Save energy. Save money. THD
Covad TeleSurfer Plus DSL
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Editors' rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best
The good: Easy setup; clear manual; superb account-management site; competitive pricing; provides 10MB of Web space and 15 e-mail addresses; solid performance; supports Macs. The bad: Web site instructions hard to find; requires a one-year commitment; $250 early termination fee. |
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Review summary |  |
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Looking for no-tears DSL? Covad's straightforward setup, solid documentation, and superb Web site make it our Editors' Choice.
By Robert Luhn, April 25, 2003
Speed--that's all anyone talks about when it comes to broadband Internet access. But while your broadband connection should be fast, it should also be easy to set up and maintain. On this score, Covad DSL has other national ISPs beat hands down. Covad practically invented the residential DSL business, and it has long provided DSL service to a number of ISPs, such as EarthLink. But the company also offers a range of its own competitive speed plans, from 384Kbps ($39 per month) to 3Mbps ($149 per month)--we reviewed the $49.95 per month TeleSurfer Plus plan, which is 1.5Mbps/128kbps. Thanks to a brand-new self-install kit and a savvy support system, getting connected is a five-minute affair. From lucid instructions to hand-holding software to a smartly designed support site to a range of affordable service plans, Covad wins an Editors' Choice without breaking a sweat.
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Quick facts
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| Software requirements and specs: | |
| OS | Windows 95-XP; Mac OS 8-X |
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| Hardware | 10Base-T (Ethernet) network interface card |
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| Telephone service | Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, Verizon, Bell South, Qwest, SNET |
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| Self-installation | Yes |
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| 30-day trial | Yes |
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| One year contract | Required |
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| Cost | $49.95 |
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| Speed | 1.5Mbps/128kbps |
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| 15 e-mail Addresses | |
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| Web space | 10MB |
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| Dial-up | Yes |
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| IP Addresses | Dynamic |
Robert Luhn is a former executive editor for CNET.com and a frequent contributor to CNET Internet Services. Have a question for him? We'll pass it on!
