DSL vs Cable, which is better?

Answer:

Cable modems are typically faster for downloads than most if not all DSL lines, when the cable infrastructure is new or well maintained. However, cable has a few disadvantages to DSL. Since cable is a shared media, there is a possibility that performance may degrade over time as additional households plug in, connect additional devices (videos, game machines) to the TV lines.
A cable company may react slowly to decreases in performance, as they never sell access by speed, or promise consistent speed or latency.
One of the largest disadvantages of cable over DSL is the upstream (return path). Cable companies are using a very narrow band for return signaling, below all the space allocated for TV channels. This band is prone to RF interference and is very limited in capacity. Upstream transmissions may therefore compete with others in the area, get delayed (suffer high latency) due to noise fighting techniques, and cable Terms Of Service typically prohibit any kind of constant upstream use. Internet use is shifting away from central servers broadcasting to many individuals and some interesting peer-to-peer applications are appearing (games, VoIP and video applications, communal libraries). These applications need a strong upstream channel.

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