Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Derek Jeter’s broken (again) ankle, the start of the NBA playoffs, or Jennifer Love Hewitt’s surprising second act, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
I love Google Fiber…but it’s pissing me off. Last year, I wrote about Google Fiber and the dream of gigabit Internet. Seeing the service spread from Kansas City to Austin to Provo makes my heart soar and crushes it at the same time. While idiot executives at Time Warner Cable (the crap-bag company that currently provides my Internet service) claim that nobody wants gigabit Internet, anyone with common sense can see that these speeds would drastically change the types of Internet services offered and what people can do online. Those kinds of speeds are transformative and the sooner more people have them, the sooner online services can evolve.
It’s not even a chicken-and-egg proposition in my mind. There are hundreds of companies in America that would enable consumers to do all kinds of interesting things online in a way that they can’t today. American ISPs are a barrier — one that will remain for the foreseeable future unless drastic changes are made. For the most part, there’s no incentive for ISPs to advance because most people are covered by monopolies or duopolies. Cable companies and telephone companies are mostly content with being nearly as fast or just a bit faster than the other guy.
Imagine how much better online video, video communications, and online gaming would be if the majority of American Internet services and consumers had access to gigabit Internet? You’d be able to stream 1080p video without buffering. You’d be able to enjoy crystal-clear full-screen video chat with friends and family on the other side of the country. Online games could include more players in a lag-free environment. Perhaps RPadholic smartguy would be able to update his PlayStation 3 in a timely fashion. Those are just some of the improvements gigabit Internet would allow for existing services. There are loads of new services that won’t work (well) with current Internet speeds, but would soar with widely available gigabit Internet.
So yeah, I’m thrilled that Google Fiber is doing well in Kansas City and will be rolled out in two additional cities in the future…but it’s also making me hate Time Warner Cable even more.
“Despite all my rage, I’m still just a consumer stuck in a contract with no reasonable alternative!”
Wait, I don’t think that’s quite right…
Nah, that’s right. Billy Corgan hates Time Warner Cable too.
Hey, I just got an idea. Can I sign up for Verizon FiOS to watch through my Xbox? I can’t get FiOS here in my area because Comcast has this place on lockdown. Verizon says that they “don’t service my area”, but if I use my Xbox to get TV service through Verizon, then the whole “service area” argument is bunk. Wouldn’t I be using my console to connect to their TV servers or something?
-M
No that’s not how that works. FiOS is an actual FTTH installation. That’s before all of the usual “we don’t service you area since those aren’t our lines” stuff. You know those poles and rights of way that are on pubic property.
I don’t know what an FTTH installation is, but I’ll take your word for it. I kind of knew it wouldn’t be that easy, anyway. I just don’t like oligopolies.
-M
Fiber to the Home – FiOS installation.
Fiber to the Node – UVerse installation.
Both require an invasive install.
Yes oligopolies suck.
Have you heard Patcher’s predictions on next gen yet?
I agree with him and I’ve been saying that for a while now. Microsoft isn’t stupid enough to greatly limit the amount of consoles they sell simply because someone doesn’t have access to the internet (or fast/reliable internet).
Great gravatar, by the way. Don’t forget to call your senatos’ office and tell him or her to NOT vote in favor of CISPA!
-M
I’m curious to see how MS will have any subsidies work with their next system (assuming they will be setup with ISP’s). This will greatly limit some people if it was the only way the console was offered. Generally I don’t like the idea of subsidies because cell phone subsidies have left a bad taste in my mouth with 2 year contracts (but I still do that every time, Verizon may make us leave soon, but not quite yet).
I thought that was a pretty interesting interview though, and I can’t really say I disagreed with anything Pachter said. That felt really weird to type…