I hope this is the right forum, it could go so many places. Anyway, my wife is going to be taking some internet courses this spring, so we are going to make the leap to cable modem. The company in our area has 3 options for service. (www.mdm.net)

1) Lite: 64kbps up, 128 down, $27.95
2) Standard: 192 up, 768 down, $46.45
3) Plus: 384 up, 1024 down, $74.95

I was thinking about going with the standard, as the Lite didn't seem like a huge jump over standard dial-up, and the "plus" is too much money.

I have a HD-ready RPTV, so I figured I would upgrade my service (and picture) at the same time. Currently I am getting standard analog cable for ~45 a month with HBO and MAX for free. The most obvious upgrade option is their " Millennium Connection " which is $120/month and comes with 19 movie channels, cable modem (128 up, 512 down) and waives the monthly modem rental fee ($5).

I am also thinking about going with the dish, but the 3 room package (I could get by with only getting service for 2 rooms) with the Total Choice Plus, with HBO added, and Direct Tivo would be $67.95 month. On top of this would be the 52 for the modem and however much basic cable costs (required for cable modem). This would push the cost over ~$130. The Total Choice with all channels is 87.99 plus the cable modem would be way too much for me to spend.

I know alot of people are fans of the dish, and I would love to get TIVO. Is there any other option I have for high-speed internet so I won't have to deal with cable at all? SBC-Yahoo DSL in not available in my area. Or would you suggest the LITE cable modem, and the dish, or go with the loaded digital package (for around $150 total)?

Tank you...

Well, if you don't want to deal with cable at all, satellite broadband might be an option. It's usually not as fast as cable or DSL, and AFAIK it's more expensive.

$120 a month for digital cable/broadband doesn't sound too bad.

$120 isn't "bad", but it is 3 times what I am paying right now. I think I will go with the cable for a year or 2, until she finishes school and then switch to the dish, or see what else it out there then.

Go with the dish...cheaper and the Picture Quality is far, far better.

I gather that, but for Broadband, my only option is cable. Cable modem and D*TV will be more expensive than all cable. Plus going from analog to digital, the picture difference should be impressive enough.

What I need to do now is call and harass the cable company and see what kind of deal I can get.