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Warp Speed Web Access: Cable vs. DSL vs. Everything Else

The latest in fast Net for 2001: We compare the providers, identify the best broadband sites, and rate the new home gateways.

Scott Spanbauer

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Here at PC World, we've long predicted the arrival of widespread high-speed Internet access. Now, finally, we can say it: After years of fumbling and false starts, broadband is here.

Thanks to better technology, experienced service providers, and steady customer demand, 2001 promises to be the first year that you can get fast Net access almost anywhere in the United States.

What's more, the Net is finally taking advantage of broadband. New Web sites tailored to high-speed access are pumping everything from financial news broadcasts to short movies. And new low-cost hardware lets multiple PCs in a small or home office share a single high-speed connection securely and efficiently.

Is all the news good? Nope. In our survey of 500 PC World subscribers with broadband connections (see " The People's Voice"), many complain of installation and other hitches; even so, almost 90 percent say broadband's benefits justify the hassle. Read on for our complete guide to fast Net access circa 2001.

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