Life In The Fast Lane

Monday, June 11, 2007

Since using the internet in 1996, I've primarily accessing the net via dialup modem. Even though through the years, speeds of dialup increased from the 14.4k modem to the 28.8k, 33.6k and top speed of 56k, I've only been able to reach a max connection of 33.6K

I've manage to survive with this kind of connection ever since. I've created my own system to fully utilize my slow connection. My work ethics is also based on the system I created. The basic premise is that my internet connection must not be idle at any given time. Hence, before I go online, everything in well-planned and ready to execute. Here are some of the rules:



  1. E-mails are answered offline and sent in batches when I go online.

  2. New e-mails are also being downloaded from all my e-mail accounts.

  3. Files for uploading are queued and ready to upload simultaneously while downloading another queue of files.

  4. Websites to be visited are all on a written list and are loaded one at a time in the browser with a maximum of 5 websites.

  5. From midnight to 8am, huge files are queued for downloading (logfiles, database backups, huge file uploads).

  6. Some online tasks are automated and ready to run at certain hours of the day when internet is free or I'm asleep (windows update, anti-virus update, daily site backups).

  7. During weekends, I allow entertainment or non-priority files to be setup for download (video clips, games, trial software).

Enter 2007... Files these days have just grown immensely huge that my queued files are getting longer and longer and my work backlog is simply accumulating. I was able to survive by going to hotspots equipped with wifi and using 3g on my mobile phone for high-speed internet access. A couple of friends were surprised to learn how I could survive simply on dialup, especially being an internet consultant, web site owner and technopreneur.

It was still manageable. However, it was becoming more costly to meet the demands of much needed bandwidth. To make matters worse, our phone line went berzerk which made even the simplest task of sending e-mail unberable.

And so, eventually, I decided to get a broadband connection and thus subscribe to DSL.
I'm so happy with my speedier connection. It changed the way I use the internet now. The rules I've created no longer stand. I can send e-mails immediatley after composing them. I don't have to queue files for download at a later time because I can download them now without waiting for a century to retrieve. I can now watch streaming videos online. I can leave my computer online without worrying if the hours on an internet prepaid account are ticking away. I can send files online faster. Heck even my computer seems to run better now.

I guess the first sign of sadness if ever, I'll be feeling about my new broadband connection is when the first billing statement arrives. Nevertheless, being an internet superuser, I feel it is worth every peso.

Now on to my new set of problems.... gotta have more disk space.

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