Computers I fired AT&T today

**Lzen** · 06-15-2009, 07:51 PM

I have had problems with my DSL over the past few months. It goes out sporadically or the speed is up and down. I pay for the 3 Mbps service. Here is a speed test I just did. Not exactly getting what I pay for.

One of the first things I did was to buy a new Motorola modem from them. Problems still.

Also had the phone line go out once during the past few months time. The phone line problem ended up being on their end, of course. But I had to waste my whole damn afternoon of leave time for their repair service.

Had them come out again recently to fix the DSL which hasn't been working properly for months now. Supposed to have fixed it. She said she put a filter on the main line into the house. Problems started showing up again shortly after that.

I even called them a week ago one last time to see if they could try to repair it again. The guy I spoke with said the repair center would be calling me the next day because they were already closed for the night. Of course, I knew that as I had already been through his a few times. This time, however, nobody ever called me to check my line and/or schedule a repair.

I called today and canceled my ATT phone and DSL service that I have been on for 18(phone) and 7(DSL) years. Cox will be out to install cable internet and digital phone next Tuesday. I can't wait to not have these problems anymore. Anyone else have experiences like this with ATT or any other provider?

88TG88 · 06-15-2009, 08:03 PM

A few years ago our power went out and we didn't have phone or internet for 6 days. We got rid of ATT a few days after that.

**CrazyPhuD** · 06-15-2009, 08:05 PM

Sorry will never give another dollar to any cable company ever. Fortunately they are a dying business.

**Bugeater** · 06-15-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

Sorry will never give another dollar to any cable company ever. Fortunately they are a dying business.

Yeah, I hardly know anyone with cable anymore.

**CrazyPhuD** · 06-15-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Yeah, I hardly know anyone with cable anymore.

How many people do you know who still get the newspaper? How many people do you know who have landlines?

0 under 30.....

Cable(and satellite) companies are the next dominos to fall and that's not in doubt. It's a failing business model and even they know it.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-15-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

How many people do you know who still get the newspaper? How many people do you know who have landlines?

0 under 30.....

Cable(and satellite) companies are the next dominos to fall and that's not in doubt. It's a failing business model and even they know it.

I know where you're going with this, but if all of the traditional phone companies go out of business, and all of the cable/satellite companies are going out of business, who is going to supply us with the internet?

**Bugeater** · 06-15-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I know where you're going with this, but if all of the traditional phone companies go out of business, and all of the cable/satellite companies are going out of business, who is going to supply us with the internet?

Oh, and there's that minor detail too...

**CrazyPhuD** · 06-15-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I know where you're going with this, but if all of the traditional phone companies go out of business, and all of the cable/satellite companies are going out of business, who is going to supply us with the internet?

Yes but at that point they stop being cable companies and become infrastructure companies. The business model of the cable company today is dead. The question then becomes who do you want to be your network provider.

Honest answer there...the question is how long it will take but there it's likely wireless. The infrastructure costs of running lines to each house starts to be impractical here. This will take longer. But the switch off of standard cable could occur much quicker.

Tivo's another classic example, good company, interesting technology, but also likely dead in the long rung. Why would I need a DVR when I have my movies/TV on demand when I want them already.

**Bugeater** · 06-15-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

How many people do you know who still get the newspaper? How many people do you know who have landlines?

0 under 30.....

Cable(and satellite) companies are the next dominos to fall and that's not in doubt. It's a failing business model and even they know it.

What's going to replace them? The internet? Maybe eventually, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

**CrazyPhuD** · 06-15-2009, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

What's going to replace them? The internet? Maybe eventually, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Two cases in point, hulu and netflix.

I currently have directv and get all the channels. Pretty much the only thing I watch it for is movies, and a very select set of tv. I'm starting my test of netflix to the 360 this week and if it meets my needs I'm dumping directv. Not because I don't like it, but because it's value is low to me. If I can get what I get today(and sooner releases for some movies) on netflix why would I pay $100+ a month for satellite?

