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My understanding is that no one actually wants to be with Comcast, I was under the impression that people were generally with them because they have a monopoly

by cgag 15y ago

My understanding is that no one actually wants to be with Comcast, I was under the impression that people were generally with them because they have a monopoly on fast internet in a lot of places.

chimeracoder 15y ago
Your understanding is correct. I have seen a statistic cited somewhere that 80% of the country has no choice regarding a cable or Internet provider. I'm not sure if that's the real number, but it if were, it wouldn't surprise me.
kgo 15y ago
In my area, you're on Comcast if you're pissed off at Verizon, and you're on Verizon if you're pissed off at Comcast. I'm on Comcast because I was a Verizon early adopter, with DSL in the 90s. It got to the point where even their cheapest packages were at least an order of magnitude faster than my speed. Sure I could have called and gotten a new package, but it's like they were just keeping me at the original speeds out of spite, like they actually had to do work to keep me so slow. Just like the stories of that little old lady who's still paying a monthly rental fee for the phone in her house. I'm sure Comcast will do something to piss me off in the next few years and I'll go back to Verizon.
roc 15y ago
Not universally. In some places --the ones that had the foresight to not grant a cable monopoly and thus the ones where Comcast has to compete straight-up with other cable vendors-- Comcast is apparently alright. They still have the top-level corporate nonsense going on: the dns hijacking, the traffic shaping, the usage meters, etc. But most people don't notice that stuff and they tell me they're reasonably happy with the service. They're certainly paying less than I've ever been quoted in Comcast-monopoly-towns.
nikki9696 15y ago
I don't know if it's generally true, but it's true for me. If there was a viable alternative in my area, I'd switch. I live in a condo, and satellite is not an option. DSL is crappy due to our old phone lines. I'm stuck getting price gouged by Comcast.
slewis 15y ago
I'm happy with my Comcast. Its always fast and has never once gone out the whole 5 years I've been using it in San Francisco. I've never had to speak with customer service (which is maybe one reason I'm ok with it). I guess the cap is a bit annoying. But I've never come close to it. I suppose if there were an alternative as fast and as reliable I might consider switching simply do to Comcast's policies. But I've never felt their evil directly.

by cgag 15y ago

My understanding is that no one actually wants to be with Comcast, I was under the impression that people were generally with them because they have a monopoly on fast internet in a lot of places.

chimeracoder 15y ago

Your understanding is correct. I have seen a statistic cited somewhere that 80% of the country has no choice regarding a cable or Internet provider. I'm not sure if that's the real number, but it if were, it wouldn't surprise me.

kgo 15y ago

In my area, you're on Comcast if you're pissed off at Verizon, and you're on Verizon if you're pissed off at Comcast. I'm on Comcast because I was a Verizon early adopter, with DSL in the 90s. It got to the point where even their cheapest packages were at least an order of magnitude faster than my speed. Sure I could have called and gotten a new package, but it's like they were just keeping me at the original speeds out of spite, like they actually had to do work to keep me so slow. Just like the stories of that little old lady who's still paying a monthly rental fee for the phone in her house. I'm sure Comcast will do something to piss me off in the next few years and I'll go back to Verizon.

roc 15y ago

Not universally. In some places --the ones that had the foresight to not grant a cable monopoly and thus the ones where Comcast has to compete straight-up with other cable vendors-- Comcast is apparently alright. They still have the top-level corporate nonsense going on: the dns hijacking, the traffic shaping, the usage meters, etc. But most people don't notice that stuff and they tell me they're reasonably happy with the service. They're certainly paying less than I've ever been quoted in Comcast-monopoly-towns.

nikki9696 15y ago

I don't know if it's generally true, but it's true for me. If there was a viable alternative in my area, I'd switch. I live in a condo, and satellite is not an option. DSL is crappy due to our old phone lines. I'm stuck getting price gouged by Comcast.

slewis 15y ago

I'm happy with my Comcast. Its always fast and has never once gone out the whole 5 years I've been using it in San Francisco. I've never had to speak with customer service (which is maybe one reason I'm ok with it). I guess the cap is a bit annoying. But I've never come close to it. I suppose if there were an alternative as fast and as reliable I might consider switching simply do to Comcast's policies. But I've never felt their evil directly.