5 meg file downloads in less than a minute........10 megs in about a minute and a half. That's with two computers using the same modem thru a router with T10/100 ethernet connection.......both computers downloading at the same time!! T1 doesn't even equal that!! But, during peak internet traffic that does slow down a little........but thats just congestion at the various servers and sites. Get cable if you can.
t1 is mostly used for businesses or public networks. Its upload is what is so much better then cable and its alot more stable. Its also alot more money and alot more for installation most of the time.