switching to cable modem and need help

[thePh@r@oh]

I'm switching to cable internet and need to know if I should use the modem th company gives you or should I just go buy my own

[Telexen]

You have to lease the modem they give you...in 1 year the cost to rent that modem will be about how much you could pay for a new one...so if you plan on keeping it for a long time when look into buying one...I wish I had 4 years ago.

[dragonb]

I would say use what they give you...unlesss....
before the switch buy one at Best Buy or whatever. You can usually get them from 20 to free when you include a rebate when you sign up for cable, otherwise they are upwards of $50.
I guess depends on how much the cable charges you to use theirs...mine's only 3 a month, so will take 2 years+ to make up for buying my own.

As for speed, very minor differences as far as I've heard.
dragonb

[rockpile]

I rent mine for the simple fact they are always changing their service and sometimes that means updates or upgrades and then they require you to use theirs anyhow and then you are stuck with a modem you bought that is useless.

[Redwolf]

If they decide to give you a Surfboard modem, go for it. If they give you a WebStar modem, don't.

[MDS]

I will never give up my linksys BEFCMU10 as it is the best modem I've ever used, It blows the Surboards out of the water. I haven't had to touch it for over 9 months not one reset or anything. When I had 2 different Surfboards I was at least once a week unplugging them to reset them to get them to work correctly. The Toshiba was my next in line as it was about the same as the surfboards.

[rockpile]

I have had my surfboard for 4 months with 3 resets and one of them was because my NIC card went bad on me besides that I cant complain.

[meese]

Buy your own. Don't "lease" one from your cable company. What do they charge to lease it? And will you ever own it?

[RedFury]

I got my SB5100 for free ( of course, had to pay up front for it and get rebates... ) Plus+, I get 6 months of service for 20 bucks a month....tell me of a better deal than that...I certainly couldn't find better.

[meese]

If they throw it in for free then its a no brainer. I depends on what the cable company is willing to do. When I got my cable it was worth it for me to get my own.