So I decide to switch from Time Warner to Verizon FIOS for my TV programming. I already have FIOS internet service which has been great. I call up, go through the 30 minutes to set everything up and then they tell me I have to give them a $125 deposit. WTF? I remind them that I have been a Verizon phone customer for 14 years, a Verizon Wireless customer for 18 years, and a FIOS internet customer since the week it was available in my neighborhood (3-4 years ago). I though deposits are for new customers?? So I tell them to pound sand out of principle.
That leads me to call TW to have them send a tech out to fix some problems we have been having with our HDTV, DVR, etc, in the main room. I set an appoinment for today between 3-5. At 5 I call to ask where the guy is. I'm told that he fixed the problem. I tell them that would be amazing since I never saw him. I then tested the TV for the off chance the guy did something on the pole that i didn't notice and nope, TV still messed up. I tell the guy on the guy on the phone that the guy never showed. He looks further and tells me I wasn't home. Huh? I've been sitting here for 2 hours waiting for the guy instead of doing the other stuff I need to do. I get a supervisor and he tells me I should have called to let them know he didn't show. I ask when I should have called? At 4? So they could tell me he has another hour? Or at 5 like I did?
So the question is which principle do I violate/live with? Do I pay the $125 I shouldn't have to pay and switch to Verizon (I supposedly get the $$ back in a year) or do I reward TW for being liars and let them come and fix the issue another day?
I
Hate
Verizon
I would say call back and ask for a manager. Everytime I've talked with those tards, I've been amazed at how spotty the service is. One person sucks, the next person is helpful.
I think that the world would be saved if there were no televisions anywhere for 10 years.
Dump the TV services all together and watch all your shows online (or download them. :P)
Quote from: erkishhorde on February 25, 2009, 09:00:58 PM
Dump the TV services all together and watch all your shows online (or download them. :P)
How do I get them in HD on my 50" instead of sitting in front of my 22" monitor?
Mmmm.... depends on your setup. My Samsung PN50A has a monitor hook up on the back and my video card on my computer has 2 monitor outputs. So I run one to the TV and it works like a 2nd desktop. I can then just drag my video window over to the TV and maximize it. It's not always possible to find the HD stuff online but a lot of shows you can. Do a quick browse around hulu.com to see what kind of shows you can find that you like before you do anything. Also check all the station websites like abc, nbc, etc for shows like Heroes and whatnot. If you're not technically inclined I could help ya.
Some people go so far as to get another computer just for entertainment purposes and it's only hooked up to the TV. Doesn't have to be anything terribly fancy. A $250 jobby should work. If you think about it, that's almost what some people used to pay for DVD players and whatnot. Plus, if you like how it works out you can stop paying for TV and then you're saving all the money from cable bills too.
Beside not necessarily getting all the shows you might wanna see, you'll also most likely be a day or so behind on all your shows. On the other hand, you can watch them as many times as you want throughout the week usually without recording them.
Quote from: pompetta on February 25, 2009, 06:00:08 PM
I think that the world would be saved if there were no televisions anywhere for 10 years.
right on brotha dolph [thumbsup]
I believe that violence is definitely required in this instance. Remember: Fighting solves everything.
Besides, what the make the beast with two backs is so important that you have to watch TV? make the beast with two backs TV.
Quote from: pompetta on February 25, 2009, 06:00:08 PM
I think that the world would be saved if there were no televisions anywhere for 10 years.
As addicted as I am to TV, I'm actually starting to agree with you.
Quote from: erkishhorde on February 25, 2009, 09:00:58 PM
Dump the TV services all together and watch all your shows online (or download them. :P)
Maybe I'm watching the wrong feeds, but the stuff I watch online looks like TV fro the 70's. Plus, I've yet to come up with a good way to seamlessly integrate it with my HD Theatre setup.
I second calling Verizon and asking to speak with a manager, they should be able to waive any deposits...
Do you have AT&T FIOS (aka Uverse) in your area? I have heard good things. If you go with them for internet connectivity, you get free wireless at their hot spots (Starbucks)
As for internet:HD theatre interface, I think the best bet is the PS3. You can browse to/stream from Hulu and the other sites, and you can either stream or copy movie files to the hard drive from your PC. The PS3 is also an upscaling DVD player and a Blu-ray player. There are plenty of other devices than can do some of those things, but you end up spending close to the same amount of money. Oh, and you can play some games (tetris, solitaire) on the PS3.
Quote from: pompetta on February 25, 2009, 06:00:08 PM
I think that the world would be saved if there were no televisions anywhere for 10 years.
+1 [thumbsup]
Quote from: hbliam on February 25, 2009, 09:07:29 PM
How do I get them in HD on my 50" instead of sitting in front of my 22" monitor?
Either this http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/ (http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/) or a Mac mini hooked up to your HDMI interface.
AT&T UVerse Customer Service blows.......................
worse than Time Warner
or
(http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/498/195092-xbox_360_console_02_small.jpg)
+
(http://www.columbianonline.com/_images/logos/adLogo204.jpg)
Quote from: cyrus buelton on February 26, 2009, 07:12:03 AM
AT&T UVerse Customer Service blows.......................
worse than Time Warner
Dunno about the worse than time warner part but i know it sucks. I tried to cut down my services and it took 4 calls.
