couple questions I have
I would like to go to cable but am leary about hte constant ON
are you able to unplug the connection at anytime??
and if so is there anything special to regain connection??
Does the system come with a firewall??

Also, I like msn due to traveling. Do you get any dial up service at all with cable?? Or would I have to buy a seperate plan for when traveling??

MnFastBoat,
Your concerns are not unfounded. You absolutly need a fire wall. I wouldnt recommend a "fast" open conection without one.
I use ZoneAlarm on the software side and an SMC router on the hadware end. The full version of ZoneAlarm is about $25 and is down loadable from the internet. The SMC router with a wireless conection is just over $200. I set up my computer at home and hardwired it right to the router and my girlfriend (who sometimes works virtual) plugs into the same connection with the remote. Its a real nice set-up and easy to do. Oh yeah, we put a printer on the router as well so that she can print of her lap top.

Links;
SMC Router/Firewall

http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?site=c


ZoneAlarm firewall software

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

I pay for the service ($49.00/m) and they gave me the modem. The pricing does vary from company to company (not that you have a chioce) and geography.

MnFastBoat:

I had cable modem, but am too busy to use the net at home these days so I disconnected my service, but I bought and still have the MOTOROLA SB4100 modem. I might sell it, but think I may use it in the future. Your question about unplugging it anytime is ok. I always unplugged mine, because of the spikes you get here from the T&L storms that race thru here! I never had any problem re-connecting! It doesn't come wit any firewall either!

Thanks everyone for responding, went to ask a few more questions and they have a special that started this week, sign up for a whole year and get the modem for free.
Might look for a faster modem later but going from 56K to 7**K should be enough for now.

Thanks again,
Caleb