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seanyepez · Jun 1, 2002, 06:50 PM

Are there any ISP's like Ricochet in the United States anymore?

I've been looking at GoAmerica and Verizon service, but nothing seems to be compatible with the Mac.

Do any of you use wireless Internet? If so, what do you use?

icruise · Jun 1, 2002, 10:48 PM

All you have to do is move to Japan and you can get unlimited 32k wireless for about $40 a month. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> I am using it right now. They also have 128k for about twice that much.

Seriously, though, I really tried hard to get wireless internet in the US when I was there last year, but first of all you have to live in a major metroplitan area (there was nothing available in my area), and even then the options were few and expensive. Things may have changed a bit, but I don't think that there are any really good wireless solutions, especially for the mac. I'd like to hear if anyone has managed to find something, though.

seanyepez · Jun 1, 2002, 10:53 PM

I know. Japan has some seriously awesome offerings for Internet access. A few years back, ISDN was the only thing available. They now have 384k wireless Internet and 8-megabit DSL for $19 a month. <img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" />

The Dude · Jun 2, 2002, 01:57 AM

One must remember that Japan is literally a smaller country by a considerable margin in comparison to the United States. They can do that because it's feasible. If They tried it here (again) it'd probably be another disaster.

engage1000 · Jun 2, 2002, 07:33 AM

Geez,

It's gonna take forever to get anything here in Canada. It doesn't help that I live in the bush. Oh well, at least our cordless phones can go for like a mile before they crap out because of interference.

Can't do that in the city can you?!?! nananan nan an na na na.... Nevermind lol.

sushiism · Jun 2, 2002, 09:19 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by The Dude:
One must remember that Japan is literally a smaller country by a considerable margin in comparison to the United States. They can do that because it's feasible. If They tried it here (again) it'd probably be another disaster.<hr /></blockquote>Why does the UK have absolutely dire internet then? :/

icruise · Jun 2, 2002, 01:58 PM

Clearly it is not just the size of the country that matters. Japan is way ahead in a lot of ways, and frankly the US and other countries haven't done a great job of setting up fast wireless networks. Admittedly it would MUCH harder to set something up like the Japanese have in the US, even if you just concentrated on big cities. It seems to me that most Americans don't really see the need for wireless internet, too, and that can be a problem as well.

The Dude · Jun 2, 2002, 02:32 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by sushiism:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by The Dude:
One must remember that Japan is literally a smaller country by a considerable margin in comparison to the United States. They can do that because it's feasible. If They tried it here (again) it'd probably be another disaster.<hr /></blockquote>Why does the UK have absolutely dire internet then? :/<hr /></blockquote>Because (as I've heard it from other UK residents), your telecomunication infrastructure is horrible.

CMYKid · Jun 3, 2002, 10:59 AM

it's not even so much the infrastructure as the base fact that regular telephone service there is, for the most part, charged by the minute, therefore you have no unlimited access ISPs and consequently no major incentives for anyone to develop really good service.

sean...as for wireless, there is NOTHING.... even Sprints fixed wireless DSL is no longer being sold, tho there are quite a few satisfied existing customers...a lot of larger cities have ISPs that offer service to their business customers over a wireless link rather than a T or ethernet and are usually willing to sell you access...depending on where you are you might be able to hit their antenna with an external (more directional) antenna...

seanyepez · Jun 3, 2002, 08:00 PM

It's actually for my father. I wouldn't mind dealing with that kind of stuff, but he really doesn't have the time to deal with aiming an antenna at the appropriate building.

Thanks for your help. It is as I feared; all the good wireless providers compatible with the Macintosh are gone. GoAmerica is my last resort. It's not compatible with the Mac, and it's frustratingly slow. <img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" />