Computers I fired AT&T today - Page 2

**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?

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..

**Bugeater** · 06-15-2009, 08:28 PM

The internet is not a truck.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-15-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

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.

I'm totally picking up what you're laying down. But they're completely overhauling themselves because they see the writing on the wall. I was just talking to my wife and parents about this over the weekend. At some point in the next 10-20 years internet will stream through televisions providing whatever form of entertainment that you're looking for. Everything will be on demand. As long as they can find a way to force you to watch the advertisements.

Valiant · 06-15-2009, 08:30 PM

I get Time Warner free...

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-15-2009, 08:31 PM

**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.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-15-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

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.

No way. Too many people love having a DVR. I'll never be without one.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-15-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefDave

No way. Too many people love having a DVR. I'll never be without one.

What he's saying is, you won't need one. Everything will be on your schedule.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-15-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD

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.

Well, you need internet for both of those. Plus, in the future you'll see additional charges for bandwidth usage, so these mediums will not effectively replace cable/Sattilite. I use netflix, and I have Dtv. I don't have the premiums because of netflix.

**Buehler445** · 06-15-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Jesus flop...

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-15-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Jesus flop...

I live in Seattle. We get most of everything including Comcast's super high speed internet. I don't even pay extra for it. This place pisses me off frequently, but it definitely has its benefits.

**Buehler445** · 06-15-2009, 08:41 PM

To the question, when I was in college, I got SBC internet because they ran some promotion or something. Hated it. Kept it a year, cussed at A LOT of reps.

I had to watch my bill very closely because 4 or 5 times they'd charge me for shit I didn't want no matter what I said.

Never worked. They could never fix it. Hated it. Awful.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-15-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Jesus. Why would you need that much bandwidth? My GFs parents get speeds like that on TWC. Seems a waste.

**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.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-15-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefDave

Jesus. Why would you need that much bandwidth? My GFs parents get speeds like that on TWC. Seems a waste.

That's standard cable internet for me. I pay $30 a month for it. I did negotiate that rate, but it's pretty cheap IMO. I can download a movie (legally of course

) in minutes.

06-15-2009, 07:51 PM
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, 08:28 PM	#17
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6252680	The internet is not a truck.
Posts: 70,443

06-15-2009, 08:30 PM	#19
Valiant Valiant 'The Thread Killer' Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $6422380	I get Time Warner free...
Posts: 18,352

06-15-2009, 08:41 PM	#27
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $2324734	To the question, when I was in college, I got SBC internet because they ran some promotion or something. Hated it. Kept it a year, cussed at A LOT of reps. I had to watch my bill very closely because 4 or 5 times they'd charge me for shit I didn't want no matter what I said. Never worked. They could never fix it. Hated it. Awful.
Posts: 56,777