Technology catch-all thread

[G&T]

It's a s***ty practice, but I don't see why this should be illegal. They're providing the service, they can charge what they want for it. That just means other companies (AT&T U-Verse for example, which I have and which is great) can give you unlimited/unrestricted plans.

 

Comcast sucks anyway. Why anyone uses them is beyond me.

 

Yeah, they could give unlimited plans, but in the end, they won't or they will charge something ridiculous for it. Look at cell phone companies, are there really any major differences in pricing? Cable companies are about to turn the internet into the crappy cable packages because they can make more money that way. And we don't know what impact that will have in the long run. What happens when a new businesses that starts up with little more than a website is not accessible to everyone because it isn't part of the correct "tier" of service? Are you going to be happy when you have to pay extra for a social networking tier?

 

In other words, it's easy to justify requiring people to pay more for large volume content, but we don't know where this will go.

[Jenksismyhero]

Yeah, they could give unlimited plans, but in the end, they won't or they will charge something ridiculous for it. Look at cell phone companies, are there really any major differences in pricing? Cable companies are about to turn the internet into the crappy cable packages because they can make more money that way. And we don't know what impact that will have in the long run. What happens when a new businesses that starts up with little more than a website is not accessible to everyone because it isn't part of the correct "tier" of service? Are you going to be happy when you have to pay extra for a social networking tier?

 

In other words, it's easy to justify requiring people to pay more for large volume content, but we don't know where this will go.

 

But "I don't like having limits" is different from "they can't do that."

 

 

[Iwritecode]

I can't speak to Comcast...but I'd also add that AT&T thoroughly sucks as well.

 

I have AT&T for my home phone (which I hardly ever use and not sure why I keep) and internet.

 

I've had all sorts of trouble with my internet connection over the years but I'm not sure it's been their fault most of the time.

 

We had a modem go out on us but I think it was in part to my cat chewing on the power cord. We got another modem but a few years later when we got a new computer with Windows 7 we had to get yet another modem. We were told that the one we had didn't play nice with Windows 7.

 

Here lately we haven't been able to connect at all and the lights on the modem have been flashing like a damn Christmas tree. They sent a guy out to check out all the lines and everything and it turned out some setting on our computer somehow got changed. I'm wondering if we have something on our computer that is changing it. It wouldn't be the first time. We had a windows update screw up our connection before as well.

 

When you call the help desk if you can get to the second level of tech support (the guys that are in this country and actually know what they are doing instead of the guy in India reading a script off a screen) they are actually pretty good.

 

We would switch to Comcast but once their 12-month introductory offer expires, they'd be more expensive.

[G&T]

But "I don't like having limits" is different from "they can't do that."

 

Yeah, I understand that. However, these are supposed to be businesses who have to respond to costumers needs and I don't believe that's happening. I think they are protecting their own interests.

 

Since Netflix is, in fact, using Comcast's infrastructure to take business away from Comcast's On Demand, I am conflicted about whether it is acceptable to charge Netflix more. It can then be up to Netflix to absorb that cost or divide it among millions of customers. However, it's a distinction with no difference as we will pay more no matter what.

[StrangeSox]

It's a s***ty practice, but I don't see why this should be illegal. They're providing the service, they can charge what they want for it. That just means other companies (AT&T U-Verse for example, which I have and which is great) can give you unlimited/unrestricted plans.

 

Comcast sucks anyway. Why anyone uses them is beyond me.

 

Because they're a monopoly in many places. I can't get any other service at my condo currently.

[StrangeSox]

It's a s***ty practice, but I don't see why this should be illegal. They're providing the service, they can charge what they want for it. That just means other companies (AT&T U-Verse for example, which I have and which is great) can give you unlimited/unrestricted plans.

 

Comcast sucks anyway. Why anyone uses them is beyond me.

 

The service they are providing is "last mile access to the internet," not content. I pay Comcast to connect to the internet, regardless of what content I want.

[StrangeSox]

What are your issues? I only subscribe to the U-Verse internet. It's been about 8 months and I've never had a slow down, cap or a random outage. My router went bad one night, they were there at 9am the next morning to replace it. Maybe I'm just in a good area though.

