Technology catch-all thread

[StrangeSox]

Yup.

[bigruss]

For wiring through your home, that's very dependent on your home. I don't like wires all over the outside of my house and holes drilled through my house to every room I want tv/internet in, which is exactly what most of them do.

 

And if you do have Comcast and have old equipment, just bring it into them, you don't have to call and ask. They'll swap it out for brand new stuff no questions asked.

 

The reality for me is one way or another I need Comcast...they are the only place I can get what I consider good internet service from...so even if I had directv and slightly better dvr's, I'd still have to deal with comcast.

 

Until someone comes and gives me fiber, nothing can compete with Comcast's internet. Not even close.

Well one issue is that many people are limited and/or uncomfortable drilling holes into their walls to get that cat5 wiring into every room.

 

I know it was pretty damn hard for me and my brother just to get 1 ethernet cable from the router to our 360 in our basement since we had to go through a ceiling and over a bathroom, etc.

 

It's a hassle, just like speaker wire. And even the houses that advertise they are pre-wired for speakers typically don't have them wired in the exact places that you would want the speakers to be.

[Steve9347]

That's sort of my point, though, I already *have* to deal with them.

But there's nothing to deal with on the internet side. They don't scam you there and their pricing is straightforward and worth every penny because the product is actually the best on the market and fairly priced.

 

Comcast Internet + The Genie = perfection

[southsider2k5]

I nearly recently left Comcast because of their crap DVR's, so before I actually switched service, I brought my old ones in and asked for new ones, which they replaced. I went from having these huge ugly/loud silver Comcast branded Motorola boxes to these new black ones which are half the size and Xfinity branded. They're fast, have wayyy more storage space, etc. I do think the guide is better with DirecTV, however (family members still have DirecTV). But the speed made all the difference for me, the guide actually keeps up with me, which is all I really asked for.

 

Yes, Comcast customers service is terrible.

 

Terrible.

 

Terrible terrible.

 

There is no defending them.

 

Stupid question, if you replace your DVR, do you lose what you had stored?

[bigruss]

Oh, and RCN's cable/internet blows, unfortunately Comcast isn't hooked up in my current building and when we requested it they said 2-4 weeks until it gets to the technician's queue, then it's up to them how fast they'll do it. 7 mths later and we haven't heard anything from them.

[StrangeSox]

But there's nothing to deal with on the internet side. They don't scam you there and their pricing is straightforward and worth every penny because the product is actually the best on the market and fairly priced.

 

Comcast Internet + The Genie = perfection

...unless you have bad lines running to your house/condo/apartment that they refuse to fix

[Steve9347]

I broke down and got the Galaxy S3. Best Buy had it at 49.99 over the weekend, and reading comparisons, the S4 won't be all that much better technologically (seriously, are people really being sold on 1080p in a f***ing smartphone???) Plus, I read that all of the software advantages the S4 will have will be pushed to the S3. It's a no-brainer at that price point.

 

I made a funny background.

 

 

It makes me smile, and that's all that matters.

[Jake]

Your background would look better in 1080p

[iamshack]

...unless you have bad lines running to your house/condo/apartment that they refuse to fix

My parents have this problem too...they've had techs out to their house like 100 times in the last 10 years...for whatever reason, Comcast believes that is cheaper than actually replacing the lines...Next time I make an extended visit home, maybe I will get them set up with a new tv and DirecTV installed....

[Y2HH]

Stupid question, if you replace your DVR, do you lose what you had stored?

 

Yes, so watch everything first. You'll also lose all of it when the DVR's drive eventually breaks, so either way it's not a forever thing. If you still have their old huge silver/grey DVR's, go get them replaced. The new ones are leagues better.

[StrangeSox]

protip: don't bother scheduling a tech appointment at the end of the day. They do not give one s*** and just want to get home after working 10 hours. Was told this by the one competent Comcast tech I've ever met.

[Y2HH]

Well one issue is that many people are limited and/or uncomfortable drilling holes into their walls to get that cat5 wiring into every room.

 

I know it was pretty damn hard for me and my brother just to get 1 ethernet cable from the router to our 360 in our basement since we had to go through a ceiling and over a bathroom, etc.

 

It's a hassle, just like speaker wire. And even the houses that advertise they are pre-wired for speakers typically don't have them wired in the exact places that you would want the speakers to be.

 

Yes, this is absolutely true, which is why most times, people have wires wrapped all over the outside of their house, so they can get tv or internet service to specific rooms. Wireless will eventually proliferate throughout peoples homes to the point where none of these wires are necessary (outside of a main feed), but until then we have to deal with what we have, and/or to the level you want to deal with it.

 

I'm personally anti wire, I think they make everything ugly, and that's part of my problem with Comcast, or anyone else. I like wires run internally, and depending on the location of a television set, sometimes internal wiring is the only way to invisibly reach the destination.

[Steve9347]

Your background would look better in 1080p

Ha!

[HuskyCaucasian]

I need some advice. I am looking for a good online backup option for our photos and some videos.

 

Currently, I use Google Drive, but it's tied to my email address (I have a free Google Apps for business account). It's about $5/month for 100GB of storage.

Amazon now has Cloud Drive that is $4.17/month for 100GB of storage.

Drop Box is $8.25/month for 100GB,

 

Which is the best option??? I am leaning towards switching to Cloud Drive and setting up an Amazon account that my wife and I can both access (we currently each have separate accounts).

