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Given their penchant for abandoning things on a whim, I never really understood why people would ever choose to use a service like this, from Google.

Dylan16807 3y ago
I can get new internet service easily enough, and it'll come with a sign-up bonus. So if one service has significant advantages, I'll switch. Even if it might not last a long time.
amf12 3y ago
Because it got other providers to get off their butts. Besides, it's relatively easy to switch providers anyway (where available). I don't understand why people are scared of using services that have relatively low switching barriers, because they may be shut down one day. I've used so many services over the years - big tech and from start ups that I've since moved form because they closed down or remained stagnant over better alternatives, and I never had to give it a second thought.
- stephenr 3y ago
  > I don't understand why people are scared of using services that have relatively low switching barriers, because they may be shut down one day. This suggests there's alternative services available anyway, so why take the risk on Google at all?
  - hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
    What exactly do you think is the "risk" of going with Google in these situations as a consumer? I know people who have Google Fiber, and love it - super fast Internet at reasonable prices. If it got turned off, they would just go with someone else. What exactly do you think the downside is? As a municipality, sure, as the article explains. But as an end consumer, what's the problem?
    - stephenr 3y ago
      Well for one thing, I value my time. Dealing with getting a new service provider because the last one just decided to stop doing business is pretty low on the list of things I'd like to do with my time. For another, Google has a ridiculous reputation for customer service. Even saying that is being generous, because most Google services just don't have customer service, at all. I keep hearing "just go with someone else if they shut down" - so there clearly are alternative services available, presumably ones for whom providing a fibre service to customers is actually a core part of their business and revenue, rather than a side-gig of questionable long-term value to the corporation.
      - hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
        People go with Google Fiber because it's a better product: speeds are faster and prices are lower. Literally every single person I know who has Google Fiber is a huge fan. "For another, Google has a ridiculous reputation for customer service." Uhh, yeah, because Comcast and AT&T are famous for their stellar customer service. Give it a rest, man. I get annoyed as much as anyone with Google's "shiny object" penchants, but this isn't one of those cases.
        thrtythreeforty 3y ago
        On one hand, I agree with you - Google Fiber is good (although they just raised my price). On the other hand, you must admit "your customer service is better than Comcast's" isn't really glowing praise.
        stephenr 3y ago
        > I get annoyed as much as anyone with Google's "shiny object" penchants, but this isn't one of those cases. The article is literally about them abandoning it in a given city because an idea that doesn't pass the sniff test worked out terribly. This is very much Google abandoning a shiny object just because.
        hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
  - amf12 3y ago
    > This suggests there's alternative services available anyway, so why take the risk on Google at all? Isn't that for people to decide for themselves? Few reasons I can think of: preference, trust, integrations, better features, don't want to support Comcast, etc.
grogenaut 3y ago
They weren't as known for abandoning everything back in 2015
- asylteltine 3y ago
  Yeah they were
- hinkley 3y ago
  Well known for sure. Notorious is debatable.
asylteltine 3y ago
Google fiber is just another thing in the Google graveyard. I’ve switched away from almost every Google product with maps and gmail being the last holdouts. I mostly use Apple Maps but there’s nothing as convenient as gmail and workspaces. If Apple offered email again I would switch to it for sure.
- shiroiuma 3y ago
  Google Calendar and Photos work well IME. Also, GoogleTV (Android TV) is great, since you can side-load apps like SmartTubeNext. Same goes for Android phones, where Firefox Nightly plus uBO (plus another extension to allow turning off the screen) let me listen to YouTube at work without any ad interruptions. Apple stuff is useless because it only works on Apple devices, and doesn't let me share with friends who don't have Apple devices, and generally isn't friendly to ad-blocking.
  - asylteltine 3y ago
    > Apple stuff is useless because it only works on Apple devices This logic doesn’t make sense. I only have Apple devices and it’s quite awesome. Android is buggy as hell and not integrated at all. My Apple devices are completely integrated with the entire Apple ecosystem. Spoken as an android fanboy from the G1 until the pixel 3xl.

