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Question of the Day: How do you normally pay for purchases in stores?
Dial-Up Internet – far from dead
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
Asha'man X
Expert Member
I'm still on dial-up access at home with Telkom themself and I hate it. I try to surf with multiple tabs in Maxthon, and each page takes forever to load. I'm too used to ADSL at my work I guess.
Of course downloading of any file above 2MB becomes a trial in patience. Then there's the situation of often connecting at 20kb/s or other low numbers, and having to redial.
At this stage I can't yet afford to get adsl at home, and my dad won't get it either, as he sees no need for it. However, when my new pc is finished built next year, that dial-up is going to vanish for good.
The sad fact is that for elderly folk, and other computer beginners, dial-up really is more than good enough for them.
Of course downloading of any file above 2MB becomes a trial in patience. Then there's the situation of often connecting at 20kb/s or other low numbers, and having to redial.
At this stage I can't yet afford to get adsl at home, and my dad won't get it either, as he sees no need for it. However, when my new pc is finished built next year, that dial-up is going to vanish for good.
The sad fact is that for elderly folk, and other computer beginners, dial-up really is more than good enough for them.
LCBXX
Honorary Master
I'm still baffled as to why some people on dial-up fork out around R600 a month on their phone bill where they can have ADSL (or 3G/HSDPA) for half the price and nearly 7 times the speed...
mercurial
MyBB Legend
this is ridiculous. we will not get anywhere in this country as long as we still have dial-up. it should be immediately discontinued. i'm stunned that we still have it. what a joke.
gregmcc
Honorary Master
At least dialup is uncapped 
psivius
Well-Known Member
At least dialup is uncapped
Yeah, I know a buddy of mine who used to do 3GB a weekend on ISDN using both channels. Ofcourse the service itself cost an arm and a leg but at least "Infinity Call" allowed him to be connected the whole weekend while fending off his sisters from using the phone.
Now his got ADSL and limited to 3GB a month.
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Skeptik
Banned
Indeed. I would like to see a proactive approach from many companies. Something like this:
If a company can see that you are spending a lot on a low quality/slow service, then they should contact you and recommend a better offering. Or even automatically upgrade you.
What is happening is they simply rake in the money because some consumers don't realise the true costs of dialup.
Crusader
Executive Member
Well, I'm still on dail-up since it's the only option currently available. Combined with Infinitcall I can download around 4GB for a R450, which isn't too bad if you are willing to wait.
Skeptik
Banned
LOL
That's the whole point isn't it.
IMO uncapped data means a fixed [usually monthly] subscription fee, in exchange for no limit on the amount of data that can be transferred within the subscription time period.At least dialup is uncapped
Based on that definition, dialup would not qualify as uncapped since the subscription fee is not a fixed amount, instead the more you stay connected, the more you pay. It is however possible to factor in Telkodemonopolies' InfinitCall with dialup, to come up with something that approaches a minimum monthly spend during CallMore times - speaking of which, if the connection drops you end up paying more when you reconnect - the more you call, the more you pay.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Yes, and sometimes you still see horse or donkey drawn carts around the streets in South Africa. I mean why do we need cars when those are just as good? This whole technology thing is so over-rated! Who needs a cellphone when a good old pen and paper will do?
If it was good enough for grandpa, I guess it's good enough for me!
LCBXX
Honorary Master
Imagine Telkom giving their R600p/m dial up customer a call and offering them ADSL for the same/less (Cap/Bandwidth dependent).
Imagine that......gawd I have a migraine!
The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
I don't want to go back to them dark old ways *mutter*
Dial-up is so dreddfully slow, it isn't a joke.
Dial-up is so dreddfully slow, it isn't a joke.
I can't understand why people use dial-up.
If you're in the sub R150 range, use prepaid bundles on Vodacom or MTN. Most people have a cellphone with at least GPRS capability (lots with edge and 3g), simply buy a bundle and connect. I know the data rates are high but it still makes more sense than paying R 79 per month to Telkom Internet (or higher to MWEB), because you have to add the telephone call charges.
If you're in the over R 150 range then adsl is a no brainer. Especially since they have the telkom line already.
If you're in the sub R150 range, use prepaid bundles on Vodacom or MTN. Most people have a cellphone with at least GPRS capability (lots with edge and 3g), simply buy a bundle and connect. I know the data rates are high but it still makes more sense than paying R 79 per month to Telkom Internet (or higher to MWEB), because you have to add the telephone call charges.
If you're in the over R 150 range then adsl is a no brainer. Especially since they have the telkom line already.
It would actually be in TelkodemonopoliesMedia's interests if Telkodemonopolies encouraged migration from dialup to ADSL considering that there is addition potential fleecing value to be gained from IPTV subscribers using ADSL2+ that cannot be gained from a bunch of dialup customers.
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gregmcc
Honorary Master
I used to love the R7 call more thing - phone would be permanently engaged from 19:01 until 6:59
That's one of the reasons why I got ISDN2a, i.e. so I could receive calls on the other ISDN channel, but frequent unsolicited disconnects and dialup costs as well as being sick & tired of repeatedly trying to just send & receive emails with 0.5MB+ attachments, and the availability of iBurst in my area [my only option at the time], were the catalysts that convinced me to switch to 'broadband'.I used to love the R7 call more thing - phone would be permanently engaged from 19:01 until 6:59
diane7
Senior Member
When I used Dial-Up till 26 oct.
Telkom phoned me 3 times to offer me ADSL.
The last time I accepted the deal,gave all relevant info , 2 weeks later another call to offer same deal .My debit order limit was R 400 and every month 2to3 hundred over . my phone and cell calls under R40.
My Mweb R150.
So it`s still cheaper for me (dont have to wait 5 mim for a 1MB pic to download couple of blinks and it`s in your face )
Went to telkom shop because my phone packed up bought Ultimate S100 . At the same time Got ADSL self install , picked Mega 100WR 5 days later
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