DSL generally does cost more, but it's worth it. Our internet provider is through our provinical telephone company and they offer up to 5 email addresses on one pop mail account.
As far as 'how it works' and 'what gets installed'? They sent me a book, some filters and a CD ROM, I followed the instructions and presto! Highspeed internet! The filters are attached to each phone jack in your house to allow the internet info to by-pass your phone line.
It's connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) by using your phone line, but it doesn't tie up your line.
That is only a lay person's understanding of the whole thing, but I would highly recommend swithcing, and if you have an option to support a cause at the same time, I'd go for it.

Matt, I have a cable modem, but I've installed DSL for a number of friends and clients. It's relatively painless.

You will receive a DSL modem, some cables, and one or more filters. The filters look like odd splitters which connect to an existing phone jack and which can take both a telephone cable and a DSL cable. The DSL cable connects from this filter to the DSL modem. The modem itself will connect to your computer either via USB port or via a network card.

Your computer(s) will require some sort of special dial-up software in order to establish your DSL connection. (It's kind of like dialing a phone, but not really. Isn't that helpful?)

Installation is generally painless, but as with any computer exercise, problems can crop up.

DSL is more expensive than dial-up in most cases.

The DSL connection can be shared just like any other connection, so if you already are sharing an internet connection between your two computers, that oughtn't be a problem.

If you want more info, feel free to drop me a line. I can be more geeky or less, as you desire. :)

IMO, cable modems are better. Much faster than DSL despite sharing your connection with others in your area, and much better customer service than my three different DSL providers had.

I have DSL. Its works great. I have it through EarthLink. I think they might have a deal right now:
http://www.earthlink.net/home/broadband/

And some of my friend have cable modems and have had problems with them. Not sure the exact problems though...

I, too, have a cable modem. It's great. It's much faster than the DSL connections around here. But, then, I live in a small town in rural Oregon, and my experiences may not be typical.

It seems that DSL is pushed heavily around here, and that's what most people get. Very few people choose cable modems. As a result, I'm not sharing my bandwidth with many others and can obtain much higher speeds.

In fact, twice I've received "too much bandwidth" warnings from my ISP near the end of the month because I'm able to zip all over the place, downloading files, etc.

Anyhow: the main point, Matt, is that broadband is great. :)

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm a little less mystified now, and leaning further toward going DSL. Now for the homework phase.

I recently dumped our DSL for Roadrunner Cable. My speed with DSL was not that much better than dial up, but the cable is lightning fast. Cable Broadband is a little more expensive than DSL, but if you use it like I do (a lot!) it makes a huge difference. Ask your provider about how many email accounts you get, it varies.

Either way, the set up is not difficult at all. You may need to purchase a router or hub if you plan on creating a LAN (networking two or more computers) but they are less than $50. The router is not a bad idea as it has a built in firewall so your computers are protected from unwanted visitors.

If you have questions, drop me a line. I'm no techie guru - but I have installed both myself.

I have DSL through Earthlink and it is extremely fast, but I live in Los Angeles and it may be different in your area. I have always done research
and troubleshooting for my line through the site DSL Reports, which can give you carriers and their reported average speeds in your area.