calling all hackers

[Texas Diesel]

Can this possibly speed up a slow dialup connection?



http://www.earthlink.net/accelerator/faq/

 

[Diesel&Donuts]

Speed

I have a close friend that has "Earthlink". They added the "accelerator" automatically. He does notice a big difference and likes it.



Harold

 

[Archive]

It mentions using compression to basically decrease the data that is being sent and received, this could work as long as your system meets minimum system requirements.



What are the minimum system requirements for EarthLink Accelerator?

EarthLink Accelerator works with most Microsoft® WindowsTM-based personal computers in use today, including virtually all PCs purchased within the last four years.



Platforms

Windows 98/NT 4. 0/2000/Me/XP



Browsers

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5. 0 or later

Netscape 4. 7 or later

MSN Explorer





System Requirements

Available disk space—25MB (135MB recommended)

Total system memory (RAM)—32MB (64MB highly recommended)



The forst thing that comes to mind here is having other processes running and trying to run this, say you are playing an MP3 file and surfing the TDR at the same time, the processor may get into a pinch if it is an older model and perform both functions poorly.

A fast modem, a fast CPU and accelerator should work though, probably cheaper than DSL or cable, Good Luck!



JJ

 

[dmurdock]

Yes, it works. Just remember it only works on data that can be "compressed" for a benefit. Web pages definately... mp3's, files,etc are already compressed for the most part so you won't see a big speed jump... ie: if you download a lot of music/movies/programs/etc... However, if you mostly surf the web, it should help speed things up.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I have the decellerator. It's ok. not anything like a dedicated connection. I live/work out beyond the sticks and a 28. 8 connection is a good one. The accellerator works well about 1/2 the time. The other 1/2 it seems stuck in limbo. It seems locked up like it's trying to compress everything then it loads the page all at once. I don't have anything else running on this machine, I have CAD running on my other. The 1/2 that it works well, it loads pages better than before, but picture quality is sacrificed. That is adjustable, if you want faster, it loads pictures at a lower quality, also gif files like the animated smiley's are sometimes not animated. I think some of the other ISP's are coming out with this as well, but they call it something else.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I do have to admit the newest version of Earthstink is a nice improvement. The popup blocker works flawlessly. There are also settings for cookies which are nice. I can pick and choose which pages I want to accept cookies from. Like the TDR I accept from that way when I come here I'm already logged in. But other pages like some of the other news sites and what not have no ability to plant things on me. The spam blocker works nice as well, but it's an ongoing thing re adjusting which e-mails to toss aside.

I got on their site and requested a CD-rom and they mailed it out to me free of charge. You can also download it if your connection is good.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Accelerator

It's using cache more than anything.....



Earthlink does have a good dialup service but their Accelerator is very 'gimmicky'.



There's no replacement for a 'fat pipe' in the world of bandwidth.



Matt

 

[Rumpere]

Re: Accelerator

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset





There's no replacement for a 'fat pipe' in the world



Matt

& let me guess MTY

you have the pipe

& want to let 1/10 of the world use it

Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

At the place I used to work - we had 3 OC-xx fibre optic connections to the outside world. Ever since then I have been spoiled by 'fat pipe' types of bandwidth.



A lot of people justify the cost of broadband internet connections by calculating the amount of time they save by not having to wait for stuff to download. Those that spend a lot of time on the internet could literally be spending hours a week unnecessarily waiting for stuff to download.



Granted - not everyone has broadband in their area, nor does everyone need everything ASAP. I have been spoiled by huge bandwidth and won't go back to dialup. It's like running around with twin turbos and EDM's compared to OEM injectors and an HY-35. You'll never want to go back.



As for Earthlink - they do have a great dialup service. I experimented with a few dialup services back at home in MA for Mah and Pah... and Earthlink (without the Accelerator... ) outperformed other ISPs in a few areas:



1) Best ping response time to DNS servers

2) Best ping response time to the same remote servers

3) Ability to NOT have an annoying 'toolbar' or seperate application uselessly sitting idle while you use your own internet browser - Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, etc.



I will stand behind my opinions that the Accelerator is nothing short of a gimmick..... and that Earthlink on it's own is a pretty darn good ISP without the gimmicks.



Matt