In layman user terms, what does 10GB mean as a monthly download limit?

easy

I have been asked by my mum to get her a laptop and broadband package, as she has decided to go digital (never used a 'puter before for anything).

Soooo considering broadband packages, I figure she is going to be a fairly lightweight user.

But I honestly don't know how much surfing a 10GB monthly limit actually represents. She certainly wont be downloading music, I don't expect her to be watching web TV (not yet anyway ), but I can see us doing some MSN chats using a webcam in the future (give her more contact with her grandson), as well as us sending her photos and so on in emails.

So would a 10GB limit be restrictive? don't want to sign her up to an unlimited package at more expense than necessary...

neilwoods

use this broadband usage calculator, it works out ur monthly usage

http://www.comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk/broadbandusage.html

fwor

10GB per month should be fine unless she accidentally does something bandwidth-intensive by mistake! My dad's usage is similar, and he never hits 1GB in any month.

A typical full CD of data is around three quarters of a GB, so it's easy to see how 10 GB could be restrictive for a big file sharer - but it sounds like she won't be one of those.

In real-world terms, an internet search will throw up guides like this one:

http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/tek1/how_big.htm

GeoffX

If the 10GB a month you're referring to is from Plusnet then don't forget that midnight to 8am is unmetered.

Hammyman

I just about managed on 1GB when I was waiting for phone and BB connecting at new house.

esuhl

Chat programs and email will use very little bandwidth, general web browsing a little bit more, but 10GB will easily be enough for such purposes.

For more exotic purposes, a few quick & rough calculations suggest that 10GB will be enough to download:

• 170 ten-mega-pixel JPEG images (of ~2MB each) per day OR
• 145mins of MP3 music per day (at 320kb/s - best MP3 quality) OR
• 30mins watching online TV per day (at 1.5Mb/s - relatively high quality).

pcombo

lol 10gb would be no use to me.

Already used 20Gig this month.

fwor

pcombo wrote: »

lol 10gb would be no use to me.

Already used 20Gig this month.

So let's be clear what point you are making here - you think you are like the OP's mum?

aliEnRIK

The chances of her using anything like 10Gb per month in the first few months is very unlikely. But when she discovers streaming etc theres a very good chance the 10Gb will be broke.
So (if possible) put her on 10Gb but with the option of upgrading if need be in the future

Some form of 'bandwidth monitor' would be a good idea to keep an eye on how she does per month

dug123

Out of interest I have unlimited usage and we have 3 PC's in the house and 2 X xbox 360's both on live, My kids download games and music (legally I hope!) and watch BBC iplayer sometimes and they are always on facebook etc. My wife uses facebook and Skype and a few newspaper sites and BBC etc. I use BBC iplayer maybe once a month and use ebay a fair bit. I would say that at weekends and evenings there is always at least one Xbox 360 or PC on the internet (and usually 2 or 3).
When my broadband came up for renewal last month it was suggested that we go to a 50GB limit to save money, rather than unlimited because in the past year we have never used over 40GB in a month. Our maximum was 37GB and the average was about 32GB.
I am amazed because I would class our family as heavy users!

PlutoinCapricorn

I too managed on 1gb per month for a while, and now use around 2gb. Some of this is because many websites have been loaded with adverts, moving pictures etc; some is because there is more and more to explore and investigate so I spend more time online.

I don't play games or download films and music, which is what uses up huge amounts.

Some people have reported paying a lot for a large allowance, then not being able to use it because of the slow speed or unreliable service.