Poll: How Is Your Mac Connected To The Internet?

Speed is everything these days. Faster ‘net connections. Faster cell phone connections. Faster Macs. Faster software. We all want speed.

About a year ago I ran a Mac360 poll which asked readers how they’re connected to the internet. The results were surprising and say something about Mac users (hint: we’re advanced).

The Washington Post ran an article yesterday on research that shows more Americans than ever are using broadband to access the Internet.

Broadband is loosely described as DSL from the phone company, a high speed connection to the cable company, or some other ‘faster-than-dial-up” connection. It could even be broadband wireless.

About 60-percent of all Americans now connect to the internet via a high-speed connection, according to the report. Big deal, you ask?

Just last month (August) CNET News reported on another study that said the US would hit 62-percent by the year 2010.

Who should you believe? 60-percent is here now and it’ll take four more years to hit 62-percent? Uh uh. I don’t think so.

Because our somewhat-less-than-scientific ‘research’ just a year ago showed that over 85-percent of our survey takers use broadband to get on the internet. For Mac users, we’re already there, way ahead of yesterday’s news and tomorrow’s predictions.

Doesn’t it just make you want to sit up and smile at yourself?

Let’s ask the same question again? How is your Mac connected to the Internet?

To be fair, I recognize that Mac users connect to the Internet from a number of locations; home, office, on the road. So, we combined all three into a single poll with fewer possible answers.

If you use dial-up at home, it’s likely that the office is connected to the Internet via a high-speed link. Nearly half of all homes now have some kind of broadband, though.

Cable TV broadband (like Time-Warner’s Road Runner), the local phone company’s DSL circuit make up the home high speed connections.

On the road, dial up connections via your laptop’s modem may still rule, but many hotels, particularly those that cater to the business traveler, have high speed connections (even wireless) built-in to the hotel room.

So, what’s your poison? Dial up? DSL? Cable? Wireless via your cell phone (hey, it’s a long shot, but we’re an innovative bunch of Mac users).

To see the results on votes by other readers since last year, just Click Here.

To register your anonymous vote in the poll in some vain attempt to influence such overwelming numbers, all you have to do is Click Here.

Wasn’t that fun?

Check out the daily list of our 9 Word mini-Reviews at NoodleMac, and Kate's daily in-depth Mac software reviews at PixoBebo.

Off Topic #6 - The MacHeist is back. In case you missed it a few months ago, MacHeist is a great way for Mac users to get 12 top Mac applications and utilities for $49. Many of these have been reviewed on Mac360, so we highly recommend that you take a look. The value, what you get for what you pay, is remarkable. Click Here to look, buy, download.

Off Topic #58 - Do politicians use personal computers? Of course. We’ve heard Barack Obama prefers a Mac, while Hillary Clinton uses a Dell, though, apparently neither of the candidates can bowl. Does Obama’s potential vice president use a Mac? Even Clinton acknowledges Apple’s brand power but says she can’t afford a Mac. Maybe she’d win if she used a Mac.