Bandwidth consumption for video still needs to be improved for truly widespread use, but that is coming. The question is timing and I'm sure they will hold on for a while, but growth will be non-existent for them. This world will all be about content creation not distribution. If you don't create the content the amount of value you add(and the amount you can charge) will be limited.

Valiant · 06-15-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

How many people do you know who still get the newspaper? How many people do you know who have landlines?

0 under 30.....

Cable(and satellite) companies are the next dominos to fall and that's not in doubt. It's a failing business model and even they know it.

Maybe in about 20-30 years when the internet has the speed and access countrywide.. Okay maybe 30-40 years..

But then that is if regulations don't hinder the streaming access..

**CrazyPhuD** · 06-15-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valiant

Maybe in about 20-30 years when the internet has the speed and access countrywide.. Okay maybe 30-40 years..

But then that is if regulations don't hinder the streaming access..

Well you never know what the gov will do. But it may happen alot sooner than you think.

So I work in the field of data compression. There are two ways to enable the wide spread use of video on the internet. First is the large scale build out that allows the additional capacity you need to handle the video traffic the way it is now.

The second approach instead would be algorithmically instead of capacity. What if the compression were to improve at the same quality levels we have today? What if video took 1/2 the bandwith it does now, or 1/4 or even 1/10th. How much does that accelerate the rollout. We're now in the pseudo infancy of internet video. But it can grow up quite fast if technically challenges are overcome. Even without a major capacity upgrade.

Deberg_1990 · 06-16-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

How many people do you know who still get the newspaper? How many people do you know who have landlines?

0 under 30.....

Cable(and satellite) companies are the next dominos to fall and that's not in doubt. It's a failing business model and even they know it.

The current TV/Cable business model is outdated and failing.

Something is going to have to change.

It needs to move to more of an "on demand" type of thing.

They need to stop charging people for 300 channels when they only watch 20. Move to an ala carte system.

**Lzen** · 06-16-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The current TV/Cable business model is outdated and failing.

Something is going to have to change.

It needs to move to more of an "on demand" type of thing.

They need to stop charging people for 300 channels when they only watch 20. Move to an ala carte system.

The only problem with the on demand stuff is that they charge too much.

Valiant · 06-15-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

Sorry will never give another dollar to any cable company ever. Fortunately they are a dying business.

Really?? They keep turning bigger profits each year off of internet services..

06-15-2009, 07:51 PM	Topic Starter
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $2230692	I fired AT&T today I have had problems with my DSL over the past few months. It goes out sporadically or the speed is up and down. I pay for the 3 Mbps service. Here is a speed test I just did. Not exactly getting what I pay for. One of the first things I did was to buy a new Motorola modem from them. Problems still. Also had the phone line go out once during the past few months time. The phone line problem ended up being on their end, of course. But I had to waste my whole damn afternoon of leave time for their repair service. Had them come out again recently to fix the DSL which hasn't been working properly for months now. Supposed to have fixed it. She said she put a filter on the main line into the house. Problems started showing up again shortly after that. I even called them a week ago one last time to see if they could try to repair it again. The guy I spoke with said the repair center would be calling me the next day because they were already closed for the night. Of course, I knew that as I had already been through his a few times. This time, however, nobody ever called me to check my line and/or schedule a repair. I called today and canceled my ATT phone and DSL service that I have been on for 18(phone) and 7(DSL) years. Cox will be out to install cable internet and digital phone next Tuesday. I can't wait to not have these problems anymore. Anyone else have experiences like this with ATT or any other provider?
Posts: 41,343

06-15-2009, 08:03 PM	#2
88TG88 don't tell me about collage Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Los Angeles Casino cash: $10009184	A few years ago our power went out and we didn't have phone or internet for 6 days. We got rid of ATT a few days after that.
Posts: 6,274

06-15-2009, 08:05 PM	#3
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	Sorry will never give another dollar to any cable company ever. Fortunately they are a dying business. __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
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