I've used many internet providers - Time Warner DSL, Frontier Dial-Up, Time Warner Road Runner, Earthlink, and now - Optimum Online, the reason being that it is one of the very few internet companies in Long Island. The other major one is Verizon DSL.

I'm usually not too picky about my internet provider. As long as I can get online whenever I want and be able to search sites at a decent speed, then I'm happy. I also need to be charged correctly to be happy. Unfortunately, Optimum Online already made a major boo-boo there when they charged me $35 as a set-up fee when I was under the impression that it was free. The Optimum Online technicians also made a boo-boo when mistaking my wife for a single woman and giving her their screen names...

Besides this billing mistake on their behalf, I have had no other problems. Their rates are decent. I pay $97 a month for Optimum Online, IO Digital Cable, and the Optimum phone line which are all owned by Cablevision. That rate does not include taxes, which brings it up to about $110.

When I surf the web, the pages load very quickly; I can also download items relatively quickly. Optimum Online allows me to download my songs from iTunes, movies, documentaries, etc., with no problems. Also, the speed at which they download is very impressive when comparing it to other companies that I have had in the past.

I have had problems very often with getting online. Sometimes I'll be trying to get onto AOL Instant Messenger and I'm just not signed on. In this case, I reboot my whole system which usually does the trick. If not, then I call customer service...

There was a period of two weeks where I couldn't get online three times. When calling Cablevision's number, there was an automated message before the menu telling me that the lines were down in several towns, and then the message proceeded to tell me which ones. However, I didn't want an automated message; I wanted to be told what was going on. On all three occasions that I called due to this issue, I was told that there were technicians fixing the lines and then I was given an estimated time of when they'd be up and running again. I must say that they are quite impressive at hypothesizing a time at which the lines will be back up. They are always right.

However, there was one instance where it was just my modem that wasn't working. Before calling Optimum customer service, I decided to reboot the computer and modem several times to see if that would do the trick. Unfortunately, it did not, so I called in. The person on the other line told me exactly what to do - step by step - and was very patient with me. When he told me to reboot the system after everything that had been done, I told him that my main phone line was connected to the same system and therefore I would lose connection with him. I was quite impressed when he told me that he'd call me right back...and he did! When someone from a company actually comes through on a promise, that's a miracle in this day and age.

I find it important to note that when calling into Optimum Online customer service, you're calling into Westbury, New York - not Bombay, India like many U.S-based companies. I also find it important to note that while not always enthusiastic, the customer service at Cablevision is always helpful, polite, and professional. I also have never been put on hold too long...unlike other companies (cough * Earthlink * cough). Basically, if there's a problem with your internet, Cablevision will help you.

Overall, I would recommend Cablevision's Optimum Online. The monthly price which I pay is fine by me, the internet access is fast and I can download documents quickly too. However, Optimum Online has severe reliability issues as I have had more problems getting onto the internet with this company than any other.

www.cablevision.com

516.364.8400



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 110