Free DSL? This is NOT SPAM. Computer wizz's please read.

I'm looking at their web page, right? It says I can get free DSL by using their software. No problem. I got my real account, I got my SPAM account. Sounds good to me. Two questions: 1. Is DSL any good for online racing? 2. Will their proposed window run with GPL? www.freedsl.com -- Mark Jeangerard www.soundchaserweb.com New Mexico USA

DSL rocks for online racing -- many times faster than a 56K modem connection. Cable modems have potentially faster data transfer rates, but with a cable modem, you share bandwidth with EVERYBODY on your network segment, so if your neighbor's kid decides to stand up an FTP site for bootleg games (for example), then your bandwidth (and access speeds) can go down the toilet and it'll be like racing online with a 14.4 modem all over again. FWIW, I queried these folks about two weeks ago, asking if their online toolbar would be compatible with online games, but so far I have heard nothing back from them, which worries me a bit. Either they're swamped, or clueless -- either way, that bodes poorly for customer service down the road. Still, it DOES sound like an excellent deal, even if you DO end up paying for the DSL modem/converter yourself -- just having them pick up the monthly tab is a HUGE cost saver. I can't imagine a toolbar like that with streaming ad banners and such having much impact on the overall bandwidth on a DSL connection, so my guess is that it would be fine for online ***. Also FWIW, I would imagine that the toolbar would be over-ridden by your game when it switches to full-screen mode (in the same manner that ICQ is, for example), and THAT part was what had me worried -- would that disconnect you (defeating the purpose of the DSL connection for online ***) or would it continue to function in the background, obvlivious to the fact that you were having the time of your life with GPL? <G> My guess is that this is the case, and they don't want to advertise to their advertisers that online gamers will be able to simply bury the toolbar in the background and ignore it while playing -- which could be why they haven't replied to my query. If this is the case, then FreeDSL could turn out to be THE best-kept secret in online ***. Let us know if you hear anything from them, and I'll do the same. -- JB href=3D"[link lost in import]">www.soundchaserweb.com</A><BR>New = Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Taken from their "How we do It" link... A key component to our FreeDSLT service is our private labeled FreeDSLT Browser Assistant, a small navigational bar displayed on our users' computer screens while they are online. The FreeDSLT Browser Assistant can be positioned to any location on the computer screen, but cannot be closed and must remain visible on the desktop as long as our users are connected through our FreeDSLT service. This enables advertisers and marketers to deliver messages to our users the entire time they are online. I think the key phrase is "must remain visible". DN I'm looking at their web page, right? It says I can get free DSL by using their software. No problem. I got my real account, I got my SPAM account. Sounds good to me. Two questions: 1. Is DSL any good for online racing? 2. Will their proposed window run with GPL? www.freedsl.com -- Mark Jeangerard www.soundchaserweb.com New Mexico USA

Sorry, but I have to disagree. The key phrase is "cannot be closed and must remain visible on the desktop." If you use something like ICQ or something like Pointcast and happen to leave them open while connected to the Internet, and then you launch GPL, for instance, ICQ or Pointcast WILL remain visible on your desktop, BUT when GPL goes to full-screen mode, it HIDES the desktop. After you leave GPL and return to your desktop, ICQ or Pointcast will still be there, and the entire time you were in GPL racing, they would have been loafing in the background, signaling alerts, streaming banners, etc. Leave Outlook Express up on your desktop while racing, and if you have if you have it set to check for mail every 5 minutes, and it will check for mail every 5 minutes, even while you're racing in GPL in full-screen mode. My guess is the same appies to the FreeDSL navigator bar -- it's most likely oblivious to whether what's going on, so long as it "knows" that it's still visible on the desktop. I think this is why the FreeDSL people haven't answered my query yet. I would bet the answer -- the REAL answer -- isn't one they want gamers and advertisers to know about or to be aware of. Just my theory on the situation. -- JB Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

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> > Taken from their "How we do It" link... > > A key component to our FreeDSLT service is our private labeled > FreeDSLT > > Browser Assistant, a small navigational bar displayed on our users' > computer > > screens while they are online. The FreeDSLT Browser Assistant can be > > positioned to any location on the computer screen, but cannot be > closed and > > must remain visible on the desktop as long as our users are connected > > through our FreeDSLT service. This enables advertisers and marketers > to > > deliver messages to our users the entire time they are online. > > I think the key phrase is "must remain visible". > > DN > Sorry, but I have to disagree. The key phrase is "cannot be closed and > must remain visible on the desktop." If you use something like ICQ or > something like Pointcast and happen to leave them open while connected > to the Internet, and then you launch GPL, for instance, ICQ or > Pointcast WILL remain visible on your desktop, BUT when GPL goes to > full-screen mode, it HIDES the desktop. After you leave GPL and return > to your desktop, ICQ or Pointcast will still be there, and the entire > time you were in GPL racing, they would have been loafing in the > background, signaling alerts, streaming banners, etc. Leave Outlook > Express up on your desktop while racing, and if you have if you have it > set to check for mail every 5 minutes, and it will check for mail every > 5 minutes, even while you're racing in GPL in full-screen mode. My > guess is the same appies to the FreeDSL navigator bar -- it's most > likely oblivious to whether what's going on, so long as it "knows" that > it's still visible on the desktop. > I think this is why the FreeDSL people haven't answered my query yet. > I would bet the answer -- the REAL answer -- isn't one they want gamers > and advertisers to know about or to be aware of. > Just my theory on the situation. > -- JB

