Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

October 28, 2008, 8:37am PDT | Length: 00:01:40

ZDNet Senior Editor Sam Diaz shares his take on Comcast's new wideband Internet service. He says the service will allow faster downloads of movies, but the company also needs to offer tools so users can track Internet usage since it is imposing a bandwidth cap at 250 gigabytes.

Transcript

Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

>> Comcast's new, super, ultra mega, extreme high speed internet service is starting to roll out - in Philly and Boston in the coming weeks and 10 other markets soon after. This isn't your ordinary internet connection. They call it wideband, not broadband. Fast enough to download a movie in minutes instead of hours, or upload photos in a matter of seconds. But wait - isn't this the same company that just informed customers of a bandwidth cap? Now they're trying to sell us on a faster connection that will enable us to do even more? Well maybe not too much more. In all fairness, Comcast says that a 250 gigabyte data ceiling is very high and that very few customers every reach it. Okay, but how are you supposed to know how much data you're using from month to month? There's really no way to track it. I know how to figure out how much water, electricity, or even cell phone minutes are being used every month, but I have no idea how much data was used by that 30 minute Skype video chat. Silicon Valley innovators keep offering more and more cool stuff to take advantage of the faster connections. Eventually we're going to start using every one of those 260 gigs, and then some. I'm not bashing Comcast for rolling out faster services. They're ahead of the game and setting the stage for even more online innovation. I'm not even bashing them for imposing a cap on usage. Until users start complaining about over the cap charges, it's really not a big problem. Still they have to recognize that opening the doors to wideband internet will only encourage customers to do more with that internet connection. Unless they open it up and let us run wild on ultra mega fast connections, they really need to start developing ways for us to track our own usage.

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"NO" to Comcast!

I have been a Comcast user for years. I've switched to Verizon FIOS last month, and I am again a happy camper. I was sick and tired from Comcast's dummy technicians, the lack of coordination between billing and technical departments, constant overcharging, problems with external cable, low-level signal on a cable, and much more. Comcast has the second WORST customer support after AOL.
I believe that no technology from Comcast will ever attract me after my latest experience with them.
I can give one suggestion to Comcast Management: order the FIOS for your house and see how your technicians must work. My kudos to Verizon technicians!
batia
29th Oct 2008
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RE: Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

Imposing bandwidth limitations on wired internet connections is absolutely ridiculous! There should be plenty of bandwidth to go around for their users. If there isn't, then perhaps their network infrastructure needs an upgrade.

Why Comcast punishes their customers for their own lack of vision is completely beyond me.

I subscribe to Verizon FiOS and enjoy blazing fast 20MB service with NO bandwidth limitations. In fact, I can't think of another wired ISP that imposes restrictions like this. But then again, I could be wrong on that point...

Comcast: Take my advice and upgrade your infrastructure if you want to stay in the ISP game. Otherwise, just get out of the way and let true innovators like Verizon move internet service into the 21st century...

-c
ccrochet@...
29th Oct 2008
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RE: Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

Personally I think Comcast is full of crap. Even after the class action lawsuit against them for "Throttling" users Bandwith usage, they are still doing it more discreetly. Its no coincidence that the only time my internet usage gets mysteriously dropped is when Im downloading off the torrent sites! Another thing I just noticed is that when Im watching TV on my laptop through my Slingbox that my usage shows up as if Im Downloading something when Im actually NOT! When Im watching TV Im not downloading or storing a damn thing! Is my bandwith cap gonna be exceeded because Im watching FREE and LEGAL TV off my own comcast cable box? I'll see soon. I just started monitoring my net download usage whit a neat little free program called "NET METER". I've been on the waiting list for Verizon FIOS for a while now but its not available at my home address yet, but as soon as it is I'm dropping Comcast like bad habit.
cleanllicks@...
29th Oct 2008
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RE: Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

Agree Verizon technology is superior.
Agree Verizon techs. are superior.
But beware of the Verizon business office... their customer service sucks. Customer Service reps are morons, OR the software they must use to enter and track service requests is too inflexible to meet customer demands. Either way, I have spent over a year getting my account straightened out after my service requests went to bit-hell and the business office couldn't untangle the confusion. I even wrote to the vice president in charge of FIOS network services -- never even received an acknowledgment of my letter. In this regard, at least, Verizon and Comcast are two peas in the same pod.
psquare11
30th Oct 2008
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RE: Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

JUST TOO EXPENSIVE!
VitaSigns_CSI@...
5th Nov 2008
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RE: Comcast's speedier Internet--and its limits

.
sonicmaze
6th Nov 2008
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