1 post tagged “wifi”
Scan/Ponder - Digital Communications: Comcast Cable vs Verizon Fiber Optic
Since the Verizon PHIOS install, a few things have become very clear, very quickly:
PHIOS (Verizon fiber optic) is faster than Comcast, has a clearer picture (so much clearer that we no longer think we have to replace our TV) and is less expensive.
Leading to these questions:
Q: Has fiber optic technology leap-frogged cable?
A: Yes.
Q: Can cable recover once customer loyalty is over?
A: I can't see it happening.
Q: Is there customer loyalty for a commodity?
A. No. Commodities are price/convenience driven.
Q: Can a cable (Comcast) picture get better without HDTV?
A: It doesn't look like it.
Current personal experience/understanding:
The difference in picture quality isn't just noticeable, it's remarkable. I thought our TV was worn out, or at least fading fast. The picture was immediately be better - without adjusting anything. The sound doesn't have variations between channels or between program (normal) and some local commercials (shouting) like it did when we were with Comcast.
Q: Why did/does Comcast let commercials yell at me, and Verizon doesn't?
Q: Why did the Verizon guys do such neat work, and the Comcast guys do such messy work?
Q: Are the Verizon guys Verizon employees, paid by the hour, and the Comcast guys contractors, paid by the job?
Q: Do these two facts tell me a whole lot about Comcast, and maybe about their future?
1. When I called and told them I was canceling my service, no one asked me why - they just said I needed to drop off the set top box and remote.
2. When I dropped off the set-top box at Comcast, no one asked my why I was discontinuing my service. All they did was check the serial numbers and give me a receipt.
3. They don't seem to care. There doesn't seem to be any reason for me to think my experience was unique.
I think it looks like . . .
Dial-up internet access is dead, or dying quickly, at least in populated areas. Point: Having to pay for a dedicated phone line and then pay for dial-up access cost me more than Verizon's high speed fiber optic, which comes with the possibility to link other computers and a no-cost to me WiFi access point for my iBook. Why would anyone pay for less product at a higher price? They are over, but at least they seem to know it.
Comcast has been leap-frogged, both in quality, price and product. They had the advantage of getting here first, and the disadvantage of building an extensive infrastructure with a technology and delivery process that doesn't appear to have the capability to improve. They are in trouble . . . and they don't seem to care.
Since the Verizon PHIOS install, a few things have become very clear, very quickly:
PHIOS (Verizon fiber optic) is faster than Comcast, has a clearer picture (so much clearer that we no longer think we have to replace our TV) and is less expensive.
Leading to these questions:
Q: Has fiber optic technology leap-frogged cable?
A: Yes.
Q: Can cable recover once customer loyalty is over?
A: I can't see it happening.
Q: Is there customer loyalty for a commodity?
A. No. Commodities are price/convenience driven.
Q: Can a cable (Comcast) picture get better without HDTV?
A: It doesn't look like it.
Current personal experience/understanding:
The difference in picture quality isn't just noticeable, it's remarkable. I thought our TV was worn out, or at least fading fast. The picture was immediately be better - without adjusting anything. The sound doesn't have variations between channels or between program (normal) and some local commercials (shouting) like it did when we were with Comcast.
Q: Why did/does Comcast let commercials yell at me, and Verizon doesn't?
Q: Why did the Verizon guys do such neat work, and the Comcast guys do such messy work?
Q: Are the Verizon guys Verizon employees, paid by the hour, and the Comcast guys contractors, paid by the job?
Q: Do these two facts tell me a whole lot about Comcast, and maybe about their future?
1. When I called and told them I was canceling my service, no one asked me why - they just said I needed to drop off the set top box and remote.
2. When I dropped off the set-top box at Comcast, no one asked my why I was discontinuing my service. All they did was check the serial numbers and give me a receipt.
3. They don't seem to care. There doesn't seem to be any reason for me to think my experience was unique.
I think it looks like . . .
Dial-up internet access is dead, or dying quickly, at least in populated areas. Point: Having to pay for a dedicated phone line and then pay for dial-up access cost me more than Verizon's high speed fiber optic, which comes with the possibility to link other computers and a no-cost to me WiFi access point for my iBook. Why would anyone pay for less product at a higher price? They are over, but at least they seem to know it.
Comcast has been leap-frogged, both in quality, price and product. They had the advantage of getting here first, and the disadvantage of building an extensive infrastructure with a technology and delivery process that doesn't appear to have the capability to improve. They are in trouble . . . and they don't seem to care.
