CLEARWIRE, COMCAST BROADBAND, DSL, WHICH IS BETTER?

9/26/2007 Gavin "ROTD This! *points at crotch*" N. says:

Comcast Broadband will be the fastest and most reliable without question. however, it is the most expensive. As for customer service, honestly they're all about the same..I know with comcast if you complain maybe once a year about the rate and say you might switch they'll lower your rate to the promo rate for 6 months..but that's something you can only do every now and then.
~G

9/26/2007 Diana L. says:

Clearwire IS NOT WIRELESS.  Therefore it sucks.  Comcast has been the best so far for me.

9/26/2007

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9/26/2007 Ian "single-threading in a quad-pumped world" M. says:

I like Comcast until Verizon gets on the ball and brings us FIOS.  Seriously, why do we not have this yet?

I'm downloading a couple files right now at around 370KB/s.  DSL can't touch this.

9/26/2007

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9/26/2007 D.J. "Iron Gut (TM)" Y. says:

Had Verizon DSL, it was okay, kinda slow now compared to my Comcast Cable, which is beeetch'n!

If memory serves DSL is cheaper, but if you are just web-surfing I don't really think you can tell the difference, much.  Then again if you are downloading a bunch of porn, get cable....

9/26/2007 pacie f. says:

yay over another which technology/isp is better thread.

9/26/2007

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9/26/2007 S. Alicia S. says:

I have to say Comcast, because I have it.  And Qwest, because it's the major telephone network in Washington.  The bigger the communications organization, the larger the customer base, due to network connections, technical assistance, customer service, and lower costs etc....

Plus, they spend on advertising.  Always trust the companies that will "spend money to make money".  Brand awareness and loyalty stands fer plenty.  Sure!

9/26/2007 Ian "single-threading in a quad-pumped world" M. says:

Yeah, Mike, I think you're exactly right.  My mom and stepdad in NJ have had FIOS for a couple years now, which is understandable, I guess.  However, I was reading on some message boards that FIOS is around the area (Bothell, for example), just not in Seattle.

http://www.dslreports....

9/26/2007 Ian "single-threading in a quad-pumped world" M. says:

The idea that you need a land line to get DSL is a MYTH.  There is no such requirement.  You will pay an additional $10/month (like you do if you have a cable modem but no cable), but you don't need a land line.

9/26/2007 Denny "Zen Cat Lover" C. says:

I wonder how much slower Clearwire is compared to Comcast broadband.  As well as how much cheaper it is, although I understand that they, too, have all kinds of limited promotional plans--and then it jumps up to the "standard rate," whatever that is.

  My Comcast broadband just jumped up to $43 a month even though I have had Comcast cable television for six years as well.  There was some not terribly credible explanation that my "promotion" had ended (I had never been told that one had already "kicked in") when I called their Billing Department.

Maybe I'll opt out of Comcast & try Clearwire, as long as there isn't anything tricky in the small print...I guess I can always go back to Comcast broadband.

It's not like your obligated to stay with any of them, and apparently it's a "simple click of the switch" to get back onto Comcast broadband (?).

9/26/2007 Jim "Count Blah" C. says:

Denny: I suspect that even if you call and tell Comcast you're trying Clearwire, you'll get your "promotional" price again.  You certainly will if you tell them you're switching to DirecTV/Dish + DSL.

9/26/2007 Ian "single-threading in a quad-pumped world" M. says:

Denny, beware Clearwire's one year contract, which has turned off a lot of people.  What is it with wireless services and contracts?

Contract: what you make someone sign when--based on what you're offering--he has more to lose than you do.

9/26/2007 Denny "Zen Cat Lover" C. says:

This cat-and-mouse game Comcast plays with its labyrinthine  price structure is very irritating.  I spoke to a billing rep Monday and explained to her that I didn't know I had a promotion (to take away from me next month).  I also asked her what the "standard" price for Comcast broadband was, which she knew ($43) and where to find it in printed form--it never appears on my monthly bill (no promotion ever does, either).  She said it was right there on http://www.comcast.com.