Quote from: erkishhorde on February 26, 2009, 07:30:19 AM
Dunno about the worse than time warner part but i know it sucks. I tried to cut down my services and it took 4 calls.
or they lie to you about the package you are updating to, give you a phony confirmation number, and then come to find out they don't even give confirmation numbers.
Yeah, that happened to us last month
Quote from: silentbob on February 26, 2009, 06:39:35 AM
Either this http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/ (http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/) or a Mac mini hooked up to your HDMI interface.
I really wanted to like the Popcorn hour boxes - do you have one of these? If the interface is good enough, that might make it worth the premium. But, for wireless media streaming, you are looking at $250 plus the cost of a hard drive. It does not play DVDs or any other physical media, and it is one more HDMI port to deal with (a concern for me, as my TV is a little older and only has one). For about $50 more, you get all of the above, plus a Blu-ray/DVD player et cetera...
Quote from: il d00d on February 26, 2009, 07:47:22 AM
I really wanted to like the Popcorn hour boxes - do you have one of these? If the interface is good enough, that might make it worth the premium. But, for wireless media streaming, you are looking at $250 plus the cost of a hard drive. It does not play DVDs or any other physical media, and it is one more HDMI port to deal with (a concern for me, as my TV is a little older and only has one). For about $50 more, you get all of the above, plus a Blu-ray/DVD player et cetera...
A friend of mine has one and he loves it. They have more than HDMI outputs. They have component, composite, vga, hdmi, analog & digital audio. It also has a built in torrent client and hardware blue ray codecs. I have the Mac mini and it is super quiet and the front row applications work with an ir remote.
They've all got you by the short & curlies.
We've had TW/Comcast - It sucks.
AT&T - What customer service?
Satellite? Not allowed at this apartment, nor do I wanna deal with their bullshit.
I hate every aspect of each of these companies. But I cannot go to a bar every time I want to watch a sporting event, and don't feel like watching Chuck / The Office / History Channel on my computer. So I too must suck it up, and continue to pregnant dog and moan until a realistic alternative appears.
Just get DirecTV.
I've had it for 6 years without a problem. They just gave me a free HD/DVR receiver because I said I was going to switch to Dish Network if they didn't (still have to pay the monthly fee for them though).
Quote from: ato memphis on February 26, 2009, 10:56:15 AM
Satellite? Not allowed at this apartment, nor do I wanna deal with their bullshit.
I thought there was a federal case a few years back which did not make this legal
It appears there is a way to make a small charge to renter for "beautification" regarding satellites cluttering up patios, etc. Whatever it is, it is nonsense.
I was reading over the FTC's Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rules (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html)page before - it doesn't side with the renter as much as I thought it would. I was led to believe that a complex would not be able to prevent you from putting up, and then pointing a satellite wherever you wanted - not so. Looks like you may be screwed unless you have your own balcony or yard-ette - or their permission.
What happened to all the media server devices that were supposed to include a torrent? That popcorn hour looks interesting.
mitt
Quote from: il d00d on February 26, 2009, 01:59:57 PM
I was reading over the FTC's Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rules (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html)page before - it doesn't side with the renter as much as I thought it would. I was led to believe that a complex would not be able to prevent you from putting up, and then pointing a satellite wherever you wanted - not so. Looks like you may be screwed unless you have your own balcony or yard-ette - or their permission.
Our complex states something about not being viewable from people walking by, they don't want the cluttered look. Fair enough, but a 'low-mount' or tripod gets no clear view of the sky.
Time to buy a house. And wait for technology to catch up with where it should be by now, so that I can purchase one damn service: Internet, and that is plenty for everything I want: playing on the web, watching TV in Hi-Def, and voice/video chat with family that's far away.
Quote from: Triple J on February 26, 2009, 12:29:22 PM
Just get DirecTV.
I've had it for 6 years without a problem. They just gave me a free HD/DVR receiver because I said I was going to switch to Dish Network if they didn't (still have to pay the monthly fee for them though).
Has Dish. Signal went out and dish needed adjustment periodically. I also had to mail them back every thing when i canceled. No thanks, come and get it.
Quote from: hbliam on February 28, 2009, 06:30:52 PM
Has Dish. Signal went out and dish needed adjustment periodically. I also had to mail them back every thing when i canceled. No thanks, come and get it.
Dish Network? DirecTV has been awesome. The ONLY problem I've had is when it snows (hardly ever), the snow build-up can cause signal issues...nothing a broom won't fix. Shouldn't be a problem for you though. I've never had to have the dish adjusted...at 2 different house locations. ???
Quote from: Triple J on February 28, 2009, 08:49:00 PM
Dish Network? DirecTV has been awesome. The ONLY problem I've had is when it snows (hardly ever), the snow build-up can cause signal issues...nothing a broom won't fix. Shouldn't be a problem for you though. I've never had to have the dish adjusted...at 2 different house locations. ???
No sir direcTV sucks, they installed the dish without tightening any bolts, then refused to come fix it without a service charge. I told them to pound sand and switched to Dish Network, a week later DirecTV saved me a trip onto my roof to remove the dish when it fell off the house entirely.