Internet service providers like to use odd words like "sizzling" and "blistering" to describe their expensive services. Finding a cheaper quality connection is possible. Let's cut through the confusion and turn our gaze to the more important details: Speed and price.

Though certain "activation fees" may apply, the pricing below includes all equipment needed to get connected.

Cable

Using the same cable that gives your TV all those channels, companies like Comcast (www.comcast.com) split that cable, giving you TV channels from one end of the split and Internet connectivity from the other. The cheapest version of this plan requires an existing cable TV subscription. You'll pay $20 per month for 6 months, then the price jumps to $45 per month.

If you don't already pay for cable TV, the cost for cable Internet is harder to justify. Plans start at $30 per month, and in six months jump to a catatonia-inducing $60 monthly rate.

Cable internet gives you the fastest connection speed, free email accounts and your own website, but is the most expensive. Setup is fairly easy.

DSL

DSL gives you an Internet connection by using your home telephone lines. Companies like Ameritech (www.ameritech.com/dsl) are the providers, and the cheapest plan runs $27 per month. DSL is a fairly fast connection, comes with free email accounts and is fairly easy to set up. For those who do not have a home cable TV connection, DSL is the best choice.

Dialup

Remember dialup? Back in the old days (about 2 years ago), this is how almost everyone connected to the Internet. Popularized by AOL (www.aol.com), dialup is becoming rare.

It's also very slow. If all you're doing is checking email, fine. But for downloading games, music, and pictures, you may want to take up a long-term hobby while you're waiting, like learning Chinese.

For bargain hunters, there are free dialup services like Juno (www.juno.com). These providers make their money by forcing you to periodically watch short ads, and your connection could be limited to a set number of hours per month.

A single dialup connection can be made to share Internet connectivity with an entire network, but the resulting connection is very slow. DSL and cable are much better suited to provide connectivity to multiple PCs. Depending on provider, dialup costs range $0 to $25 per month. The cost and setup difficulty are the lowest, but so is the connection speed.

You'll often get discounted broadband rate for six months. When the "good pricing" wears out, call your provider. If you're lucky, you can extend your commitment another 6 months, and receive discounted pricing again. Right now, "sizzling" and "blistering" most accurately describes the ISP war. Cable and DSL providers are fighting with each other, and dialup services are just trying to stay in the game. Since everyone's desperate for our money, you've gotta love the result: The consumers win.