And I DID try while having her hold the line...I couldn't find it, even though I pressed  on a dozen times  on different "continuous-loop"-type links.   It took at least TEN minutes to find the page where the "standard" prices were listed (the biling rep had to explain where to find the particular phrase to highlight and left-click).   Is this done on purpose?

Sometimes I think I'm dealing with a used-car dealership than a multi-billion dollar corporation.

Can't they make a decent profit without playing all these tiring games?   We don't have to "bargain" with City Light for our monthly light bill, etc.   This ought to be a public utility!!

9/26/2007 Jim "Count Blah" C. says:

Consider yourself lucky to have *any* public utilities, Denny.  On the other side of the lake, we have the joy of dealing with Puget Sound Energy.

Come to think of it, I haven't enjoyed a public utility (other than water) in nearly twenty years.

9/26/2007

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10/11/2007 Todd "Never Know" O. says:

Well, depending on your location and mobility/uses.... I would say Clearwire is a very smart move if you want to have on-board, e-comm/work while in vehicle. I know a bit about Networks.... as in installed thousands literally.... from T1's when they were $2500 a month and limited to fiber-locational hubs..... depends on what you want. naturally, as any CABLE/co-ax.... you can expect the bandwidth to fluctuate according since it is essentially like a pipe with water flowing.... If you want mobility and are located in metro/ I-5 region...and selective others.... it is a nice way to go. it BEATS "broadband" PC/lappie cards.....if you have a question, although i no longer do Fiber/DS3/T1/T3/etc installs, i know my shit on this topic...... not as a consumer, as a former Net-Tech.....

10/11/2007 Todd "Never Know" O. says:

One more note.... since CLEARWIRE is very honest about their entry into a highly-competitive marketplace, of MANY carriers I have worked with for clients as well as dealt with on personal/friends' accounts, CLEARWIRE  has gone above and beyond for ABSOLUTE C.S. ..... They work with you, take input, AND FOLLOW-UP on your account. I have been fucked-off good on client-accounts, personal etc via S.Bell, Lucent, At&t, VERIZON, on and on.....up and down the west coast and AK..... CLEARWIRE is well-aware of the fact they are emerging into one of the most competitive markets. Their willingness to work with consumers on a personal-level, understand/NOT-charge...when you are out of service area/in the mountains, etc.... has been the first time i can actually say...I AM IMPRESSED with a Tele-Com Organization. I can give only the best compliment to their organization..... do speed-tests on their service/mobile modem...and time-time again, you will be getting more than you paid for for Up/Down speed!...... i'm incredibly bias and very sick of Large Orgs. CLEARWIRE has done me right time and time again where-as all the other local HS providers would have fucked me off over and over......

10/11/2007 Bob G. says:

I am using Covad DSL through a 3rd party.  Static IP for 55 bucks a month.  I am in a location where DSL from local phone provider (Verizon) is not available because I am too far from their central office.  Comcast was not available to the strip mall I am in unless I want to pay 5000. Service has been good except once when we had a problem, turned out phone company stole my Covad "dry line" (there is no obvious carrier on it) for someone else's phone.  The 55 bucks includes the line, somehow.

At home I am using Comcast.  It is fast and reliable.  That being said, if they screw something up it is like pulling teeth to convince them it is their problem. I had a client they changed a filter on and it took me calling several times before they would act on it.  The customer tried and was totally ignored.

If I had it to do over, I would probably get Clearwire's static IP business account.  I could move service to my home from my business if I ever wanted to without any connection fees.  Unfortunately, Clearwire wasn't around 2 years ago so they were not a choice.

10/11/2007 L Eldub W. says:

Comcast is fast, but does "bandwidth shaping," which is geekese for "we may decide to limit your access to certain types of content". Having said that, if they were available at my new house, Id use them.

Quest DSL does not need a landline and is really cheap under their one year promotion ($29.99 a month is what I got). The let me do what I please, but I'm limited to 1.5mb down and 256kb up. I don't qualify for their "gold plan" which would give me 3mb down. Overall, I'm very happy with the service. Not as happy with the speed.

Clearwire is expensive, given the bandwidth. I hear two main complaints about them; people tend to find that they have to put the antenna in a window with little obstruction and evidently they spam the heck out of your email account with "offers". I suppose i you use gmail or similar, the last one doesn't matter.