Is ADSL a dead system? Absolutely not. Many communities still employ DSL to connect to the world around them. Of course what you need in order to do this effectively is a good ADSL router. When looking at routers, you have to look at the big picture before you make a decision. You have to look for features and services along with the price; you need to have a solid understanding of what your own personal or business network requires before making this change. Do you require strong security? Do you need a large amount of connectivity for a large network? Those are the questions you need to ask yourself.
For personal routers, I think you can’t go wrong with Cisco. Cisco has been a household name in routers for years now, mostly being known for their large network applications that you’d find in businesses. However, they’ve lately been bringing a lot of that solid construction straight into your home. Their Cisco 837 ADSL router is probably one of the best I’ve found for applications like your home or small business. This has Cisco’s standard robust firewall system already installed, which means that you will have enterprise-like security while still being able to configure it how you’d like. This is a pretty cheap router; they can be purchased for $60-$70 new, or if you don’t mind a used router, you can get them for about $50. Best yet, it works just perfectly with ADSL connections, making it a great addition to your network security portfolio.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Cisco and Linksys have actually merged into one company; this is going to be for your benefit, trust me. Both companies have been manufacturers of industry-leading routers for years, so now you get the benefit of both. Have a look at the Cisco/Linksys creations; you won’t be sorry.