3 ms·

Stuff that isn’t heavily regulated still works this way. I’m pretty confident that my pest control company will be around for a while. If there’s a problem wit

Stuff that isn’t heavily regulated still works this way. I’m pretty confident that my pest control company will be around for a while. If there’s a problem with my HVAC system, I know I’ll be able to call the people who installed it. The company I bought my cars from will be selling cars for a long time. And I could go on. Google has the right to do this, but they’re starting to gain a reputation for it and that’s not going to be good for them.

inferiorhuman 8y ago
> Stuff that isn’t heavily regulated still works this way. No it doesn't. That pest control company may pack up and leave (although this is admittedly unlikely), but AT&T and Verizon are legally obligated to offer POTS service.
- mikeash 8y ago
  You say “no it doesn’t” and then immediately agree with me. The fact that it’s unlikely they’ll pack up and leave is what I’m talking about here. And I’m not talking about POTS service. I don’t have it.
  - inferiorhuman 8y ago
    Unlikely and unable are two different things.
    - mikeash 8y ago
      Ok? I said nothing about being unable to leave.
noir_lord 8y ago
> Google has the right to do this, but they’re starting to gain a reputation for it. Starting? It's been a running joke around certain communities (including this one) for years and years. I don't use anything from Google I'd consider critical if there is a reasonable competitor. Say what you want about Microsoft they generally don't just chop you off at the knee's (I mean they've done it but not in the way google does).
- tomatotomato37 8y ago
  I would say Microsoft actually goes to far in the other direction; they have so much legacy cruft from supporting features that were last used during the Reagan administration that it adversely affects the quality of their products.
  - toast0 8y ago
    Windows 10 is abandoning cruft, but that hasn't seemed to help with product quality. (Maybe they shouldn't have eliminated the separation of test and Dev)
    - cannonedhamster 8y ago
      Windows 10 actually moved to the test in production model. That's why consumers get the releases first. That way if it brick's granny's laptop she won't be able to complain to anyone about it online.
toast0 8y ago
Pest control and HVAC service may or may not up and leave, but it's not a big deal when they do, because there are many options to choose from and most HVAC servicers will service all kinds of equipment (even if they have a preference for what kinds they install). Telco is regulated, so if Verizon abandons your market, they will need to have a plan that leaves you with service. Which is most likely to be selling it to Frontier. That Google is willing to abandon markets for Fiber is really a testament to their strategy here: Google fiber was not a real attempt to be an ISP, they just wanted to show it was possible to inspire incumbents to get gigabit out to people. Once AT&T started rolling out gigabit fiber, Google was done.

inferiorhuman 8y ago

> Stuff that isn’t heavily regulated still works this way. No it doesn't. That pest control company may pack up and leave (although this is admittedly unlikely), but AT&T and Verizon are legally obligated to offer POTS service.

mikeash 8y ago
You say “no it doesn’t” and then immediately agree with me. The fact that it’s unlikely they’ll pack up and leave is what I’m talking about here. And I’m not talking about POTS service. I don’t have it.
- inferiorhuman 8y ago
  Unlikely and unable are two different things.
  - mikeash 8y ago
    Ok? I said nothing about being unable to leave.

noir_lord 8y ago

> Google has the right to do this, but they’re starting to gain a reputation for it. Starting? It's been a running joke around certain communities (including this one) for years and years. I don't use anything from Google I'd consider critical if there is a reasonable competitor. Say what you want about Microsoft they generally don't just chop you off at the knee's (I mean they've done it but not in the way google does).

tomatotomato37 8y ago
I would say Microsoft actually goes to far in the other direction; they have so much legacy cruft from supporting features that were last used during the Reagan administration that it adversely affects the quality of their products.
- toast0 8y ago
  Windows 10 is abandoning cruft, but that hasn't seemed to help with product quality. (Maybe they shouldn't have eliminated the separation of test and Dev)
  - cannonedhamster 8y ago
    Windows 10 actually moved to the test in production model. That's why consumers get the releases first. That way if it brick's granny's laptop she won't be able to complain to anyone about it online.

toast0 8y ago

Pest control and HVAC service may or may not up and leave, but it's not a big deal when they do, because there are many options to choose from and most HVAC servicers will service all kinds of equipment (even if they have a preference for what kinds they install). Telco is regulated, so if Verizon abandons your market, they will need to have a plan that leaves you with service. Which is most likely to be selling it to Frontier. That Google is willing to abandon markets for Fiber is really a testament to their strategy here: Google fiber was not a real attempt to be an ISP, they just wanted to show it was possible to inspire incumbents to get gigabit out to people. Once AT&T started rolling out gigabit fiber, Google was done.