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You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Verizon came to my house today to sell me FIOS

Verizon came to my house today to sell me FIOS
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starman
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May 23, 2008, 03:06 AM
 
Here's something I don't get.

They claim that they have 20x better speed than Comcast.

TWENTY.

I find that hard to believe.

They say they have 20Mb (mega BITS!) down. That's 20/8 MB (mega BYTES) which is like 2.6ish (it's 3am...too tired to load Calculator). So I said that if I'm getting 1.5 MB down from Apple, that means with FIOS, I should be getting 30 MB down.

Sorry, but that's a lie.

NOBODY I know gets 30MB/sec down anywhere.

If I'm wrong, correct me, but they're flat-out lying.

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turtle777
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May 23, 2008, 03:14 AM
 
1.5 MB down from Apple ?

Huh ? Do you mean Comcast ?

Your whole post is confusing. Who is "THEY SAY" ?

At any rate, the max. FiOS rates are 50Mbit/s, in most places 30 Mbit/s. Shouldn't be much difference to Comcast.

Verizon FiOS

-t
     
starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 03:21 AM
 
Well, that's my point...how can they claim 20x faster when the numbers don't add up?

And yes, I've gotten 1.5 MB (BYTES)/sec from Apple.

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turtle777
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May 23, 2008, 03:22 AM
 
Wow, I didn't know Apple had ISP services. Where can I get this ? Where is it available ?

-t
     
starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 03:26 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Wow, I didn't know Apple had ISP services. Where can I get this ? Where is it available ?

-t
Seriously, that's not even humorous.

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greenamp
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May 23, 2008, 04:50 AM
 
I'm confused.
     
ctt1wbw
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May 23, 2008, 05:24 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Wow, I didn't know Apple had ISP services. Where can I get this ? Where is it available ?

-t
Dude, I'm still using eWorld.
     
BasketofPuppies
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May 23, 2008, 05:57 AM
 
Mike, you aren't getting online via Apple anymore. Apple sold its half of AppleLink Personal to Quantum in 1989. The service was re-named "America Online," or "AOL" for short.

I suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of the AOL software. It has all sorts of useful features, like Internet e-mail. With Internet e-mail, you can send and receive e-mail to and from anyone with a standard e-mail address. You won't be limited to people on AppleLink Personal anymore.
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MacosNerd
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May 23, 2008, 06:47 AM
 
I'm waiting for FIOS to come into my area, but alas no such luck. DSL is ok, I have no complaints on the service or speed. It's the satellite service from direct-tv that I'd like to replace.
     
villalobos
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May 23, 2008, 07:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
Here's something I don't get.

They claim that they have 20x better speed than Comcast.

TWENTY.

I find that hard to believe.

They say they have 20Mb (mega BITS!) down. That's 20/8 MB (mega BYTES) which is like 2.6ish (it's 3am...too tired to load Calculator). So I said that if I'm getting 1.5 MB down from Apple, that means with FIOS, I should be getting 30 MB down.

Sorry, but that's a lie.

NOBODY I know gets 30MB/sec down anywhere.

If I'm wrong, correct me, but they're flat-out lying.

I have FIOS in Union County. I pay for 10/2, and I get 10/1.95. Everyday, all the time. Works really really well.
     
villalobos
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May 23, 2008, 07:19 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
1.5 MB down from Apple ?

Huh ? Do you mean Comcast ?

Your whole post is confusing. Who is "THEY SAY" ?

At any rate, the max. FiOS rates are 50Mbit/s, in most places 30 Mbit/s. Shouldn't be much difference to Comcast.

Verizon FiOS

-t

Comcast here is not even close to 50 Mbps. It's more like 10 I think (and 12 with "Powerboost", and 16 with "Blast")... But only between 2am and 5 am. Of course the bigger issue is the upload, that they don't even quantify on their website...
     
starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 10:17 AM
 
Originally Posted by villalobos View Post
I have FIOS in Union County. I pay for 10/2, and I get 10/1.95. Everyday, all the time. Works really really well.
Download something big from Apple like the Xcode 3 DMG and tell me what actual download speed you get. I'm curious.