 

The problem I have with Cloud Drive is that you can not upload folders unless you install the app, which I don't want. I don't need the app. I just want to upload the folders. THe app forces my local files to be stored on the computer, i want them on an external drive.

Edited April 2, 2013 by Athomeboy_2000

[Y2HH]

I need some advice. I am looking for a good online backup option for our photos and some videos.

 

Currently, I use Google Drive, but it's tied to my email address (I have a free Google Apps for business account). It's about $5/month for 100GB of storage.

Amazon now has Cloud Drive that is $4.17/month for 100GB of storage.

Drop Box is $8.25/month for 100GB,

 

Which is the best option??? I am leaning towards switching to Cloud Drive and setting up an Amazon account that my wife and I can both access (we currently each have separate accounts).

 

It really depends on specific use requirements. If you're looking for free, I think MegaUpload gives you 50 gigs free. But I'm not very trusting of Dotcom's stuff. Otherwise, look for the cheapest option that you can share with your wife, as you stated you'd like to do.

[Jenksismyhero]

You are so painfully misinformed in this thread it's ridiculous.

 

I'm getting any channel I could ask for plus HBO and Showtime for $74 year 1 and $94 year 2 then contract ends. The DVR difference is absurd.

 

You are working off of old information.

 

Wow i'm getting screwed. I'm in year 2 of my contract and I pay $120 for the mid-tier programming package, hbo and showtime, one HD DVR and one regular HD box and the whole home DVR deal (not the newer Genie system). I think i'm going to have to wait until my 2 year contract is up and then demand the genie package upgrade.

[Y2HH]

Wow i'm getting screwed. I'm in year 2 of my contract and I pay $120 for the mid-tier programming package, hbo and showtime, one HD DVR and one regular HD box and the whole home DVR deal (not the newer Genie system). I think i'm going to have to wait until my 2 year contract is up and then demand the genie package upgrade.

 

Everyone has to do this every two years, because its all a scam.

 

Pay for 543 channels, of which you actually want and watch 13 of. The absolute second true al-la-carte programming is available, I'd be all over it. Meaning I get all the major sports, locals, and the specific movie channels I want, and that's all I pay for. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen so long as the providers can prevent it.

[Steve9347]

Wow i'm getting screwed. I'm in year 2 of my contract and I pay $120 for the mid-tier programming package, hbo and showtime, one HD DVR and one regular HD box and the whole home DVR deal (not the newer Genie system). I think i'm going to have to wait until my 2 year contract is up and then demand the genie package upgrade.

Yeah, I think I got lucky and switched at the right time. I have whole home HD DVR with 4 tvs hooked up.

[BigSqwert]

Yeah, I think I got lucky and switched at the right time. I have whole home HD DVR with 4 tvs hooked up.

BTW, I think this is insane. I'm sure I'll get flack on a sports message board for thinking that.

 

 

[Y2HH]

BTW, I think this is insane. I'm sure I'll get flack on a sports message board for thinking that.

 

Why are you in here messing with us and our first world problems?

[BigSqwert]

Why are you in here messing with us and our first world problems?

You know I'm a liberal elitist. Let me be.

[Jenksismyhero]

Everyone has to do this every two years, because its all a scam.

 

Pay for 543 channels, of which you actually want and watch 13 of. The absolute second true al-la-carte programming is available, I'd be all over it. Meaning I get all the major sports, locals, and the specific movie channels I want, and that's all I pay for. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen so long as the providers can prevent it.

 

The al-la-carte model doesn't benefit anyone but the consumer. The provider and networks all make out better with the current system. And really, i'm not convinced that the consumer would make out better. Even if you watch a relatively low number of networks (say below 15), the price per network would still have to be pretty small, i.e. less than $7-8/month to keep your bill smaller than it is now. I doubt any network would be to operate at those figures.

 

And that's not even considering the drop in quality content. Would AMC ever take off and take a chance on Breaking Bad or Mad Men if they were using only the money they got from their subscriber base? Nope.

[StrangeSox]

And that's not even considering the drop in quality content. Would AMC ever take off and take a chance on Breaking Bad or Mad Men if they were using only the money they got from their subscriber base? Nope.

 

HBO? Showtime?

 

I'd pay for HBO right now if I could do it without getting 500 channels I'll never watch.

[Y2HH]

HBO? Showtime?

 

I'd pay for HBO right now if I could do it without getting 500 channels I'll never watch.

 

Same.

[Y2HH]

The al-la-carte model doesn't benefit anyone but the consumer. The provider and networks all make out better with the current system. And really, i'm not convinced that the consumer would make out better. Even if you watch a relatively low number of networks (say below 15), the price per network would still have to be pretty small, i.e. less than $7-8/month to keep your bill smaller than it is now. I doubt any network would be to operate at those figures.

 

And that's not even considering the drop in quality content. Would AMC ever take off and take a chance on Breaking Bad or Mad Men if they were using only the money they got from their subscriber base? Nope.

 

I understand your point, but they're going to have to deal with this one way or another...it's going to end up going that direction regardless of how much they resist. Networks will still come and go, changes will be made and chances will be taken. Case in point, Netflix didn't exist a few years ago, now it's bigger than a lot of the networks. The current model doesn't benefit anyone but the suppliers. I see this as price fixing as much as I see AT&T and Verizon price fixing the cellular market. The biggest names/brands all have the near exact same pricing schemes year after year. I don't find it to be a coincidence, either.