Any real alternative to Xtra for DSL?

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zaptor

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#15417 21-Aug-2007 23:01

Greetings one and all.

Friend of mine has had a guts full of Xtra due to issues relating to her email (I don't want to go into any more detail).

Anyway, she wants another ISP pronto. Personally, I think she should stick with Xtra, because I honestly don't know if anyone else is that much better. Unfortunately, she doesn't live in an area that has cable broadband, so DSL looks like the only option (I'm not looking at a non-wired solution).

Any recommendations please?

Thanks in advance.

rscole86

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#83254 21-Aug-2007 23:05

There are plenty of real alternatives. It will depend on what their usage is like, and what services they want?

However, if they are leaving becuase xtra have had problems with their emails for the last few days, which is now resolved, then will she not be changing all of the time when (not if) another ISP strikes a hurdle?

I have heard good things about xnet, however I am a cable customer.

Fossie

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#83255 21-Aug-2007 23:09

One viable alternative is 'Avian' they are a very good provider. It's not good for things such as gaming (high latency) but if you want a cheap, slightly messy provider, they are the ones to go with.

stevonz

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#83275 22-Aug-2007 08:42

xnet xnet xnet xnet xnet!

I switched from xtra about 7 months ago & have had exceptionally gooood service!

cokemaster

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#83277 22-Aug-2007 09:01

The best way to become truly ISP independent is to get a non ISP address.

There are plenty of free options out there:

Gmail
Yahoo
Hotmail
other free providers - lots out there.

The other alternative is to get a domain and host your own mail, godaddy provides an excellent service for doing just this. Alternatively a domain would set you back around $9USD a year and your host would be around $8 USD a month depending on the services offered etc.

The important thing to remember is that no provider is immune from outages, however by keeping your email separate from your ISP means that if you want to switch, you can do so without interruptions (though now days, you can keep using your old ISP email address without a dialup/broadband connection for a minimal monthly fee) from changing your email address.

Hopefully these Xtra issues were just teething problems with the YahooXtra migration. All ISP's have issues time to time (all of the common ones have had issues discussed on geekzone), which have caused many a frustration.

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wmoore

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#83295 22-Aug-2007 10:41

stevonz:
xnet xnet xnet xnet xnet!

I switched from xtra about 7 months ago & have had exceptionally gooood service!

I am also with Xnet. Very good customer service and good speeds as well.
Also you only pay for the data that you have used.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

zaptor

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#83296 22-Aug-2007 10:48

Thanks for the replies.

Okay, Xnet it is then.

A couple of guys I work with have Xnet as a VoIP (not ISP) provider, and rave about the awesome customer service.

chiefie

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#83297 22-Aug-2007 10:55

Tell her to sign up for Geekzonemail.com :-D

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zaptor

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#83299 22-Aug-2007 11:05

chiefie: Tell her to sign up for Geekzonemail.com :-D

Thanks.

However, I like the idea of using a GMail for both her existing POP accounts and as a new email address.

chiefie

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#83301 22-Aug-2007 11:13

you can also get custom domain for email with Gmail and Windows Live. That way she can be independent from ISP as Cokemaster suggested.

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Please read the Geekzone's FUG