Calling all geeks ;)

[iNash]

For a little market research, I would be very gratefull if you could spare 5 mins to have a think about the below question:

If you walked into an independant store to buy broadband, what would you want the sales advisor to know about the technology?

So far I have the following:

• ADSL / Cable - what's the difference?
• I.P Streaming
• Local Loops
• How the equipment works (e.g. modem/microfilter)
• Streaming
• How much you can download (in 'human' terms e.g. 4,000 songs etc)
• How fast you can download (in 'human' terms as above)
• Firewalls (what they are and how they work)

Can you think of any more?

Thanks

 

[miles01110]

Knowledge about wireless routing is pretty important these days.

 

[DoFoT9]

ping rates - not sure of a human term for that haha!

if there are "set times" for certain downloading.
i.e. you have from 9am-12am each day to download 4000 songs out of your total 12000 songs (just an example, tried to simplify it haha)

what speed you get capped back to if you download "over your limit"

how far away you are from the "exchange".

there are lots more.

p.s. do you need to know which is better, in regards to ADSL vs Cable>>??<<

p.s.s in general: a webpage is 200kb, an email is about 500kb (1000kb =1mb), a song will be 4mb, a movie 500mb-1000mb (1000mb=1gb). the limit on downloading changes depending on pricing - but i would say you would see numbers such as 10gb, 20gb, 50gb, possibly 100gb plans come up.

 

[Nermal]

what speed you get capped back to if you download "over your limit"

Or how much you pay per extra GB.

 

[DoFoT9]

Or how much you pay per extra GB.

nice call, that is only really relevant for wireless internet though. wired doesnt really do that thing anymore.

 

[doubleohseven]

p.s. do you need to know which is better, in regards to ADSL vs Cable>>??<<

I'd say so. Lots of my friends ask me if they should get ADSL or Cable, and which one is better. Some don't know the difference, so I explain that to them.

 

[DoFoT9]

I'd say so. Lots of my friends ask me if they should get ADSL or Cable, and which one is better. Some don't know the difference, so I explain that to them.

yea ok fari enough then. we dont have cable up the top of NSW (i noticed your from australia haha).
this guide HERE! seemed pretty decent for beginners.

 

[Nermal]

nice call, that is only really relevant for wireless internet though. wired doesnt really do that thing anymore.

Depends on your ISP/plan. I pay per GB to avoid getting slowed down.

 

[DoFoT9]

Depends on your ISP/plan. I pay per GB to avoid getting slowed down.

they give you that option in NZ?!?! damn.. stupid australia. we get capped and we have no other option but that.

 

[Fizzoid]

Knowledge about wireless routing is pretty important these days.

Yup, you'd probably want them to recommend a wireless router or two depending on the user's needs

 

[DoFoT9]

Yup, you'd probably want them to recommend a wireless router or two depending on the user's needs

wireless routing would be the least of my worries in all honesty. it doesnt matter if its a cheap or expensive router, they will basically provide the minimum access needed for all starting users.

 

[Nermal]

they give you that option in NZ?!?! damn.. stupid australia. we get capped and we have no other option but that.

It looks like Internode offers additional data but it's expensive.

 

[DoFoT9]

It looks like Internode offers additional data but it's expensive.

to be honest that is why i would prefer TPG over ANY other current internet plan. 250gb for $90 per month. they dont exist at our exchange (telstra owns it, what do you expect?) but the government is making telstra give rights to other ISPs - when that happens hopefully competition will become more and more cheaper

 

[Peterkro]

Contention ratio (cable especially)
Access to Newsserver,binary?
Statement about throttling (i.e. do they say the will not do it )

Price.(contract lock in,for example I'm on a monthly rolling contract a good thing if you can find a provider offering it)

 

[Fizzoid]

wireless routing would be the least of my worries in all honesty. it doesnt matter if its a cheap or expensive router, they will basically provide the minimum access needed for all starting users.

Yours maybe, but it depends on the type customer, from the basic home user to the more advanced or business user, as we don't know what the target user is. As stated in the original brief, if you're going to walk into an independant store to buy broadband, surely you'd want to know what routers were available to suit your needs?

 

[DoFoT9]

Yours maybe, but it depends on the type customer, from the basic home user to the more advanced or business user, as we don't know what the target user is. As stated in the original brief, if you're going to walk into an independant store to buy broadband, surely you'd want to know what routers were available to suit your needs?

yes for sure. but if you dont know your needs then that is the time when you need a "basic configuration". its like buying a mac. if your only a beginner and want basic things then you go for the basics - e.g. a white macbook, a mini, or base iMac config. same principals here.

if you know what you want to a T then you wouldnt be asking, so we wouldnt be having this conversation

 

[Fizzoid]

yes for sure. but if you dont know your needs then that is the time when you need a "basic configuration". its like buying a mac. if your only a beginner and want basic things then you go for the basics - e.g. a white macbook, a mini, or base iMac config. same principals here.

if you know what you want to a T then you wouldnt be asking, so we wouldnt be having this conversation

But that's my whole point, whether you the customer know exactly what you need, possibly what you need or really no idea, then it would be usefull if the store could advise you.

 

[DoFoT9]

But that's my whole point, whether you the customer know exactly what you need, possibly what you need or really no idea, then it would be usefull if the store could advise you.

but.. but.. thats my point lol!

you wont need to go to a store if your in the know-how.

for a novice, beginner, or somebody who just doesnt know which to pick then yes the store is great.

 

[JordanNZ]

Depends on your ISP/plan. I pay per GB to avoid getting slowed down.

You with Xnet?...

 

[Nermal]

You with Xnet?...

Telstra. From what I've heard, Xnet is a surefire way of getting a slow connection

 

[iNash]

Knowledge about wireless routing is pretty important these days.

True, very good point thanks

ping rates - not sure of a human term for that haha!

if there are "set times" for certain downloading.
i.e. you have from 9am-12am each day to download 4000 songs out of your total 12000 songs (just an example, tried to simplify it haha)

what speed you get capped back to if you download "over your limit"

how far away you are from the "exchange".

Yep ping rates is a great suggestion, thanks! Will start working out the human translation tomorrow

Yep, times for downloading is great particularly with the restrictions on P2P thanks

Contention ratio (cable especially)
Access to Newsserver,binary?
Statement about throttling (i.e. do they say the will not do it )

Price.(contract lock in,for example I'm on a monthly rolling contract a good thing if you can find a provider offering it)

Great input thanks, can't believe I missed contention ratio! thanks mate!

This is really great input guys and has given me a lot of work tomorrow (thank you... really) if you have any more please add them

Cheers

 

[JordanNZ]

Telstra. From what I've heard, Xnet is a surefire way of getting a slow connection

It used to be Been pretty good lately.