Sorting out which service is better, however, is far from simple. These figures allow Bell to claim that their service is up to 30 times faster than a 28.8 Kbps modem. Kbps, a pretty big range, I'd expect that you'd rarely reach that top speed for very long. So as more users in your area begin using the service, your access speeds will drop. How big the drop will be is difficult to say.
Cable companies downplay the whole issue.
On the other hand, the speed of cable is usually higher to begin with. Whichever option you choose, you'll no doubt notice an appreciable increase in speed over your old dial-up modem. The only question is whether the difference will be worth the added cost. I still use a 33.6 Kbps dial-up modem, and for my needs at the moment, it's fine. Before you decide to spring for one of these high-speed options, make sure you meet or exceed the recommended, not just the minimum, system requirements.