"Unlimited" Internet whiners

[CancelMyService]

I keep seeing reports of people complaining that their ISP sent them a letter that they use too much bandwidth, and to basically knock it off or get booted. This causes people to go online to their favorite messageboard and bitch about "THEY PROOOOOOOOOOOOMISED UNLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMITED INTERNET~~!~!~!eleventy1!"

News flash, no ISP ever promised unlimited *bandwidth*, the only time "unlimited' was ever used was when AOL was the dominant ISP and other companies advertised no time limits like AOL had with their by-the-hour format. Somehow, 15 years later, every retard with a high speed connection and a P2P program thinks they somehow have a God-given right to download zillions of GBs of mp3s/pirated software/porn because it's "unlimited internet".


The truth is that if you use the internet like 99.99999999999% of people do, you'll never come across any limits or restrictions. If you show up on your ISP's radar, you earned it.

[Broomjockey]

Actually, I've seen a couple ads not too long ago (maybe a year or so old) that still promised unlimited internet, and there was no notation about it being simply the hours used, as broadband is "always on." (heh)

So yes, there are still places that might have signed on people while proclaiming unlimited internet usage. However, I know that's "unlimited within reasonable private usage." If you download 100 GB in 3 days, that might tend to suggest that you're not using it quite as you're supposed to.

[CancelMyService]

I know when DSL came out they advertised it as "always on" but I haven't seen an ad claming unlimited internet (from any major ISPs) at least in years.

[Gurndigarn]

However, I know that's "unlimited within reasonable private usage." If you download 100 GB in 3 days, that might tend to suggest that you're not using it quite as you're supposed to.

And if you upload a million messages to a million different people inviting them to know the joys of V1AGRA....

[IT Grunt]

Oh yes, there's a difference between unlimited hours vs unlimited bandwidth. I use Wildblue satellite at home, and they have a 'fair use policy'. Basically, you're allowed up to 7 GB of data downloaded per month. In the 2 years I've had it, I've come no where near it each month, even downloading large game mods and updates. You'd have to be downloading stuff like huge movies day in and day out to get anywhere near exceeding it, and that's definitely above and beyond fair use. In this case, the consequence is that your download speed is cranked way down for the rest of the month.

[Geek King]

I think I saw this in reguards to Comcast not long ago. I'll have to poke around to find where I saw that story.

Also, I saw an ad (People PC I think) on TV the other night the said Unlimited Internet, with no mention of hours or amount of data. Might have been Legal Flyspeck though, as I was WoWing at the time.

[CancelMyService]

Yeah, Comcast is sending out the Letters of Doom to people who are using up tons of bandwidth. You can pretty much assume that anyone who gets those letters either downloads TONS of piratey goodness or they used a P2P program chock full of spyware that uses their connection.

The whiners make it sound like Comcast just draws names out of a hat to bully around, and to be honest it probably would help of we had some sort of system like cell phones have for keeping track of minutes, but it can't be stressed enough that if you get that letter you've earned it.

[MiloMorai]

So how would this affect this situation?

Comcast net access. 5 computers might up it to 6. All for personal use, i.e.: Eve-Online on all 5 and browsing, once in a while demo download.

I'm not sure how much actual bandwidth I even use.

[Geek King]

So how would this affect this situation?

Comcast net access. 5 computers might up it to 6. All for personal use, i.e.: Eve-Online on all 5 and browsing, once in a while demo download.

I'm not sure how much actual bandwidth I even use.

Well, the big issue with Comcast is that they won't tell anyone what the supposed limit is. This is making it look like a rule being enforced at whim.

[trunks2k]

Well, the big issue with Comcast is that they won't tell anyone what the supposed limit is. This is making it look like a rule being enforced at whim.

It's 200 GB in areas with "sub par" networks according to Consumerist

[blas]

Blas the computer retard has a ? for you...no laughing allowed!

My laptop is shut off at night but kept on for a better portion of the day. I don't download any music or porn or anything on this computer, as I cannot afford this computer to crash or get infected when it could have been prevented...

Am I using too much bandwidth by keeping it on for hours on end?

[Pedersen]

Don't worry blas, it's not a stupid question.

As a rule, leaving your computer on 24/7 will only use more electricity, not more bandwidth.

You need to be running something that talks to the internet to use bandwidth. Windows Update does, but only checks once a day (last I knew, anyway), and is small when there's no updates. Your anti-virus will behave the same. Ditto for email.

It's when some virus, trojan, or other piece of crap-ware gets into your system that you can get hosed. Practice safe computing, though, and you're not likely to run into any problems.

[evilviolentj]

The only problem I see with these ISP's limiting downloading is that not all large downloads are people pirating stuff. Netflix is now offering movie downloads, you've got demo's on the Xbox 360 usually around a gig or more a piece, as well as PS3 demo's. Youtube will take up a chunk of bandwidth. I forget what studio, but one of the TV studio's is offering free TV show downloads now. There is lots of things that can use large amounts of bandwidth.

[Jadedcarguy]

Blas the computer retard has a ? for you...no laughing allowed!

My laptop is shut off at night but kept on for a better portion of the day. I don't download any music or porn or anything on this computer, as I cannot afford this computer to crash or get infected when it could have been prevented...

Am I using too much bandwidth by keeping it on for hours on end?

I download a lot of stuff for my 3D habit, as in 100's of MEGS a day, and I have never gotten a notice, so you should be fine.

[Pagan]

As far as I know, my ISP doesn't have a limit on bandwidth. They also charge a flat-rate per month, the only caveat being that if you're on 24/7, then they'll bill you a monthly amount instead. Which, honestly, I can understand. I've downloaded some pretty big programs that took a while (yes, I'm still on dial-up) and they've never said "boo" to me about it.