Internet Access

Find the best broadband service

CNET reviews ISPs Comcast, Yahoo DSL, and EarthLink and Cingular's EDGE service.

By Elsa Wenzel (November 11, 2005)

Figuring out how to set up Internet access at home can be enough to make your head spin. Depending on where you live, you may have too many or too few choices for an Internet service provider. No matter whether you're the tech head of the household or you cower away from CAT cables, you just want to get online and stay connected without a hassle.

We checked out high-speed cable Net access from Comcast, DSL connectivity from Yahoo and EarthLink, as well as take-it-with-you mobile cellular services from Cingular. Cable is the most expensive option, although DSL service requires a telephone line. Unlike DSL providers, Comcast cable Web access doesn't incur early cancellation fees because no contract is required.

Should you get cable or DSL? The options aren't so boundless, but the more remote your home, the fewer choices you may have. So if your neighbors have shut you out of the Wi-Fi network you were surfing for free, and you can't wait for free wireless access to magically appear from your city or from Google, you'll need to pay for the pipeline to get you connected to the Internet. Look to the search tools on our Internet access page to find out which companies serve your neighborhood.

	Comcast High-Speed Internet	Yahoo DSL	EarthLink DSL	Cingular EDGE
CNET rating	6.3	7.3	7.8	6
Service type	Cable	DSL	DSL	Mobile cellular
Pros	No contract; fast; reliable	Easy to install, strong security and support	Provides backup dial-up service if DSL goes down; strong security and support	Surf, send e-mail, and IM on the road
Cons	Pricey	$200 to cancel contract early	Must set up through telephone line and company; $149 to cancel contract early	Pricey; limited speed; can't handle multimedia content
Storage	175MB; 2GB of newsgroup downloads	11 e-mail accounts with 2GB storage each	Eight 10MB e-mail addresses with 10MB of Web space each
Freebies	Web hosting; Simple Star's PhotoShow Deluxe software; 25 stations from Rhapsody Radio Internet radio; Comcast Games Channel	Free Yahoo services include GeoCities Web hosting with 15MB	EarthLink's free Trellix site builder; EarthLink Jukebox for buying music
Speed advertised	6Mbps to 8Mbps downloads; 15Mbps in select regions		Up to 3Mbps	70Kbps to 135Kbps
Speed tested by CNET	3Mbps	926Kbps to 1151Kbps for DSL Express	298.7Kbps
Equipment costs	Rentals: $3/month cable modem; $5/month modem/wireless router	$99 modem; $199 DSL router; steep rebates available	$200; free with limited-time offer	Must have a compatible Cingular smart phone.
Installation	$99-$149 or free self-install	$200 or self-install	Self-install; hardware kit and directions provided	No installation
Cost	$43/month for 6Mbps downloads; $53/month for 8Mbps	$14.95/month for SBC Yahoo DSL Express; $24.95/month DSL Pro with a one-year contract; $49.95 for DSL Express, or $55.99 for DSL Pro	$19.95/month for six months; thereafter $39.95/month	$19.99/month for 5MB, plus 8 cents per additional KB; $79.99/month unlimited; international roaming 1.95 cents/KB
Extras to buy	Long coaxial cable; Ethernet cable	Requires telephone landline	Microfilters for more than one phone or phone line
Security	Includes McAfee's VirusScan and Personal Firewall Plus software	Includes Norton AntiVirus; Computer Associates' antivirus software	Includes EarthLink Protection Center; free Authentium antivirus protection; free firewall; ScamBlocker; SpamBlocker; Pop-Up Blocker; parental controls
Support	24/7 phone and e-mail chat	24/7 phone and Web-based support	24/7 phone; online chat weekdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.	Monitor account through Cingular Connection Manager
Company also offers	Cable TV service	Dial-up	Dial-up, Wi-Fi coming to Philadelphia
	Comcast High-Speed Internet	Yahoo DSL	EarthLink DSL	Cingular EDGE

Read the CNET editor's take

Comcast High-Speed Internet

SBC Yahoo DSL

EarthLink DSL

Optimum Online

Cingular EDGE service

More resources:

CNET Bandwidth Meter

Municipal Wi-Fi map

Internet access services

Networking resources

Quick guide to small-business networking

Web hosting reviews

	Comcast High-Speed Internet Comcast High-Speed Internet is fast and reliable, but it's pricey when compared with DSL services. 6.3 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices
	SBC Yahoo DSL SBC Yahoo lacks some features found with other ISP plans, but you can't beat its low-cost, high-speed price. 7.3 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices
	EarthLink DSL EarthLink DSL service is perfect for the home user who wants broadband speed without paying cable prices. 7.8 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices
	Optimum Online Cablevision's Optimum Online service reliably connects you with data, TV, and telephone service, but it's pricey and weak on support. 5.8 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices
	Cingular EDGE service Cingular's EDGE service isn't the fastest or cheapest cellular data service in the land, but it is among the most widely available. 6.0 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices