EarthLink Home Networking offers co-branded versions of 2Wire's HomePortal 100 and HomePortal 1000 residential gateways, and full home network support, including the ability to add future services. The new service is available to all-new and existing EarthLink DSL subscribers for an additional $10/month (with a one-time cost of $150 for the wired and $300 for the 802.11 wireless gateway).
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It isn't really a question of what it pays for, I would think. More of a question of who will pay it. There are no doubt thousands of people willing to pay Earthlinks costs because it means they don't have to do much of anything...let someone come in and install it all and be happy. There are people in this world willing to pay an arm and a leg to have SOMEONE ELSE take care of all the problems. I should know, I get paid $75 an hour to setup this s***, and people actually pay me for the 2-3 hours of work required to network a couple of computers to a hub and add in a DSL modem. Simple you would think, but the fact is, there is a market, and people will pay.
While I agree that anyone reading MacNN would probably be smart enough to go and by a Linksys for $99, I suspect that installing it would proably violate the terms of service that Earthlink issues. Although everyone ignores the part that say "for one computer only" every time a router is added, technically Earthlink could probably pull your account if they detected a third-party router.
DSL was probably originally priced for the consumer market under the assumption that people wouldn't be using much bandwidth during the day, and then at night, one computer would be using the connection. Extra computers attached to the line mean extra bandwith draw.
( I also agree with the comment that some (most...) people will pay just to make their life easier as I too have been paid ridiculous amounts of money to do relatively simple computer work)
Amazing....I never thought Id say this, but that means Verizon is BETTER than Earthlink. Scary huh?
Basically while Earthlink provides 1.5mb downstream and 128kb upstream they cost $10 more per month. Add to that this information about "one computer only" and it starts looking not-so-hot for networks.
On the other hand Verizon offers 640kb downstream and 90kb upstream, roughly half of Earthlinks rates HOWEVER Verizons service (including their Westell brand DSL modem) comes ready able to support networked environments. Sure, they claim they will only offer support for one connection, but even that isn't 100% accurate as they tech people are helpful, network or no network. The Westell modem plugs directly into a hub (via the uplink port or a cross-over cable) and numerous computers can connect to it (I don't know the limit, but I have 4 computers connected to it simultaneously at times, no glitches). Oh yeah, and at $40 per month the service is cheaper than Earthlinks $50...factor in the $10 per month for each additional computer and in my case that brings their service up to $80 per month - DOUBLE Verizons rates and putting it in line with Verizons business-class solutions (which no doubt offer much more than Earthlinks consumer-class $50+10+10+10 solution).
Okay, so I was mistaken..this $10 per month fee brings with it support for up to 4 computers, but still $60 versus $40 per month? Yuck!
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What is so special?
Maybe I'm just dense but why would you want to pay an extra $10/mo plus the $150 initial charge for something you can get for the hardware cost alone?
There does not appear to be anything special about their DSL system which requires their hardware or their extra charge. Just go down to the computer store, pick up a linksys broadband router and plug it in. I just don't see what the extra $10/mo is paying for here.