How does your internet use now compare to 10 years ago?

Jambo

Jambo

Jambo

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Do you use the internet on desktop (or laptop) as much now as you did 10 years ago?

Recently I've been thinking the internet seems a quieter place than it was 10 years ago but I guess it's probably down to mobile use. For example, I don't think forums lend themselves as well to mobile use so perhaps that makes them less popular Vs social media type sites/apps.

It feels like there is less discovery going on and a lot of big sites like eBay, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube (and other tubes :o) etc get the majority share of users.

Maybe it's just me though. Personally I still browse on my laptop about 12 hours a day, most days.

What about you? Do you think your browsing habits have changed?
 
1999: Uni halls of residence, T1
1999: summer holidays, 56gay
2000: lodger, still 56gay
2001: back in uni digs, OC14 or something
2002: NTL 600kbit which became 1.5mbit
2006: Richard Branson
 
general pc use has gone up, ten years ago i could have gone a whole week without looking at a computer screen.

these days 24 hours is a stretch [and thats not including mobiles/tablets/tv/games consoles, just pc's]
 
I use it a lot more for social media now, and more often from a mobile device, most of the apps I use daily are web-enabled. 10 years ago I'd have to be sat at a PC to use the Internet.
 
I've gone mobile :) Constant use through mobile devices, specific limited use through PC / Mac.

I probably still only browse fewer than 20 websites regularly though.
 
10 years ago not massive difference. As soon as ISDN hit the market speeds were dramatically improved, and that's about 15yrs ago.
20 years ago on 9600 modem was massively different. Watching every picture load line by line was appalling.
Even remote diagnostics on telecomm's switches was appalling at 300bps 20yrs ago.
I think you just don't notice anything different now because you don't need more than 8Gb for a seamless connection with more than 1 device.
 
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10 Years ago I had 2x 2Mbit down, 448kbit up ADSL connections IIRC so some things haven't changed massively, though sites like netflix didn't really exist like they do today.

Having a smartphone with a 5" display I don't find forums a problem to use on mobile devices at all.

The biggest change is being connected more than ever before and actually having to think about taking more of a break from being online through self discipline rather than incidentally forced due to technical limitations.

Even at work recently they updated the BYOD policy to make it more relaxed and even added a separate "free wifi" in addition to the company internet - which is kind of amusing as anything goes (even porn, etc. if you were so inclined) if your on the "free wifi" but if you did it on the company internet which is basically the same thing just artificially separated it would be instant dismissal (if using your own device, doing that kind of thing on a company device/PC on either would get you sacked).
 
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Bandwidth... through the roof with SWMBO using Netflix and Lovefilm, and for me Steam games and add ons for various simulation products.

Actual browsing/surfing, probably about the same actually.
 
10 years ago my internet usage largely revolved around:

-Playing Quakeworld online, spectating big events, commentating etc
-Questionable activities involving FXP/FTP
-IRC (almost entirely related to the above two)
-Discovering new music
-Ill-fated attempts at online dating and some early social networks (Faceparty etc)
-OcUK forums
-Usual surfing/email etc
-Dipping my toes into gambling (Betfair)
-Lots and lots of downloading over my 2mbit connection which was considered reasonably good for a home connection at the time (how the mighty have fallen, I have a way below average speed now)
-Videos typically downloaded rather than streamed

This was done exclusively on a desktop PC and probably for around 30+ hours per week (very rare that a day would pass without using my PC)

Nowadays:
-Surfing/email
-Facebook
-Regular gambling across multiple bookies
-OcUK Forums
-Downloading of games on Steam etc
-Videos typically streamed rather than downloaded
-Some catchup TV
-Messaging of people I know IRL (10 years ago I almost exclusively communicated with such people via phone/text)

This is done across a range of devices but probably mostly from my mobile phone. I use my desktop PC for less than 10hrs per week now but this is not really due to lack of desire or better alternatives, it is just that with a young child I don't get the time.

To be honest if it wasn't for my change in personal circumstances (massively reduced free time) my usage probably wouldn't have changed that much.
 
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