Question about home internet setups....

Which i should preface by explaining that i'm a technopeasant. I am addicted to the internet, but pretty clueless about home setups. Last time i did utilities myself i had netzero free (and SLOOOOW) dialup and bunny ears for my 12" tv/vcr combo. That said.....

I'm moving this weekend and setting up utilities for the new place. My new place has two options for internet. I can shell out an extra ~$30/month to add 1.5 "high speed" internet on top of my new phone service via Qwest. Or i can shack up with comcast and pay ~30/month for basic cable and their version of high speed internet for six months of introductory rate, then add another $20/month for internet.

These are just base quotes. Qwest adds $5/month for renting a compatible modem. Comcast prolly adds even more for all kinds of essential extras like connection and boxes and whatever is necessary to make it compatible with my 2001 dell inspiron. I am so very confused. I don't need cable at all, but the internet is so very much faster than through the phone company. I don't really have $$$ for either option, but i want internet access enough to make it close to a necessity. Job search without net access would be agony!

The question being: do i follow my conscience and just piggyback on phone line, or go all yuppie and get cable in order to get cheaper, faster internet as a promotional add-on?

I don't know if it's an option, but I have dry loop DSL (i.e., with no phone line) through AT&T for about $20 a month and I'm pretty happy with it. I hear so many horror stories about Comcast that I shy away from it if there are other options.

Skipping...skipping..

Okay, thanks to Le Nubian talking me off the ledge, I checked for more updates and there was an iTunes update. so, now my nano is registered and connected to my computer, and I've put some music from my cds into my library and..... how the hell do I tell the music to go to my iPod? Is there a secret command, cause I sure don't see any big DOWNLOAD NOW button!?!

By default, new iPods are set to sync up with your computer automatically -- so if you've got your nano connected successfully, the music is probably already on it. To check this, look in the left-hand column in iTunes, where you see Library and Store and Playlists and all that. Select the music section under iPod (as opposed to the one under Library) and you should find your music listed there -- if it is, you're good to go, and you'll see it on your iPod when you unplug.

If it isn't there, just look in the File menu for "Sync iPod".

it worked! I'm a pod person!!!!! Thank you, amych!

Yay! You have been assimilated!

Oh, I have an iPod question! The earbuds fall out of my ears. Should I buy the other Apple earbug things, or will those be a ripoff? I want reasonable quality for a decent price, nothing fancy.

I'd tell you the brand that my brother got me (they stay in D's ears, and my problem is that me ear shape is too small) except someone STOLE THE PACKAGE.

Grump. But I will ask him.

I can't use earbuds at all -- or anyway, not the jam-it-in-your-ear kind -- because they either fall out or cause HUGE PAIN which can't be a good thing. I use the ones with a soft rubber loop over the ear instead. I don't think it's a brand thing, so much as a comfort thing for you.

How much do I need to worry about quality? Also, I guess you can't try on earphones before you buy, huh.