Dylan16807 3y ago

I can get new internet service easily enough, and it'll come with a sign-up bonus. So if one service has significant advantages, I'll switch. Even if it might not last a long time.

amf12 3y ago

Because it got other providers to get off their butts. Besides, it's relatively easy to switch providers anyway (where available). I don't understand why people are scared of using services that have relatively low switching barriers, because they may be shut down one day. I've used so many services over the years - big tech and from start ups that I've since moved form because they closed down or remained stagnant over better alternatives, and I never had to give it a second thought.

stephenr 3y ago
> I don't understand why people are scared of using services that have relatively low switching barriers, because they may be shut down one day. This suggests there's alternative services available anyway, so why take the risk on Google at all?
- hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
  What exactly do you think is the "risk" of going with Google in these situations as a consumer? I know people who have Google Fiber, and love it - super fast Internet at reasonable prices. If it got turned off, they would just go with someone else. What exactly do you think the downside is? As a municipality, sure, as the article explains. But as an end consumer, what's the problem?
  - stephenr 3y ago
    Well for one thing, I value my time. Dealing with getting a new service provider because the last one just decided to stop doing business is pretty low on the list of things I'd like to do with my time. For another, Google has a ridiculous reputation for customer service. Even saying that is being generous, because most Google services just don't have customer service, at all. I keep hearing "just go with someone else if they shut down" - so there clearly are alternative services available, presumably ones for whom providing a fibre service to customers is actually a core part of their business and revenue, rather than a side-gig of questionable long-term value to the corporation.
    - hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
      People go with Google Fiber because it's a better product: speeds are faster and prices are lower. Literally every single person I know who has Google Fiber is a huge fan. "For another, Google has a ridiculous reputation for customer service." Uhh, yeah, because Comcast and AT&T are famous for their stellar customer service. Give it a rest, man. I get annoyed as much as anyone with Google's "shiny object" penchants, but this isn't one of those cases.
      - thrtythreeforty 3y ago
        On one hand, I agree with you - Google Fiber is good (although they just raised my price). On the other hand, you must admit "your customer service is better than Comcast's" isn't really glowing praise.
      - stephenr 3y ago
        > I get annoyed as much as anyone with Google's "shiny object" penchants, but this isn't one of those cases. The article is literally about them abandoning it in a given city because an idea that doesn't pass the sniff test worked out terribly. This is very much Google abandoning a shiny object just because.
        hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
- amf12 3y ago
  > This suggests there's alternative services available anyway, so why take the risk on Google at all? Isn't that for people to decide for themselves? Few reasons I can think of: preference, trust, integrations, better features, don't want to support Comcast, etc.

grogenaut 3y ago

They weren't as known for abandoning everything back in 2015

asylteltine 3y ago
Yeah they were
hinkley 3y ago
Well known for sure. Notorious is debatable.

asylteltine 3y ago

Google fiber is just another thing in the Google graveyard. I’ve switched away from almost every Google product with maps and gmail being the last holdouts. I mostly use Apple Maps but there’s nothing as convenient as gmail and workspaces. If Apple offered email again I would switch to it for sure.

shiroiuma 3y ago
Google Calendar and Photos work well IME. Also, GoogleTV (Android TV) is great, since you can side-load apps like SmartTubeNext. Same goes for Android phones, where Firefox Nightly plus uBO (plus another extension to allow turning off the screen) let me listen to YouTube at work without any ad interruptions. Apple stuff is useless because it only works on Apple devices, and doesn't let me share with friends who don't have Apple devices, and generally isn't friendly to ad-blocking.
- asylteltine 3y ago
  > Apple stuff is useless because it only works on Apple devices This logic doesn’t make sense. I only have Apple devices and it’s quite awesome. Android is buggy as hell and not integrated at all. My Apple devices are completely integrated with the entire Apple ecosystem. Spoken as an android fanboy from the G1 until the pixel 3xl.