Cablevision Optimum Online (CT/NY)
Written: Sep 13 '00 (Updated Sep 01 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Always connected, fast downloads
Cons: Need a firewall..
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend Optimum Online. No waiting to connect. Phone line open. Download speed amazing.
|
|
|
| mcswarsik's Full Review: Cablevision Optimum Online (CT/NY) |
I originally had dial-up access through my local phone company. (SNET)It was OK but occasionally I couldn't get online. Moving from page to page was slow. Downloads took forever. But the one thing that got me to finally take the plunge to High Speed Cable Internet Access with Cablevision Optimum Online (CT/NY) was the day my daughter got sick at school. I was home, using the computer and they couldn't get through as we only had the one phone line. Our elderly neighbor is on the list of people to call and I felt bad when she came over to tell us.
Now I'll never go back to dial up and the slow loading pages. Downloads that took 20-30 minutes before, now take 1-2 minutes or even faster. Up to 100X faster. No waiting to connect..You're always online. Your connection is through the same fiber optics line as your TV. Photos upload instantly, unlike with phone line connections were pictures do a striptease in reverse.
I had to pay $150.00 (at The WIZ) for the digital cable modem (DOCSIS compliant). They have specials from $100 to $125. The present modem is designed of ONE computer. For additional modems, it's an extra $19.95 monthly.
How to get the moden
You can buy it and sign up for OptimumOnline at any The Wiz or
Call Toll Free for more info 1-888-4-OPTIMUM
You can have it shipped to your home via UPS
The cost is $29.99 a month if you have Cablevisions Family Cable Package or Higher, which is cheaper than DSL and not much more than AOL. If you just get the high speed access without the cable package, it costs $39.99 a month. You receive one bill monthly for both. You can keep AOL, for those of you whose kids can't live without it, for an extra $9.95 a month.
If your computer doesn't already have one, you will have to install an ethernet card. They will do it for you (not sure of the price) but it is really quite easy. You take the cover off your PC and just plug it in. Beware static electricity...A good idea is to do it in the kitchen where there isn't any carpet.
It wasn't as easy getting online as the little kid in the commercial made it seem. It's not hard to hook up it's just that I had too many splits and couldn't get a connection. Cablevision had to come out and hook up a direct line. At the time there was an extra $30 service charge.
If you are going to hook it up to the TV that your cable connection first comes in the home then you CAN do it yourself.
Even if you have to pay the 30 bucks, this is a good way to go. The service tech also put in all the necessary configurations (and would have installed the ethernet card if I hadn't already). If you have a few splitters already, you'll have no choice, other than doing some more creative wiring.
OptimumOnline provides Microsoft IE and Netscape Communicator. Use any browser.
You'll need a Firewall
The one downside is that, as you are always online, you are open to people gaining access to your computer's files. From companies interested in your surfing habits, to hackers looking to steal or destroy. A friend got DSL and the very first day someone got in and wiped out his hard drive. You need to get Firewall software. You can buy it or you can Download ZoneAlarm FREE from here.
http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,0015P7,.html
I use it and am amazed at the number of alerts to someone trying to access my computer. I finally disabled the pop-up feature but it still guards my system.
In my epinion, Cablevision Optimum Online is great. Everything is just so.......FAST.
Minimum System Requirements
PC MAC
CPU Pentium PowerPC 601
Operating System Windows 98, 95,
NT 4.0, 2000 OS 7.6.1 or
Professional higher
Memory 32 MB 32 MB
Available Hard 50 MB 50MB
Disk Space
Network Adapter required required
CD-ROM Drive required required
To see if it's available in your area.
http://www.optimumonline.com
Enter zip code
FAQ
http://www.optimumonline.com/retail/r_faq/1,3000,16,00.html#21 (copy and paste)
Questions
OptimumOnline
1-888-4-OPTIMUM
3Com Modem
1-888-877-5040
3Com USB interface
1-800-NET-3COM
SOHOware Ethernet Adapter
1-888-785-8222
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mcswarsik
|
|
Member: Mike
Location: CT
Reviews written: 60
Trusted by: 106 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.