Comcast question and options?

[snowboardjoe]

My new apartment in Capitol Hill only has Comcast to offer. I don't think I've heard anything good said about Comcast. However, it's a necessary evil if I want to get the programming I want as far as I can tell. I'm big on SpeedTV in HD (gotta have my Formula 1 racing (but at what cost?)) along with other shows like HGTV, Discovery, etc., and I

Comments

[geometrician]

We have Comcast here, and I can't say there is anything about it that stands out as "bad." I don't think there is any service available anywhere of which there won't be some segment of the population proclaiming loudly that they suck. We rarely have service interruptions. We like their DVR service.

Personally, if it was just me, I wouldn't have any TV. In an urban area, I might look into one of the Virgin Mobile MiFi devices, with their $40/month unlimited plan.

[snowboardjoe]

I have looked into other wireless options like Clearwire, but from what I've heard so far, the signal is not strong enough in that area (likely a problem with many apartment complexes).

The biggest complaints around here about Comcast is customer service. Hardly anything gets fixed on the first call (which usually results in making things worse).

I'm definitely looking at the option of not having any cable TV service, but not sure I want to make that leap yet. Definitely need a DVR, but maybe I can get along with BitTorrent and local HDTV (and iTunes). iTunes is certainly more viable now with 2 major networks offering $1 HD rentals of popular shows.

[shirtlifterbear]

1) Welcome to the neighborhood!

2) Comcast has an adequate DVR, missing only a robust search feature but otherwise not awful. They are the monopoly, sadly.

3) Cafe Vivace across the street from Joule = best coffee in Seattle.

4) Thanh Bros Pho = ditto.

5) Hana Sushi is fine, Genki is cheaper and more fun.

6) We should meet for lunch!

[snowboardjoe]

Just an adequate DVR? :) How adequate? How does it compare to a TiVo?

It would be great to meet you! I completely forgot you lived here. Which neighborhood are you in?

[shirtlifterbear]

tbass and I live on First Hill, about a block from Piecora's Pizza and Chop Suey. Near the other end of the Capitol Hill Broadway corridor from you, about a fifteen minute walk!

(The Comcast DVR records fine, plays back fine, but you can't search listings for terms like "gay" or "Cary Grant" like you can on a TiVo. It's lazy software.)

[snowboardjoe]

Excellent. I'll get more details from you later offline from here.

As for the DVR, I did see that Comcast now has an agreement with TiVo to provide TiVo services. It's not available in our area yet, but it's supposed to be coming "soon". That would be nice.

[ljtourist]

Comcast is bad, but the local alternative (Millennium nee Broadstripe) is much worse; be glad you didn't get stuck with them, especially if you want your internet via cable. (In Seattle proper, you get one or the other due to a "state-sanctioned" monopoly. Forget anything great like Verizon FIOS if you want to stay in the city. One of the little downsides, sadly). Still, Comcast is not awful.

Do not do anything with cablecards. They are too fiddly for their worth, and the technology is being phased out. I have no experience with Comcast's DVR offering, but it can't be as good as TiVo. I've had no luck configuring serial communication with my cable box, though, so I'm stuck w/IR blasters. The HD cable boxes might be better in this regard though (mine is SD).

[snowboardjoe]

TiVo has a new model out now (series 4), but a CableCARD would be required. It would be about $299 for their basic model and can store up to 45hours of HD programming (should be plenty for me).

[bradferd23]

I switched from Dish to Comcast recently. The DVR features are comparable to Dish. I don't know what DirectTV has, but I am thinking it is comparable. I would just get the comcast dvr if you don't have a tivo already. Make sure you request the one with the larger hard drive so you can hold more programming. I will tell you our internet here in Denver has been better than the DSL that we had with Qwest. Must faster and more reliable. I will tell you that Seattle has fewer problems headend wise. The guy out there that runs it knows his stuff.

If you find you have any problems, send me a note and I will send you some information with a thingy that will let me know when your problem is resolved. (a perk of the new job with them... )

[snowboardjoe]

DirecTV was pretty damn good. Had their issues, but customer service was decent over the years and quite reliable. There's a local rep/installer who lives in our building and it's suggested I contact him first for the best service.

Qwest is here too and I've been told to just stay away from them completely. I think the biggest complaint there was service reliability.

New job with "them"? Sorry, I'm behind on my LJ reading. :(

[bradferd23]

:) It happened about the same time you landed yours. I was totally done with the Law Firm and needed to get out of that soul sucking place. I had three offers plus the firm wanted to keep me. Here are the specific posts:

http://bradferd23.livejournal.com/2010/05/29/
http://bradferd23.livejournal.com/2010/06/11/
http://bradferd23.livejournal.com/2010/06/17/

If you have a guy in the building that is even better. We don't like sucky tv or internet! :) Most of what I know about the culture is that the customer comes first and we will do what we can to make things right with the customer. I haven't had any problems with calling customer service on the one issue I had. They were expedient and they schedule service right away. SO... that was nice.

To grrr, or not to grrr? That is the question. - Comcast question <b>...</b>

[pingback_bot]

User tivo_in_lj referenced to your post from To grrr, or not to grrr? That is the question. - Comcast question ... saying: [...] http://snowboardjoe.livejournal.com/277217.html [...]