More Broadband Minutes Than Dialup

from the crossing-over dept

As more and more people (finally) get broadband access, they're also spending a bit more time online. Thus, the total number of minutes spent on the internet from broadband users has finally passed those spent online by dialup users. Of course, there are still plenty of people who are being forced to use dialup, but that's what happens when broadband providers have no idea how to offer service. Anyway, a more interesting set of numbers would be how much more time - per person - broadband users spend online as contrasted with dialup users.
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  • identicon
    werty, 5 Mar 2002 @ 10:03am

    Numbers are misleading

    This "more broadband use" data doesn't take into account the different ways people use broadband. Cable modems and DSL have always-on connectivity, and many high-bandwidth users leave their systems on for hours or days on end, to access computers from remote or simply to avoid startup time. I know this from experience: My parents are at their computers for maybe half an hour a day, but their computers (and IM programs) are running from morning to night.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 5 Mar 2002 @ 2:39pm

      Re: Numbers are misleading

      Excellent point... and one that was probably not taken into account in the study.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Mike (profile), 6 Mar 2002 @ 3:21pm

        Re: Numbers are misleading

        Actually, lookin at the details of the report, they discounted "idle" minutes. They said if someone was idle for 30 minutes, they would go back and stop counting where those 30 minutes began. So, it appears they did take into account people who stay online all the time but aren't at their computer.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Chadness, 5 Mar 2002 @ 1:41pm

    Always On

    I leave AIM open almost 24/7 (ah, the joy of away messages). When I'm at home, I'm almost always on the computer working or chatting. When I'm at work, I'm on a T1 (which is broadband) and am using the Web quite frequently there, as well. So, if you actually count all those "always on" idle hours, combined with the hours that there's actual activity...broadband would far outweigh dial-up in hours spent online.

    Like was brought out above...numbers lie.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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