In article <[log in to unmask]>, dated Tue,
15 Dec 1998 at 13:29:02, Ahmad Risk <[log in to unmask]> writes
>'Internet' magazine publishes monthly rankings of ISPs based on structured
>testing
>(availability and web speed).
>
>Interestingly, Demon has been languishing in miserable positions for quite a
>time.
>
>This month's report puts Demon at number 117 out of 119! (last month it was at
>67).
>
>Their availability figures are really unacceptable at 84% when you compare with
>the
>top 10 ISPs who were available more or less 100% of the time.
>
I use Demon every day, 7 days a week and have no complaints about
"availability" so I do not take much notice of the rankings! The only
recent problems I have had are, surprise, surprise, more frequent
engaged tones and other non-connection events from Demon's Energis
number. For those who do not appreciate the significance, Energis
carries all the Freeserve traffic. Remarkable coincidence maybe? Well, I
know where my suspicions lie. Fortunately, Demon use multiple carriers
so I have used alternative non-Energis numbers. I wonder whether
Internet Magazines lab test takes into account this human intervention
factor?
However, as the Internet Magazine rankings have been highlighted, you
might also mention that in the December issue of the same magazine,
Demon came 10th out of 30 in a test entitled "The Best ISP on the
Planet". The 30 were apparently in the magazine's opinion the *fastest*
and most popular ISP's! Their words not mine.
>More importantly, is the 6 months overall rank. This month, Demon comes in at
>56
>out of 87 ISPs
>
>What about 'Freeserve'? They came in at rank 21. 'Free Online' was 31st.
>
>Draw your own conclusions.
>
I certainly will! Having been a Demon subscriber since '93 I have seen
this all before. I would personally would be very leery of ditching
Demon in favour of a 'free' ISP, especially when based on such a short
comparison period relative to Demons 5+ years. When the real cost of all
these so-called 'free' services becomes more apparent we will be in a
better position to make *reliable* comparisons. I should make clear I am
not recommending Demon or any other ISP, as with every ISP there are
always people who have problems of one kind or another plus I really
don't want to get involved in arguments about which is the best ISP.
Which reminds me, I must remember to add my Demon supplied personal 'fax
to email number' to my sig! ;-)
Chris
--
Chris Salter (Vice Chairman) Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network
Registered Charity No. 1064177
<URL:http://www.zynet.co.uk/ott/polio/lincolnshire/>
Web Site & Vice Chairman Email: [log in to unmask]
Honorary Secretary Email: [log in to unmask]
Member of the British Healthcare Internet Association
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