 

On a slightly different topic, anyone else a Hulu Plus subscriber? Basically my wife and I ditched cable when we moved to our new house in the spring. Decided to get a decent internet package (12mb) and rely on Netflix and over-the-air stuff. While I miss the occasional Food network porn, I really can't say that I've missed anything big. All of our favorite shows we either watch on Hulu, the network's website, or we buy through my PS3. 90% of my sporting events are on major networks or espn3.com. I do have to rely on the radio for most Bulls/Sox games, but at least WGN and WCIU carries them occasionally. Bt anyways we just signed up for Hulu Plus so we don't have to keep connecting the laptop to the TV. So far so good, especially for 7.99 a month. Anyone else have opinions on it? The idea that i'm paying for the content WITH ads kind of annoys me.

 

I'd love to do what you are doing. That's why Comcast wants to charge more for certain content. They're primarily a cable company still, and Netflix, Hulu and other online video sites are a very real threat to their business model. If they have their way, it will be significantly more expensive to rely on Netflix, Hulu, etc.

[Jenksismyhero]

I'd love to do what you are doing. That's why Comcast wants to charge more for certain content. They're primarily a cable company still, and Netflix, Hulu and other online video sites are a very real threat to their business model. If they have their way, it will be significantly more expensive to rely on Netflix, Hulu, etc.

 

Did you check at&t? At the very least you can get DSL at like 3 or 5mb, which should be enough for streaming content.

 

I still think it would be advantageous for other ISP's to come out and basically parlay their internet service into becoming a small time cable provider. "Tired of paying Comcast/DirectTV prices? Get the majority of your tv over the internet through our service at 1/3 the cost." Since U-verse isn't exactly lighting the world on fire, I could see AT&T using that to grab more of the market.

 

And really, I think companies like Comcast are in a bind. They can't very well charge the piss out of people for their services, because then people will prioritize - internet or cable, but I can't afford both. If consumers are smart, they'd pick the internet and save money. Comcast just lost that customers cable business, which is what, 2/3rd's normally? Then they'd have to raise prices on their internet, and get out priced by the competition.

 

[Balta1701]

But "I don't like having limits" is different from "they can't do that."

One could certainly argue that a big reason why the internet has "Grown up" in the sense that it has, to become such an important part of so many people's lives, is the fact that prior to now, companies haven't been able to do that.

 

Give you an example...if there are only a handful of companies that control the infrastructure, and building new infrastructure is prohibitively expensive, what's to stop those companies from setting up partnerships with certain search engines or e-commerce sites, such that it becomes nearly impossible to do business with anyone who isn't a partner with your service provider?

 

What's to stop a company from disadvantaging certain websites because they don't like their political content?

[Jenksismyhero]

One could certainly argue that a big reason why the internet has "Grown up" in the sense that it has, to become such an important part of so many people's lives, is the fact that prior to now, companies haven't been able to do that.

 

Give you an example...if there are only a handful of companies that control the infrastructure, and building new infrastructure is prohibitively expensive, what's to stop those companies from setting up partnerships with certain search engines or e-commerce sites, such that it becomes nearly impossible to do business with anyone who isn't a partner with your service provider?

 

What's to stop a company from disadvantaging certain websites because they don't like their political content?

 

This argument can be extended into any sector of the economy, but it doesn't happen (all the time anyway) because there's always a buck to be made, so other companies will find a niche and exploit it. Where was netflix 10 years ago? Why didn't blockbuster sign deals with all the movie studios? I think there are two reasons: (1) the creator of the content doesn't want to limit it's market (in this case a cable network or studio getting an exclusivity deal with comcast limits potential viewers. why would they want to do that? that hurts their own bottom line), and (2) i'm not sure that comcast would want to pay the cost to be able to do that.

 

At the end of the day it's all about money. The creator of the content we're talking about here doesn't depend on the revenue of the service provider. It depends on ad dollars that are brought in by an audience (or site traffic, or ticket sales, etc).

[nitetrain8601]

What are your issues? I only subscribe to the U-Verse internet. It's been about 8 months and I've never had a slow down, cap or a random outage. My router went bad one night, they were there at 9am the next morning to replace it. Maybe I'm just in a good area though.

