jmb3450's Journal, 16 Aug 15

Comcast... ): 

False - Before the *modern* packet switched Internet we had circuit switched Internet BBSs and networking; you had to wait your turn in line. :D 

Comcast? Say no more. 

Verizon is no winner. Weekends it's slower and very slow in the summer when the kids are home. Customer Support.... ROFLMAO.... yeah, right. 

Interesting comment re: simpler. I love now that I can connect with friends and family around the world. That I can keep up with the kids and grandkids online. I love it. Yes simpler in the fact that if you didn't answer your phone, oh you are not home or by your phone. I still do that, sorry cell phone it is not always in my back pocket. I love being able to research things online, I love youtube videos that help me exercise. I love not having to dig through files at work to access info, instead it is instant. I will not deal with Comcast as they had originals of my Mom's death cert and my exec ppw on file and still insisted on talking to her. Dealing with another country on the phone who did not understand English. Totally frustrating. I finally quit paying the bill on my Moms house as they refused to shut it off without speaking to her.  

Bill, it's a whole lot better now than waiting 10 0r 15 minutes for something to load on dial up in 1995. My first job was processing key punch cards for AT%T long before PC's.  

We have TimeWarner and it is really the best option and most of the time it is ok.... but $$$$$ way too much $$$$$  

For Jim and Bill. For me, it's been DUH and double that when we got the cell phone. Sweet mother. I need a 2nd grader here to teach me. But one thing I will say is that AT&T who we have the phones through are awesome in answering all questions and no question is stupid. Found that out today. And they're in this country and are wonderful dealing with a person with my inability to hear (hearings coming within a month). 

Times were simpler then but I have to agree with WFNut ....I love being able to keep up with family and ffriend and I'm a sucker for gadgets. Thank heavens for IT guys 

When I was a kid we had party lines or one house no dials on the phone, the operator would connect you, then often listen in... I was in trouble once for saying something on the phone to a friend, she called my Mom back!! For awhile we had the only TV on the block (a huge thing with a tiny screen) and our living room on Sat mornings would be full of kids watching cartoons.  

Hey, Jim. I've heard that Windows 10 will reach into your computer and disable any pirated software. Have you heard anything about that? I don't used pirated software, but who owns this thing anyway? 

I'm not satisfied with Comcast. If I have to reboot my modem one more time I'm gonna SCREAM!  

Comcast's signal in my neighborhood is very weak, I think that's the root of my problems. I have a distribution center that amplifies the signal, otherwise I couldn't even get half the channels to display on the TV. It goes down and stuff stops working, it seems hit or miss getting stuff working again and just doesn't make sense. I refuse to deal with their techs so I always get it going again but it's frustrating. I think my main cable box is bad, won't connect to their servers, so got to take it in and get a replacement. My only alternatives are direct TV or satellite and not really crazy about that so it is what it is. 

NM - I haven't heard that about Windows 10. I don't know a whole lot about it, had a limited conversation with someone who told me they're done numbering Windows versions, it'll just be "Windows" and will update with changes, essentially morphing into the "next" version over time. At some point users will need to pay a fee, probably like a subscription, to keep it up to date and running - like you pay a fee for anti-virus software to continue running and keep up to date. Don't really know the time frame for that. I can see how they could check Microsoft products for piracy, they're already doing that with Windows itself, but don't really know about products from other vendors or companies. 

There are some new "features" but I have not heard about any antipirating software(nor noticed anything not playing lol) other than the existing one for validity of Windows . I have been tinkering with it for a bit, really its the best features of the last 3 versions mashed up. They have started rolling out the upgrade to current users already if you have your copy reserved. My 8 year old adores the 10, he had 7 before. We have everything from XP up and a few versions of Linux running in my house lol. It has been frustrating that they are dropping the security essentials package and are moving away from the Tools. I use a few other utilities but most people would neither be aware of them nor know what they need to use. Totally agree with you Draglist. 

I don't want to sound like a Luddite (I'm a true gadget & tech nerd), but you can also "unplug" and get rid of the cable/satellite box all together. We've been "boxless" for the past 10 years or so, no longer tied to the second idiot box in the house. We get some digital OTA stations, but rarely even watch them once we realized the freedom of not having a constant barrage of media at our fingertips. I think it was all about finally reclaiming 'Frosty Time'. We still watch movies/TV shows, etc.. There are a lot of buying/streaming/subscription options online that we're never without entertainment, but now it comes when we watch to watch it and instead of paying $$$$/month, we pay $ when we want to see a series or movie. 

We cut loose the cable TV several years ago. That said, I hafta have internet. I am not fond of wireless so it is wired. I sill like the feel of a real book in my hands too. Yes, I guess I am a bit old-fashioned, even though I have been using computers for nearly 40 years. 

Learning about Roku here on FS I also quit paying the big bucks for satellite. I have Hulu and Netflicks for less than $20.00 a month. Lots of options and I can put youtube exercises videos on my TV, easier to watch that way.  

We have Mediacom, and the cable is never an issue, but the internet (despite splurging for the highest speed) randomly quits, and or slows to a crawl. It's infuriating. Part of me truly believes I'd be happier living off the grid. 

I married an engineer, so I have an in house IT department. I highly recommend it.