Choosing the right internetI remember when my family first got the internet on our home desktop computer. We would make sure the phone line was free and then wait while the dial-up kicked in. Then we would wait some more while the pages loaded so we could check our e-mail accounts or chat with our friends. Boy, have things changed since then.Fast forward to today. Speed is paramount, broadband is king, and mobility is critical. Individual laptops and tablets have replaced the family desktop. The options for how to connect to the internet have multiplied, with plans to suit every budget and lifestyle. How do you choose?The first consideration should be where you will use the internet. If you plan to use it on your computer at home, you should opt for a fixed internet service. In Bermuda, this requires both broadband access and internet service, so you will receive two bills each month for your internet. If you plan to use the internet on the go from your laptop or tablet for frequent business meetings, school, or your busy social agenda you may wish to opt for a mobile internet service. This will allow you to access the internet using a wireless provider, like the one that supports your cell phone. One benefit of the mobile service is that you only pay one bill a month, as you do not need a separate broadband access provider.Are you wondering if mobile internet is the same as Wi-Fi? There is a difference. Wi-Fi works within the vicinity of a hotspot. If you set up your fixed internet at home with a wireless router, you can get the Wi-Fi wireless signal within your home, but not much further than that. Mobile internet allows you to take the internet with you all over the island. If you want to get really fancy, you can use a Wi-Fi modem with your mobile internet service, which will allow you to create your own hotspot so that other devices can connect to the internet in your immediate vicinity, wherever you are!The second consideration is how you will use the internet. This can be split into speed and quantity. Are you mainly an e-mail person who dallies in the occasional light browsing? Or are you a heavy user, streaming video after video, playing online video games, downloading countless albums, and uploading your life in photos to Facebook?The more data you use, the faster you want your internet service to be. Fixed internet plans are based on speed packages. You pay more for faster speeds. Therefore, if you are a light user, you may choose to save money by selecting a slightly slower plan. If you are a heavy user, however, don’t skimp on the speed. Video streaming, downloading, and gaming are all enhanced by faster speeds.Mobile internet does not vary by speed, but rather by quantity. You pay more for higher quantities of data. If you are a heavy user, mobile internet may not be suitable for your needs. If you use less than 10GB per month, however, and enjoy the freedom to take the internet with you as you move about, mobile internet is a cost-effective option.Again, there are internet plans for every budget and every lifestyle, so think about where and how you would like to connect before choosing the right plan for you. Happy connecting!