 

On a slightly different topic, anyone else a Hulu Plus subscriber? Basically my wife and I ditched cable when we moved to our new house in the spring. Decided to get a decent internet package (12mb) and rely on Netflix and over-the-air stuff. While I miss the occasional Food network porn, I really can't say that I've missed anything big. All of our favorite shows we either watch on Hulu, the network's website, or we buy through my PS3. 90% of my sporting events are on major networks or espn3.com. I do have to rely on the radio for most Bulls/Sox games, but at least WGN and WCIU carries them occasionally. Bt anyways we just signed up for Hulu Plus so we don't have to keep connecting the laptop to the TV. So far so good, especially for 7.99 a month. Anyone else have opinions on it? The idea that i'm paying for the content WITH ads kind of annoys me.

 

There are sites to use to stream those games and they're pretty reliable.

[lostfan]

Verizon is officially announcing their 4G network

There is no such thing as a 4G network in the United States yet... it's all PR and marketing bulls***.

[southsideirish71]

There is no such thing as a 4G network in the United States yet... it's all PR and marketing bulls***.

 

Pre-4G would be the best way to describe what is being pushed. 4G will barely resemble the slow mess that they are advertising as 4G. Think 1 gig to a stationary object, and 100 meg to a mobile device.

 

 

[lostfan]

Pre-4G would be the best way to describe what is being pushed. 4G will barely resemble the slow mess that they are advertising as 4G. Think 1 gig to a stationary object, and 100 meg to a mobile device.

Or at least 3G plus or something. 4G is like 10x as fast as what they have now.

[RockRaines]

There is no such thing as a 4G network in the United States yet... it's all PR and marketing bulls***.

Dont open up that can of worms.

[Iwritecode]

I have AT&T for my home phone (which I hardly ever use and not sure why I keep) and internet.

 

I've had all sorts of trouble with my internet connection over the years but I'm not sure it's been their fault most of the time.

 

We had a modem go out on us but I think it was in part to my cat chewing on the power cord. We got another modem but a few years later when we got a new computer with Windows 7 we had to get yet another modem. We were told that the one we had didn't play nice with Windows 7.

 

Here lately we haven't been able to connect at all and the lights on the modem have been flashing like a damn Christmas tree. They sent a guy out to check out all the lines and everything and it turned out some setting on our computer somehow got changed. I'm wondering if we have something on our computer that is changing it. It wouldn't be the first time. We had a windows update screw up our connection before as well.

 

When you call the help desk if you can get to the second level of tech support (the guys that are in this country and actually know what they are doing instead of the guy in India reading a script off a screen) they are actually pretty good.

 

We would switch to Comcast but once their 12-month introductory offer expires, they'd be more expensive.

 

Since I've posted this we've had an on again/off again connection the past week. We called customer service numerous times and their stock answer is "there's an outage". Funny that our phone still works though.

 

They are finally sending someone out to look at it. Again.

[BigSqwert]

Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter is free for Android phones.

[lostfan]

I updated my phone to 2.1 Eclair (Motorola couldn't update before b/c of Motoblur but they made it work recently) and now I can watch porn on my cellphone. I shouldn't be as excited about this as I am.

Edited December 7, 2010 by lostfan

[southsider2k5]

So I am trying to plug my external hard drive in and the computer isn't recognizing that it is there. Every once in a while, this computer does this to my camera as well. I know it is working just fine, but for some weird reason it doesn't pick it up. How the heck do I get it to recognize it?

[Balta1701]

So I am trying to plug my external hard drive in and the computer isn't recognizing that it is there. Every once in a while, this computer does this to my camera as well. I know it is working just fine, but for some weird reason it doesn't pick it up. How the heck do I get it to recognize it?

Is there anything wrong with the USB Port itself?

[southsider2k5]

Is there anything wrong with the USB Port itself?

 

Nope, it is working as a plug and play for my camera

 

[Balta1701]

Nope, it is working as a plug and play for my camera

What about the cable you're using to connect?

[Balta1701]

Mozilla has adopted a couple of red panda cubs at my local zoo.

[southsider2k5]

What about the cable you're using to connect?

 

I'll have to check that out. The problem is I have nothing else that uses that hook up. Maybe I'll buy one at WMT and return it if that isn't the problem.

[Balta1701]

I'll have to check that out. The problem is I have nothing else that uses that hook up. Maybe I'll buy one at WMT and return it if that isn't the problem.

Take a look at the inside of the cable connectors. Sometimes you can obviously see if something is broken.

 

I managed to break the inside of one of my USB connections on this computer a while back while using it as a laptop, I snapped off a small piece of plastic inside the connector itself, and the symptom wound up being that the connection would go in and out.