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starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 10:18 AM
 
Oh, one other thing...

The guy said to me "so tell me, how do you like poor quality from your Comcast HD?"

I said that the quality from the Comcast HD is perfectly fine. No artifacts, no smearing, no dropped frames.

I really despise people that try to sell things and tell lies.

Oh, and he said that Verizon FIOS HD doesn't work with TiVo Series 3. I said, there's no sale at all if that's true.

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MacosNerd
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May 23, 2008, 10:57 AM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
Download something big from Apple like the Xcode 3 DMG and tell me what actual download speed you get. I'm curious.
Why not go to speedtest

and while you're at it, check out this thread It might already have the answers you're seeking
     
starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 11:02 AM
 
I'd rather get first-hand experience from someone in my area. I read all those sites, but I'd rather get a real-time response.

EDIT: for giggles. FIOS is 20x faster than THAT?


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Dakar the Fourth
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May 23, 2008, 11:22 AM
 
FIOS is more powerful than the island from LOST.
     
imitchellg5
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May 23, 2008, 03:36 PM
 
Ooooh. Oooooh. Lookit this.



Not bad for a PowerBook G3 466 MHz with an original AirPort though I suppose.
     
turtle777
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May 23, 2008, 03:43 PM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
Seriously, that's not even humorous.


-t
     
seanc
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May 23, 2008, 04:04 PM
 
I think starman meant getting 1.5 MB down(load speed) from Apples (servers)
     
turtle777
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May 23, 2008, 04:13 PM
 
Originally Posted by seanc View Post
I think starman meant getting 1.5 MB down(load speed) from Apples (servers)
If that's the case, WTF does that have to do with anything ?

In the context of speaking about ISPs, him saying that he gets "1.5MB/s down from Apple" is misleading at best. Why not Rapidshare or YouTube ?

And technically, he doesn't get sh!t from Apple, it's all Akamai anyways.

-t
     
subego
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May 23, 2008, 05:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
Oh, one other thing...

The guy said to me "so tell me, how do you like poor quality from your Comcast HD?"

I said that the quality from the Comcast HD is perfectly fine. No artifacts, no smearing, no dropped frames.

I really despise people that try to sell things and tell lies.

I've certainly noticed artifacting with Comcast, though I haven't seen Verizon to make a comparison.

AFAIK though, this is true. Gizmodo or Engadget reported on it. Comacast uses more compression than Verizon does.

That was still a crappy way to sell that fact.


Originally Posted by starman View Post
Oh, and he said that Verizon FIOS HD doesn't work with TiVo Series 3. I said, there's no sale at all if that's true.

This is wrong. Nice how he screws up the part that could actually make the sale.

You can get a CableCard from Verizon and it works fine. You lose PPV, On Demand, and the programming guide. You obviously don't need the last one if you have a TiVo.

What's going on here (and is something you will continue to experience should you get a CableCard from any provider) is that the cable companies hate CableCards, and will do everything, up to and including outright lies, to get you to rent their gear instead.
     
olePigeon
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May 23, 2008, 05:57 PM
 
FIOS is faster than Cable. DSL can be faster than Cable if you're close enough. Cable is shared. If you live in an area where a lot of people have Cable internet access, it can be slower than dial up. It's like that at my apartment.

FIOS, like DSL, is not a shared line. So whatever speed you get, you have it for 24/7. It doesn't matter how many of your neighbors have it.
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villalobos
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May 23, 2008, 11:20 PM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
I'd rather get first-hand experience from someone in my area. I read all those sites, but I'd rather get a real-time response.

EDIT: for giggles. FIOS is 20x faster than THAT?

This is my speedtest for a 10/2 connection



For some odd reasons, speedtest is locating me in the midwest right now.... I am 20 miles from Clifton, not 1200 miles....
     
starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 11:53 PM
 
That's not 20x faster than Comcast which is what the FIOS guy was trying to sell me.

Thanks for doing the test.

