Need cable modem

[rajatQ2]

I am trying to get my parents set up for a cable modem connection at their house, and i am in need of a deal to buy a cable modem. I am not too familiar with the requirements and how the modems work. Here is the list of modems which they recommend:
http://www.mediaonerr.com/HtmlPreProcessor?pageName=rrpromo/home/includes/faqmodem.html

any deals you might come across would be great. thanks in advance.

[fakesurfers]

dude, lease it like everyone else

[rajatQ2]

works out cheaper to buy it, plus i don't like the one they are leasing out, its very large and ugly, and i just want my own.

[fakesurfers]

how long do you have to use it before it's cheaper to buy it? I dont think youre figuring in the depreciation. They'll probably have something way better a year from now...

[rajatQ2]

i did more research, and it turns out that the reason no online merchants stock cable modems is because which modem you buy is pretty much dependent on the cable provider. the guy at circuit city (who seemed quite knowledgeable) told me that the roadrunner service that i'm getting is working with Toshiba, and those are the only modems you will be allowed to use (they want the serial number from my modem before they will come do the installation), and the serial number has to be from the batch sold at circuit city. this was all told to me by the employees at RoadRunner and Circuit City, and i'm kinda just taking their word for it.

the toshiba that i need is currently going for $150, and the leasing fee is $10 per month, so since i intend to keep it for more than 15 months, it looks good.

About the compatibility issues, all the roadrunner customers that i know, they lease or own the toshiba modem. i doubt that Roadrunner would switch to a new standard as soon as it came out, because it would then have to replace all the toshiba modems that it leases out. probably wouldn't be too cheap.