I certainly hope your theory is correct but my guess Is that when the service is released there will be a time limit on inactivity...i.e..supporting their sponsors. "Money for nothing and the chicks for free"....we wish:) DN

I'm going to guess it's a lot like the "navigation banner" that freeinet uses. It's a "free" ISP that parks a Navigation bar on your screen that can't be hidden (or moved off the screen, or minimized). I'll bet they both use the same technology. Gunner

I e-mailed them over a month ago on this, so it wasn't you who prompted me to as -- it was my own curiousity. FWIW, DSL doesn't involve any shared bandwidth -- cable modem users DO share bandwidth with others, but DSL is essentially a private dedicated network/internet connection between you and the phone company. So bandwidth isn't the issue -- but as I said, I'm sure they don't want potential advertisers to know that games may or may not push their ad/task bar to the rear without having any impact on your connection. -- JB In article <87r53o$s3k$[email hidden]>, "Mark Jeangerard" <[email hidden]> wrote: > Hey! You're not supposed to ask them. There's no way they want a bunchof > gamers using up their bandwidth. The question was if DSL would benefit > online racing and if a proggy like the one they are using would runbehind

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> GPL. > > That's why I asked here instead of emailing them. > -- > Mark Jeangerard > www.soundchaserweb.com > New Mexico USA > > <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:87g7k4$aus$[email hidden]... > > In article <T8Km4.222$[email hidden]>, > > "Dino" <[email hidden]> wrote: > > Sorry, but I have to disagree. The key phrase is "cannot be closedand > > must remain visible on the desktop." If you use something like ICQor > > something like Pointcast and happen to leave them open whileconnected > > to the Internet, and then you launch GPL, for instance, ICQ or > > Pointcast WILL remain visible on your desktop, BUT when GPL goes to > > full-screen mode, it HIDES the desktop. After you leave GPL andreturn > > to your desktop, ICQ or Pointcast will still be there, and theentire > > time you were in GPL racing, they would have been loafing in the > > background, signaling alerts, streaming banners, etc. Leave Outlook > > Express up on your desktop while racing, and if you have if you haveit > > set to check for mail every 5 minutes, and it will check for mailevery > > 5 minutes, even while you're racing in GPL in full-screen mode. My > > guess is the same appies to the FreeDSL navigator bar -- it's most > > likely oblivious to whether what's going on, so long as it "knows"that > > it's still visible on the desktop. > > > > I think this is why the FreeDSL people haven't answered my queryyet. > > I would bet the answer -- the REAL answer -- isn't one they wantgamers

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> > and advertisers to know about or to be aware of. > > > > Just my theory on the situation. > > > > -- JB > > > > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > > Before you buy. > >

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Hey! You're not supposed to ask them. There's no way they want a bunch of gamers using up their bandwidth. The question was if DSL would benefit online racing and if a proggy like the one they are using would run behind GPL. That's why I asked here instead of emailing them. -- Mark Jeangerard www.soundchaserweb.com New Mexico USA <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:87g7k4$aus$[email hidden]... > In article <T8Km4.222$[email hidden]>, > "Dino" <[email hidden]> wrote: > Sorry, but I have to disagree. The key phrase is "cannot be closed and > must remain visible on the desktop." If you use something like ICQ or > something like Pointcast and happen to leave them open while connected > to the Internet, and then you launch GPL, for instance, ICQ or > Pointcast WILL remain visible on your desktop, BUT when GPL goes to > full-screen mode, it HIDES the desktop. After you leave GPL and return > to your desktop, ICQ or Pointcast will still be there, and the entire > time you were in GPL racing, they would have been loafing in the > background, signaling alerts, streaming banners, etc. Leave Outlook > Express up on your desktop while racing, and if you have if you have it > set to check for mail every 5 minutes, and it will check for mail every > 5 minutes, even while you're racing in GPL in full-screen mode. My > guess is the same appies to the FreeDSL navigator bar -- it's most > likely oblivious to whether what's going on, so long as it "knows" that > it's still visible on the desktop. > > I think this is why the FreeDSL people haven't answered my query yet. > I would bet the answer -- the REAL answer -- isn't one they want gamers > and advertisers to know about or to be aware of. > > Just my theory on the situation. > > -- JB > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.