Are you online with 56k?

I see this every time there's a pic heavy thread, be that here, in System Wars, GGD, or just about any board in Gamespot. That obligatory warning not to enter if you're on a 56k connection. But on the verge of 2012 I really gotta wonder, how many people here are logged in via that grossly obsolete dialup tech? OK I'm sure there are some far distant regions on the planet where broadband hasn't found household penetration yet.

But everybody who participates in these discussion forums are here because you don't write your school essays on a paper notebook. You don't go to a brick & mortar library for research and chances are, you even make purchases online. Even voice calling seems antiquated in the face of texting from a portable device.

I'm talking about a group who's entertainment lifestyIe is of the high tech variety. And what ever the platform, you're spending a fair amount of cash (or even obscene amounts in some cases) over the life span of your hobby/passion. Be that in hardware (PC upgrades, TV display upgrades, extra controllers, headsets) and most especially in software. Even if you waited for price drops on discs or steam sales, eventually as the years passed by, chances are you spent into the several hundreds on games (I would estimate at least $600 over 5 years if just on sales). And that would just be in this generation alone.

So surely, among such a crowd as us who invests a good deal of our resources into our special interest, there isn't really a few who discuss a pastime steeped in the cutting edge technology, via outdated means? is there? I guess the question I was really driving at was, for a forum of this nature, is the "56k warning" really necessary to begin with?

It's not since I think not many have 56k now, I have cable and it loads pics fast.

Man I haven't had dial up since the late nineties.

56k? Even the Flintstones had better internet speed. :P

I do not think it is mandatory to post the 56k for what you have mentioned. I think it is just something that has stuck from the past.

I haven't had dial-up in 10 years or more, but I still prefer to actually talk to people rather than sending text messages. On the other hand I have a friend who only lives a couple of miles from me, yet is stuck with 56k at her home because she cannot get broadband service at her location.

I made the switch late, but that was over 8 years ago. Can't imagine any still using dial up.

I'm on broadband, but it sure doesn't feel like it. My download speed is around 1 mbps.

I'm on broadband, but it sure doesn't feel like it. My download speed is around 1 mbps

Vari3ty

I'm on broadband, but it sure doesn't feel like it. My download speed is around 1 mbps.

Vari3ty

[QUOTE="Vari3ty"]

I'm on broadband, but it sure doesn't feel like it. My download speed is around 1 mbps.

mitu123

i havent used dialup since like 1997 or 98.. can you still hear it dialing and all the weird noises when connecting? lol

I can't remember when we got rid of dialup, must have been around 10 years ago.

I only ever had broadband, now I'm on 10Mb, more than enough for me.SaltyMeatballs

I think some people punish themselves by switching back to 56k sometimes. I hear it's actually a form of torture in prison.aaronmullan

[QUOTE="aaronmullan"]I think some people punish themselves by switching back to 56k sometimes. I hear it's actually a form of torture in prison.Big_Bad_Sad

Third world country.

I do have 56k indeed.

Third world country.

I do have 56k indeed.

InternetSwag

Third world country.

I do have 56k indeed.

InternetSwag

You see, I can't even be sure if you're just humouring me. And no offense intended if that really is the case. But what do you game with in a third world country?

Unless you're elderly or very poor, yet somehow you still have a computer and money to pay the internet, I don't know how anyone could have less than DSL seeing as most companies offer it for fairly cheap. I have cable so I don't remember prices, but I think it's somewhere in the $20 a month range for high speed DSL. If you can't afford $20 a month, you probably should cut out the internet too and focus on other things.

I had dial up when I first got my Internet, hated it so I upgraded.

That obligatory warning thing is incredibly dumb, considering how dozens of posters have animated signatures that range from 1 to 5 megabytes. If you are going to have that dumb rule for a screenshot/image heavy thread, at least have the decency to regulate signatures' size too.

I'm on broadband, but it sure doesn't feel like it. My download speed is around 1 mbps.

Vari3ty

Pretty much all of the country has access to broadband of some sort. Those motorola canopies can get a range of 30 miles. If you cant get that then you live off the grid.

What is 56k? I think I remember that it was popular in the 90s or something.

Nope. FiOS. Just got 31 down and 22 up in a speed test. I can't stand slow internet. I would love the 150 and 35 package, but I don't pay the bill.

Its rediculous to still be on that.

Haven't been 56k since 1999. Honestly didn't know it still existed.

Haven't been 56k since 1999. Honestly didn't know it still existed.

Johnny_Rock