You seem determined to get cable. I have heard that you are in an area with lots of cable users it can get very slow and that DSL is better. I don't have cable here but I did just sign up for DSL with my phone company yesterday since Prodigy doesn't offer it in this area. Before signing up I even checked to make sure that the "chipnut" ID was still available. The advantages to me are that for $50 per month I get rid of $22 in ISP costs and almost $30 in a second phone line. cost is the same and I will now get high speed service. BTW - in my area they are offering to give me the first month free and sending me a free ethernet modem! My only cost will be to get a 10/100 ethernet card for $15. My reason for doing this instead of using the existing USB port is that Windows XP ONLY will work with the ethernet card and my computer is getting elderly. When I get a new computer I will be all set instead of having to replace the modem.