Magical Box

Jeff Taylor | January 4, 2005

Yeah, it is just another set-top box but this one is built to use a DSL connection as a major source of content and hook into home networks. The catch, of course, is the DSL provider -- will they have clue? SBC's track record is spotty at best.

Still, mate this box, or something similar, DSL, and a satellite TV provider and you'll have a nice fist-fight with the cable guys with consumers sure to win.

Comments

|1.4.05 @ 12:31PM|#

The provider is always the catch.

You think SBC's record is spotty. Take a look at Verizon. Buying and running DSL from them is like proving cold fusion.

|1.4.05 @ 12:51PM|#

consumers sure to win, eh?

despite adelphia's claims to be 100% VOD enabled, my box hasn't had that technology for the 2 years i've been a subscriber; adelphia has been promising to roll it out "within the next quarter" for that entire period. (and it's not just VOD - we have to order pay per view by dialing an 800 number and preying that the billing system is in sync with the TV guide)

meanwhile they keep hiking their rates once every 6 months, and the satellite guys hike in pace within a day. and neither provider offers customer service worth a damn.

and people wonder why my primary sources of entertainment are the internet and netflix?

|1.4.05 @ 1:13PM|#

Certainly seems to have potential. While I've heard horror stories, my experience with SBC DSL has been ok, and I also have a 2wire DSL modem.

I also have a separate DVR (which unfortunately did not yet have a functioning USB port, so I'm still wired to the phone), separate DVD player, etc. I'd love to consolidate this crap and get rid of more wires.

|1.4.05 @ 1:51PM|#

I have Verizon DSL. I can't tink of anything difficult about "running it"? More info? I turn on any computer in the house and have instant hi speed internet (they supplied a 4-port wireless gateway device, Westell model A90-327W15-06 - replaces existing hubs and/or wirelesss gateways). This actually fixed a problem I had with my old hub dropping one pc off the network intermitantly - I, naturally, had blamed Windows. Verifying availability and getting signed up only took about 5 minutes and the modem/gateway arrive a few days later (just go to verizon.com and you are almost already finished). I just signed up a few weeks ago - I understand things used to be a bit more difficult, but its cake now. $30 per month for 1.5 Meg down (don't recall the advertised up speed, but it tested at around 400K - good enough)

|1.4.05 @ 2:40PM|#

I just wish the competition wasn't between technologies. It's fine that you can choose ADSL versus Cable modems, but competition for ADSL service is a joke at best (the baby bells screw Speakeasy and other providers routinely and effectively, and pass the pain on to the consumer) and with cable it's non-existent. Again, both of these are by law and nothing that a skimming of Wealth of Nations wouldn't have predicted.

So the story here should be "government pseudo-monopolist finally offers potential but unproven consumer benefit, possibly competing with other local government monopolists."

|1.4.05 @ 4:00PM|#

I have Verizon DSL. I can't tink of anything difficult about "running it"? More info? I turn on any computer in the house and have instant hi speed internet (they supplied a 4-port wireless gateway device, Westell model A90-327W15-06 - replaces existing hubs and/or wirelesss gateways). This actually fixed a problem I had with my old hub dropping one pc off the network intermitantly - I, naturally, had blamed Windows. Verifying availability and getting signed up only took about 5 minutes and the modem/gateway arrive a few days later (just go to verizon.com and you are almost already finished). I just signed up a few weeks ago - I understand things used to be a bit more difficult, but its cake now. $30 per month for 1.5 Meg down (don't recall the advertised up speed, but it tested at around 400K - good enough)

Good for you that you've had a decent experience. Two years ago I tried the same thing. It was a total disaster. I've gone to sat-based internet and I couldn't be happier.

|1.4.05 @ 4:50PM|#

verizon is great...when it works.

i've had my service turned off about 15 times in five years, mostly due to repair work in the area or idiots at the help desk putting our phone number in for another repair call. not to mention there's 0 communication between techs on the ground, techs in the home office and the people answering phones.

we're trying to find a way to drop their local and long distance service but keep the dsl. cable is twice as expensive (since we don't have cable now, it would be 60 bucks per month without, or 90 a month with)

|1.4.05 @ 6:01PM|#

I guess mileage varies. I can't think of one time in the past 10 - 15 years I've had a problem, any problem, with my regular VZ (former GTE/Contel region) wired phone service. The one problem I reported about ten years ago turned out to be my own wiring. I certainly can't say the same about the electric company, or water, or my cell service, or regular dial-up ISP (which is not the phone company in my case), or any other service from almost any other company.

Sandy, to your speakeasy comments; the devil-worshipers at speakeasy did nothing to get me DSL. Glorious Verizon (my new lord and savior) purchased, installed, and most likely tested, the equipment in my area about two months ago (I've been waiting for years). The laws, which presumably you favor(?), that would force phone companies to share everything their well-paid union labor force installs, would result in people like me not having broadband, or having to wait for years as in my case. Why should big companies like SBC or VZ (my savior) invest big big money in infrastructure and union salary/pensions knowing a low-rent "scab" satanic competitor will undercut them at every turn without innovating anything? That would be a very unwise investment - not one I'd sink my money into. The lack of competition for twisted-pair is a concern, but its the same issue for cable, or satellite (gotta own the bird or pay the owner's fee), or future fiber or RF deployments from company X. I personally wouldn't care if we doubled the number of pretty wires running everywhere, but apparently some people have different taste (or taste period). Maybe the guberment should take over all that wire and spectrum and then we would all be in a social, sustainable, just, equitable, paradise. (I've been listening to NPR lately, can ya tell)

Did I mention how totally cool Verizon is, and how for just $29.99 per month you can get unlimited high-speed....

My brother has SBC DSL. Don't be dissin them either!