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starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 11:55 PM
 
Originally Posted by olePigeon View Post
FIOS is faster than Cable. DSL can be faster than Cable if you're close enough. Cable is shared. If you live in an area where a lot of people have Cable internet access, it can be slower than dial up. It's like that at my apartment.

FIOS, like DSL, is not a shared line. So whatever speed you get, you have it for 24/7. It doesn't matter how many of your neighbors have it.
I understand that, but in MY area, it's not faster. Check the speed test above. Even if the speed test was closer, I don't think you'd see a significant difference.

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starman  (op)
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May 23, 2008, 11:56 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
If that's the case, WTF does that have to do with anything ?

In the context of speaking about ISPs, him saying that he gets "1.5MB/s down from Apple" is misleading at best. Why not Rapidshare or YouTube ?

And technically, he doesn't get sh!t from Apple, it's all Akamai anyways.

-t
Are you being intentionally obtuse? Seriously....

I'm downloading from apple.com. There, is that better for you?

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turtle777
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May 23, 2008, 11:59 PM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
Are you being intentionally obtuse? Seriously....

I'm downloading from apple.com. There, is that better for you?
Yes, now you make sense.

Maybe you should learn not confuse talking about ISPs and content providers in the same sentence. And btw, you were NOT downloading from Apple.

-t
     
starman  (op)
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May 24, 2008, 12:01 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Yes, now you make sense.

Maybe you should learn not confuse talking about ISPs and content providers in the same sentence. And btw, you were NOT downloading from Apple.

-t
/sigh

Yes, I'm WELL aware of akamai. But really, do I need to be THAT specific? I figure everyone else is too.

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lavar78
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May 24, 2008, 02:19 AM
 
The "20 times faster" claim comes from comparing their fastest, 30-Mbps plan to a 1.5-Mbps plan.

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starman  (op)
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May 24, 2008, 04:04 AM
 
Originally Posted by lavar78 View Post
The "20 times faster" claim comes from comparing their fastest, 30-Mbps plan to a 1.5-Mbps plan.
Well, they claim to be 20x faster than Comcast and I see no evidence of that anywhere.

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villalobos
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May 24, 2008, 07:15 AM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
That's not 20x faster than Comcast which is what the FIOS guy was trying to sell me.

Thanks for doing the test.
no it's not 20X time faster and won't be. but it is the CHEAPEST plan. They have a 30/15 also. That would be faster then what you have with Comcast especially the upload which sucks with Comcast (and most cable companies). Also unlike cable often, the speed is constant throughout the day.
Listen you don't have to believe people here about FIOS being better than Comcast, and you should stick with Comcast if you are happy with them.
( Last edited by villalobos; May 24, 2008 at 07:37 AM. )
     
lavar78
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May 24, 2008, 09:20 AM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
Well, they claim to be 20x faster than Comcast and I see no evidence of that anywhere.
If Comcast has a 1.5-Mbps plan, the 30-Mbps plan is 20x faster. If Comcast doesn't, it isn't.

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awaspaas
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May 24, 2008, 09:28 AM
 
Of course you all know that using Speedtest with Comcast means next to nothing, right? The PowerBoost kicks in just long enough to give a really nice download speed on the test, but on sustained downloads it drops WAY down (usu to 4mbps, much less during peak times). FIOS does no such thing.
     
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May 24, 2008, 11:46 AM
 
My personal preference is for DSL or FiOS (never used; heard a lot of very good things). I have two residences, one with cable, the other with DSL. DSL is a consistent, dedicated speed with low latency. My cable connection is much higher latency and variable speed, depending on time of day.
     
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May 25, 2008, 07:38 AM
 
I work with a person that lives on a 5 mile long semi-rural road off of a major highway here in Central NY. Verizon has bee pushing FIOS with them for a year. They would only run the cable down the road if 20 of the 30 homes on the street sign up. Last week they finally offered Cable TV/Broadband and Phone for $62.00 a month + taxes for 24 months. Then up to the normal rate which is the the same as Time Warner Road Runner/TV/Phone here.

Looks like they are being VERY aggressive for market share.
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