broadband usage question

[Mr. Green]

hello, this is my first post. i am pretty illiterate when it comes to computers and i am hoping someone can help me out. i signed up for a 40 mb plan on july 6, my first bill came on july 14 and said i had already exceeded my limit by thousands of mbs. i haven't downloaded anything to my computer but i have used real player to watch 3 min clips and i've watched youtube clips. i guess my question is how long does it "normally" take to "use up" 40 mbs? is 40 too low for ave. use, are there better plans for the same amount of money? are mb being used up if your just sitting on a web page reading text or if you leave your modem plugged in when your not online? it just seems that i went over way too fast for a "monthly plan" any help would be appreciated.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

You should know that, when you watch Youtube clips, they are downloaded to your computer. So essentially, you download the clips as you watch them on Youtube. That's is what Buffering is.
If it says the video is 50% buffered, you have downloaded 50% of the clip.

[drmsucks]

Please give us more details regarding your plan: who is supplier, where are you located, etc.

40 MB seems awfully low - are you sure that's the right number?

[Broni]

40 MB seems awfully low

Just today, only by using the net, my download stands at 25MB.

[drmsucks]

Just today, only by using the net, my download stands at 25MB.

Which FF extension keeps track of this?

[Broni]

It's actually not FF add-on...
NetMeter: http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/

[Mr. Green]

Please give us more details regarding your plan: who is supplier, where are you located, etc.

40 MB seems awfully low - are you sure that's the right number?

    Sprint.It says 40mb of pcs data. overage:50000 kb.  My billing period began on jul 5 and my billing date was jul 9. the salesperson told me that 40 mb was about 3 hours a day ave. for the month, i'm beginning to think i should cancel this plan before i get locked into 2 years. any alternative plan suggestions? I understand they quit doing unlimited usage, is this true?

[Broni]

Sprint? What is it? Some wireless internet connection?
40Mb is just ridiculous.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Ridiculous as in Good or Bad?

[Broni]

Worse, than bad 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I'm going to have to check with my parents but I think we have an unlimited package or something.

[Broni]

Are you using Sprint, too?

[Mr. Green]

i,m going back and talking to them. can you recommend  a good service, i don't have a landline or cable so i figured mobile broadband was the way to go. i'm guessing i could get dsl without having cable tv. is it possible to go "wireless" using cable?

[Mr. Green]

Sprint? What is it? Some wireless internet connection?
40Mb is just ridiculous.

google "Sprint mobile broadband reviews" what comes up is mostly positive, even for the 40 mb plan. i don't get it.

[Broni]

You simply can't surf internet on 40Mb monthly limit.