Earthlink internet service?

Has anyone tried Earthlink internet service? Particularly the DSL or high-speed service?

We are getting a new computer (yeah!) since I have two new contracts. Business deduction ! I currently have MSN broadband but am going to have some problems with it and may want to switch to Earthlink since the Dell computer comes with a few months free service. My current DSL modem is over 4 years old. A few years ago Qwest needed to add a software patch to it. I downloaded the software and made the appropriate changes to the modem. This wasn't a big deal but it means that the software the modem came with is not the same as the software on my computer. Add to that the Qwest conversion to MSN -- I had to change some of the code for the modem to get it to work (a 3 month pleasure with MSN customer service ). So, now the software on my computer is *really* different from the original software and I really don't want to mess with trying to re-install it. MSN supports the current modem but that is really just on a technicality. They have no idea what to do with this outdated modem originally sent by Qwest. I can almost hear the tech support person breaking into a sweat when I tell them what kind of modem it is.

So, I call MSN to see what I need to do for a new DSL modem. I should just be able to buy one, right? I mean, I'm willing to pay for it. Oh, no, that would be way, way to easy! (And I have to get it from them otherwise they won't support it). They don't sell modems. Not now, not ever, no way. This is what I have to do: cancel my MSN broadband account and have Qwest de-provision my phone line for DSL (5-7 working days), switch to dial-up service, then sign up for MSN broadband with Qwest and have them re-provision my line for DSL service (5-7 working days). Total of 10-14 working days. They also told me to keep my fingers and toes crossed the entire time because the dial-up part just might not work and I could lose my MSN account. Just kidding. But there is a possibility of that happening. And, of course, I didn't anticipate these difficulties or this timeline. I start one of my projects on Thursday. It is a research project and I use......the internet to do research! At the least I am going to need dial-up service. Arrgghhh!

I figure that as long as I have to jump through all of these hoops I might as well look into other services. Any feedback on earthlink is appreciated!

[fluffhead]

I have earthlink dialup. It's been fine - never busy, etc.
Though with the new house I'm going with cable.

Thanks, Fluffhead ( I love your uname). Have you ever needed to work with their customer service? If so, do they seem like they know what they're talking about?

I've thought about the cable modems too but I think you have to have cable. We don't have cable because a certain someone gets a little bit of a tv addiction.

[fluffhead]

you don't need cable tv to get cable internet, but they'll charge you a bit more. I hear you about the tv addiction - it's been wonderful not having tv here for the 3 weeks we've been here, but unfortunately we're getting it as part of the package.

[mommax3]

We had earthlink before we got cable which I LOVE. I always found their customer service to be quite helpful. You might want to check out the cable thing -- you maybe could avoid all of that down time if you jettisoned the dial-up connection. (I know next to nothing about modems, etc. but getting the cable connection installed was really easy and quick -- we did already have cable, but I agree that you don't have to have it to get it installed for your internet.)

Sally

I just switched to Earthlink a few weeks back from AOL which I hated.
I had some problems getting logged onto the registration server but
other than that it has been good. The onine chat support was very helpful
and I like that you have a little bit more control over all of the spam you receive. Also, they have a special runnning right now which was 10 dollars
a month for a few months, not sure if that is only for dialup.
-Sherri

We *finally* got the internet service figured out (we think : ). We have decided to go with the Ricochet wireless modem. It's only $29 per month ($45 if you want email etc through them) and the average speed is about 170 kbp. A little slower than my DSL connection but not even noticable with a much faster new computer. And one less #$*&($@# wire to mess around with and clutter the desk!

Eric installed the modem in about an hour and it works great **fingers crossed**. So now I don't have to worry about all of this business of maintaining dial-up service while re-installing the DSL.

The only bad thing is that Ricochet is only available in Denver and San Diego. So when we move me might be starting over on getting service. But if I'm not working enough to justify DSL it will be a moot point anyway. And Ricochet is coming out of bankruptcy -- if they go belly up again there goes our wireless connection!