Is 10gb enough?

Mariel

I've got a friend who is signing up for broadband for the first time and she wants to stick with BT. Option 1 has a 10gb download limit, would that be enough for the average home user? She wouldn't be downloading loads of music or films or anything (can you tell I have no idea how these things work?!) or doing any gaming. I'm almost certain it would be enough, I know we only have a cheap package and with 3 very regular users and 2 computers it is plenty.
Thanks in advance.

AndysDad

I would think that is more than enough for normal surfing.We normally use about 3gb/month and surf all day long (well nearly according to my wife)It might be different if you download films etc or use iPlayer.

Rikki

I have a limit of 5gb a month and rarely use it all. The computer is only used for general surfing but I did go close to my limit during 'Spring watch' looking at the web cams constantly. I use more during the holidays when the children are on holiday.
(I have the option to buy more and bank it till needed with my broadband supplier, so I don't mind a low limit.)

Mariel

Thanks both, that's really helpful. She's signed up for option 1 but they've said if she needs to upgrade during the contract she can (unsurprisingly!)

mrJ_5

Mariel wrote: »

She wouldn't be downloading loads of music or films or anything (can you tell I have no idea how these things work?!) or doing any gaming.

Visiting websites, checking email, going on YouTube all counts as downloading - if it's on the Internet and you see it on your computer, then you've downloaded something.

PlutoinCapricorn

I sometimes think that there must be at least two worlds where internet usage is concerned: I have mobile broadband and can easily manage on an allowance of 1gb per month. I don't play games or watch long films: I only watch short videos occasionally.

I have a new 24gb prepaid kit that I expect to last until June 2011. Some people have told me that they would use up that 2-year allowance in a week or so!

So it does depend entirely what you do when online.

Nilrem

Aye 10gb for some users is only a few days use (for some it's less than a day :eek: ), i'm a mid to heavy user and for me 10gb a month wouldn't be anything like close enough (i'm about a gb a day at least) as I tend to use the net quite heavily including thngs like Iplayer (which can be 300mb+ an hour), and I share my connection with a couple of other people.

If however it's mainly used for text/light image stuff and emails (not a lot of youtube, iplayer, downloading games updates etc) 10gb a month is probably fine.

Mariel

mrJ yes I realise that but doesn't email and normal stuff use less? (see, I said I was hopeless!) I know we never go over our limit but the only thing I think we do that would take a lot is light YouTube use and occasional iplayer. I think they'd be pretty much the same as us. Anyway I think it's best for her to start on the smallest package then she can upgrade if she uses too much, better than committing to more than she needs.

PlutoinCapricorn

Emails seems to use virtually nothing, and just Searching is the same. If that is all that you do, it would be difficult to use up even 1gb per month.
Using sites such as Amazon to buy things does not use up much either.

I often wonder what the guys who say that they could use up 10gb in a day or so are actually doing!

I use mine primarily for work, which might explain my low usage.

herbertthehelper

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I sometimes think that there must be at least two worlds where internet usage is concerned: I have mobile broadband and can easily manage on an allowance of 1gb per month. I don't play games or watch long films: I only watch short videos occasionally.

I have a new 24gb prepaid kit that I expect to last until June 2011. Some people have told me that they would use up that 2-year allowance in a week or so!

So it does depend entirely what you do when online.

Yeah i wouldnt count on 24gb to last you that long... Remeber it charges you to look on websites regardless of 'downloading' content. Make sure you watch you limits etc

mazdaspring

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

Emails seems to use virtually nothing, and just Searching is the same. If that is all that you do, it would be difficult to use up even 1gb per month.
Using sites such as Amazon to buy things does not use up much either.

I often wonder what the guys who say that they could use up 10gb in a day or so are actually doing!

I use mine primarily for work, which might explain my low usage.

downloading or watching 1 film is already taken 1 Gb or more not including some other downloadings