Comcast says it will upgrade HMB’s cable

I wonder if the upgrade also includes HD (High-Definition) programming and better Local Station (KGO, KPIX, KTVU, etc.) reception?

I also wonder how long AT&T will take to extend U-Verse services to the Coastside to offer a viable, non-satellite alternative to Comcast.

Actually, anyone who has Comcast’s internet connection already has access to internet telephone service. Just go to www.vonage.com, and you will find unlimited phone service to US, Canada and parts of Europe for a flat fee of $25/month, plus an ordinary amount of tax. It’s absolutely simple to set up (and they send you everything), and works like a charm, as long as the internet is working for you. Frankly, it’s a wonder other companies such as Comcast and AT&T still have many telephone customers left among DSL and Cable-Internet subscribers. Plus, you can take your phone with you if you go out of town. :-)

I’ve been using Callvantage (just like Vonage) for well over a year now. Very happy except when Comcast is down. An extra benefit is for people like me with many out of town relatives you can share the benefits with them: for $5 I have a local number (local to our out of town relatives) that they can call toll free to reach us—no long distance charges for us or them. Saves hundreds a month, counting all sides.

As for high-def programming, I don’t really care. I’ve also had a large-screen TV for about a year and a half but have yet to hook it up to Comcast—nothing particularly worth watching!

—Darin

Darin wrote

“Very happy except when Comcast is down.”

Which is why I won’t be looking at VOIP unless/until I can get DSL.

Instead of adding a bunch of channels that nobody watches and services that nobody cares about, I’d rather that they just give us a good picture on the channels that we already have, and also fix their reliability issues.

In particular, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I get Comcast’s phone service.