A new world record of 4.23 gigabits per second has been set for transferring data across the Internet.

That's the ISP for me!!

Full story here.

Call me a spoilsport but why would anyone want that sort of speed? OK, I am a bit of a speed freak when it comes to modems, my first was 14.4 when lots of people were still using 9.6 - oh what lots, hardly anyone was on the Internet back then. I think I still have my original one somewhere, I wonder if it is worth anything. I do know something, I wish that I had kept my old BBC B, that might have been worth something.

It was just done for the challenge I expect and because the previous record was there to be broken. I would settle for quite a bit less than 4.23 gigabits per second myself. A one or two meg connection would keep me happy ...the 150k one I have at present will do for now.

But still, as more speed is achieved on the Net some of the technology filters down to us. ISPs tend to upgrade speeds on lower speed connections at no extra cost once in a while in order to bring the service up to date. I read that my ISP is going to do this (not sure when).

When I'm in my 90's the basic speed will be about 4.23Gb/s maybe. Computers and peripherals in their present form will be in museums and people of a new era will look at them in the same way we look at a wind-up gramophone.

I've only got a 56.6k modem, it's really slow after working with the supercomputers and fast web servers in Fairbanks...

Ah, I'm stuck with a 56.6 as well - nightmare!! Nice record though, if for nothing else to show it can be done ... and make people like me want to pull our hair out

You know, this sort of subject has actually made me wonder whether I shouldn't have kept my old Commodor Vic 20. Or even the old IBM (when IBM meant IBM) 286 with all the (at the time) snazzy components. My thoughts are, this is precisely the type of stuff that becomes collectible. Some day, maybe 100 years from now, my grandchildren could have had some valuable piece of electronic history. I mean, who still has an intact IBM 286? Surely most of those machines were taken apart as components fried, the good stuff sent on to other machines, etc. So, when some museum IS putting together an antiquated technology exhibit, where will they get the machines to put into it? I have a veritable computer graveyard in my garage, and it just makes me wonder sometimes.

Most old technology that is not a breakthrough in a new area is merely scrapped, and should be because it is useless. Take the 56.6k modem for instance, when it becomes obsolete, you aren't going to find it in a museum. However, take the first computer, or first known modems. They are treasured because they were the first breakthroughs in their areas.

~~theoryman14

P.S. I have a lot of old stuff nonetheless, I don't know what to do with it .

I have an "IBM PS2" hoowhee is it old.

A couple of years ago we visited 'Milestones' a museum in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It was quite disconcerting to see some TV models displayed there that I used to work on as an apprentice TV engineer. I instantly recognised The Sobell 192 and the Sobell 347. I can and still remember the component lay-outs and the common faults they suffered from. Corr! What nostalgia!

Have a quick scan through this. I used to love the life!

My firend still uses an external modem ... old old thing but works like a charm. You know what I miss - the old Amigas.