Upload speeds for sending stuff are à lot slower. If you want to send large image files to your
grandparents or play your own part in the peer-to-peer revolution then you will quickly notice the difference.

That means your emails download in the background, chat services can see you are online all the
time, and checking something out on your favourite search engine is à matter of launching à browser and not having to wait for à dial up connection to get going.

But having à fast connection helps too, and some net applications and uses are only really viable at high speeds. 

Unfortunately, you need 2Mbps per screen, which is where the problems start.

The poor state of UK broadband is clearly à minor issue when it comes to building the wired world. In Japan and South Korea they have invested in network infrastructure, built new networks to support the highest possible access speed and promoted connectivity through government action.

Over here we have an inadequate cable network, an old copper-based phone network and à
government that is happy to accept à slow 256Kbps metered service as "broadband" because it helps it pretend that we are living in "Broadband Britain".

One of these models might be of some use to developing countries seeking à way to improve internet access for their populations.

For me, if you can be bothered to measure it, it is not fast enough.