · 8 answers · asked by Kearney Zzyzwicz 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet ➔ Other - Internet
Cheapo computer. The cheapest that you can get. Even a secondhand grinder that's 5 years old will do the job.
Whatever the salesmen in PC World etc. may tell you, even the fastest internet doesn't need a PC with a super high-speed processor or huge RAM or disc.
Only proviso, if you want broadband then it'll need an Ethernet socket.
New PC from Novatech starts at £286.70 including Vista.
Choose your ISP. There are a huge number of deals on the market.
When you're comparing prices note that unless you have a cable tv line running down your road you have no choice but to use a BT line whatever ISP you use. If you have a phone already then the rental of that line is probably already budgeted.
Some ISPs combine internet with phone calls and tv packages (e.g. SKY, Virgin and BT). Remember to make allowances for these when you're comparing costs.
ISPs also vary in the 'extras' provided.
Eg. BT includes an on-line vault for archiving (back ups) your files and a photo sharing system. BT also inlcude Norton Internet Security with their Option 2 & 3 packs. But they're not the cheapest. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Also look at your download limits, download speeds and email storage capacity.
Tiscali start at £6.49/month, but it's restricted.
Orange claim from £4.50/month.
BT from £8.95/month
They should all provide you with a "free" broadband modem-router, telephone socket filters, modem-filter lead and ethernet CAT5 cable (without which you cannot connect PC to router).
The main difference between them is probably in the way that their customer service behaves when you have a fault. This is similar to the difference between car insurance companies (the cheapest is ok until you make a claim).
The underlying service reliability, can be quite a significant issue. Also, I've noticed that Tiscali tends to have more failures than other major ISPs (I know, some people will have never had a problem. Good for them!). You don't want to be paying for a service which is U/S for a lot of the time.
Interestingly, BT-Yahoo is probably the most reliable service by a very long way. Which is just as well because their customer service (by foreign call centre) is lousy (unless you like the "press # now" menu things).
So there you go. From scratch to broadband for less than £300 startup and less than £10/month + BT line rent.
I hope this is an adequate answer.
2007-11-01 06:32:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dial up costs you nothing but a phoneline and cabel dsl varries from company to company.
I have cabel dsl,the internet alone cost $39.00 a month and they do install your high speed modem for you.
I went with a package deal, high speed internet, telephone with free long distance calling and digital cabel TV all for $99/99 a month.
2007-11-01 06:02:32 · answer #2 · answered by doc_holliday1863 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
depends wot u r after
most providers will give u a free router most of em wireless nowadays.
£14.99 is an average price that will include a free router and more than likely be 12 month contract with unlimted downloads u can cheaper it all depends wot u r gonna be using it for and wot speeds u want do a search on google for "wireless broadband"
2007-11-01 05:59:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if you live in ireland,perlico is the cheapest...
really it depends who you buy it from.
Broadband,in my opinion,is the best value.You have a set bill and can go online as much as you like.
Or you could use dial-up,where you only pay for the amount of minutes you spend online.But this is very slow...and interupts with your phoneline(i.e. while you're online you cant take calls from a landline.)
2007-11-01 12:47:38 · answer #4 · answered by jezi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a public access for the Internet, do not do it from work because you could be fired. Go to places (sites) that sell complete computers.
Computer, keyboard and mouse = $350.00
Monitor, LCD, Plasma = $150.00
NIC CARD (To start do not go wireless) = $25.00
Cat 5 = $25.00
Cable, DSL = cable $40.00 - $80.00, DSL $19.00 - $50.00 (monthly recurring charges)
Installation = $50.00
Approximately $600.00
2007-11-01 06:09:49 · answer #5 · answered by dick_bee_bad 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you have sky TV you can have 16meg broadband, they will come and set it all up for free and its onl £10 per month with unlimited downloads
2007-11-01 07:24:48 · answer #6 · answered by alan v 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are with BT then get yourself onto bt broadband option 3 you get everything you need to set up and get you started.
2007-11-01 06:00:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Free internet if you've got an orange phone contract.
2007-11-01 05:58:40 · answer #8 · answered by heebygeeby 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