Moreno Valley Calif - anybody near there?

winwintoo · 05-31-2005, 11:33 AM

My sister lives there. She's been on AOL forever and keeps buying new PCs hoping to improve her internet experience. We've tried in vain to convince her that a 56 k dial-up will never be any faster no matter what she plugs it in to, but AOL doesn't directly offer broadband, although they do offer (for $14.99) "broadband AOL" - which I gather lets you use the AOL browser over your broadband service (I'm not sure why you would want to - but that's just me)

Anyway, we're getting close to convincing her, but she knows nothing about broadband or where to look for service.

I did a Google and came across a "broker" - is that how it's done, or would you recommend just calling her cable company and telling them to "make it so"

Where I live, there are only two choices, so it's a matter of who you feel like dealing with. I can't imagine trying to decide in a place with so much choice.

Thanks, Margaret

jbc · 05-31-2005, 11:48 AM

I grew up in Riverside, right next to Moreno Valley, and my mother still lives just across the hill from Moreno Valley in Canyon Crest. Moreno Valley has gotten so huge, I'd be surprised if your sister has problems finding broadband there. (When I was growing up, Moreno Valley was a few houses, a cafe, and Riverside Raceway - things have certainly changed!)

Her easiest option would be to call SBC - the phone company - and check into the availability of DSL where she lives.

I forget the cable company company my mother uses, but I think there's at most a couple in the Riverside area. These might have broadband available as well, but it's likely to be somewhat more expensive than just adding DSL to here phone service.

So her first stop should probably be the Yellow Pages under "Internet". She should find SBC, and possibly the cable companies, there.

winwintoo · 05-31-2005, 12:01 PM

Thanks, JBC.

My Sister is overwhelmed by all the jargon and neither she or her husband are in the best of health, so if I can do anything to cut throught the red tape I will.

It looks like I'll be taking a trip down there in the next month or so and maybe talk them into a pair of iBooks and get rid of those PCs that are cluttering up the living room. They buy a new one and leave the old one there because each one will run one program that doesn't work on the newest computer and then the grandson comes over and downloads games from the net onto the newest computer and it quits working too

Take care, Margaret

jbc · 05-31-2005, 12:28 PM

Well, my experience in northern California (and I suspect Moreno Valley is similar) is that many companies can provide DSL, but no one can match SBC's prices, since SBC owns the lines and DSL equipment. So if she wants DSL, that should be the easiest way to go.

As far as cable, Comcast is getting ridiculously expensive up here in areas where they're the only cable provider. Don't know if she's likely to encounter a better situation in Moreno Valley.

So if she ignores the jargon and just compares prices on unlimited Internet access, she should a get a decent picture of her options.

Best of luck with those aging PCs and the iBooks!
Brad

05-31-2005, 11:33 AM	#1
winwintoo Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 194	Moreno Valley Calif - anybody near there? My sister lives there. She's been on AOL forever and keeps buying new PCs hoping to improve her internet experience. We've tried in vain to convince her that a 56 k dial-up will never be any faster no matter what she plugs it in to, but AOL doesn't directly offer broadband, although they do offer (for $14.99) "broadband AOL" - which I gather lets you use the AOL browser over your broadband service (I'm not sure why you would want to - but that's just me) Anyway, we're getting close to convincing her, but she knows nothing about broadband or where to look for service. I did a Google and came across a "broker" - is that how it's done, or would you recommend just calling her cable company and telling them to "make it so" Where I live, there are only two choices, so it's a matter of who you feel like dealing with. I can't imagine trying to decide in a place with so much choice. Thanks, Margaret

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05-31-2005, 11:48 AM	#2
jbc All Star Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 686	I grew up in Riverside, right next to Moreno Valley, and my mother still lives just across the hill from Moreno Valley in Canyon Crest. Moreno Valley has gotten so huge, I'd be surprised if your sister has problems finding broadband there. (When I was growing up, Moreno Valley was a few houses, a cafe, and Riverside Raceway - things have certainly changed!) Her easiest option would be to call SBC - the phone company - and check into the availability of DSL where she lives. I forget the cable company company my mother uses, but I think there's at most a couple in the Riverside area. These might have broadband available as well, but it's likely to be somewhat more expensive than just adding DSL to here phone service. So her first stop should probably be the Yellow Pages under "Internet". She should find SBC, and possibly the cable companies, there.

05-31-2005, 12:01 PM	#3
winwintoo Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 194	Thanks, JBC. My Sister is overwhelmed by all the jargon and neither she or her husband are in the best of health, so if I can do anything to cut throught the red tape I will. It looks like I'll be taking a trip down there in the next month or so and maybe talk them into a pair of iBooks and get rid of those PCs that are cluttering up the living room. They buy a new one and leave the old one there because each one will run one program that doesn't work on the newest computer and then the grandson comes over and downloads games from the net onto the newest computer and it quits working too Take care, Margaret

05-31-2005, 12:28 PM	#4
jbc All Star Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 686	Well, my experience in northern California (and I suspect Moreno Valley is similar) is that many companies can provide DSL, but no one can match SBC's prices, since SBC owns the lines and DSL equipment. So if she wants DSL, that should be the easiest way to go. As far as cable, Comcast is getting ridiculously expensive up here in areas where they're the only cable provider. Don't know if she's likely to encounter a better situation in Moreno Valley. So if she ignores the jargon and just compares prices on unlimited Internet access, she should a get a decent picture of her options. Best of luck with those aging PCs and the iBooks! Brad