[Arkan]

DSL stands for "Digital Suscriber Line" so yes, it's like a phone line but you'll be connected through a modem just like cable. And like cable, you'll always be connected and only pay a single monthly fee no matter how long you're on the computer. The DSL line is independant from your regular phone line.

As for speeds, you'll be alot closer to cable than you realize when you're gaming. Only when you're d/loading a huge file will you notice the slower speeds.