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The need for speed

May 7, 2002 › Sandy McMurray | comment

The need for speed
Why do you need a high-speed Internet connection? Because the tech companies assume you have one!

Anyone who has moved from a regular dial-up Internet connection to a high-speed connection will tell you that it's tough to go back. The excitement and convenience of high-speed access makes downloading files and checking e-mail an enjoyable experience. The telephone line is free and so are you. The only problem that remains is how to pay the monthly bill for Internet service.

Whether you choose DSL (fast phone), cable modem or satellite, an always-on high-speed connection lets you focus on the stuff you're doing and forget about the plug. The Internet recedes into the background like your electricity, water or gas service. It's just there.

Unfortunately, it's easy for tech companies to take high-speed access for granted. After all, most of their offices are wired with even faster Internet connections than we can get at home.

As a result, most of the big computer companies have made the Internet their primary means of distributing software updates. It's cheaper for them -- no packaging or shipping expenses -- and it allows them to offer updates more frequently.

In the case of Microsoft, this means that the latest Security Update to Internet Explorer can be offered via Windows Update as soon as it's available. Apple can instantly update Mac OS X to add services and features to users at the touch of a button -- release the update and people will come and get it.

The problem, of course, is that many users still do NOT have high-speed Internet access, but they're forced to sit through giant downloads of dubious value just to apply the latest feature set or security patch. Updating may be a snap with a cable modem, but it's a royal pain with even the fastest dial-up connection.

These thoughts came to mind today while I was setting up a new network printer from Hewlett Packard. I checked the HP site to see if the print driver in the box is the latest version. I found a new file dated May 1, so I clicked on the download button. The file is more than 34 megabytes in size -- that's more than 24 floppy disks' worth of data.

For me, that's no big deal. I click, I download, it's done. But how does this affect a small business owner in a small town with no high-speed options? I'm sure it's very frustrating.

May 7, 2002 › Sandy McMurray | comment on this item