Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Tulsa

[Hoss]

Sounds similar to RTTS. I guess they're sharing notes.

One of the nice things about playing in RTTS mode is that it fast forwards through the parts of the game your player has nothing to do with. It makes the game much more tolerable. 

And in BAP you can sim the entire game, but there's really no fun in that.

OK, back to the topic, now that we've completely derailed it.  Sorry everyone.   

[sgrizzle]

Ah yes, PS3.  Only reasons I have it are twofold.

Blu-Ray, and NHL 09.  Patiently waiting for NHL 10...

Most reviewers still say the PS3 is the best BluRay player on the market bar-none.  I have one of the older 60gb backwards compatible jobs.

That's largely because the PS3 has an internet connection (easy updates, bd-live, etc) while the Bluray manufacturers were being cheap and not including any network capability. Ironically the much cheaper competitor (HD-DVD) had network connections in every unit. The downside for me is that you have to buy an additional box to use a remote like my Harmony on the PS3. I had an HD-DVD player I got for basically free and resold, then got a bluray (that does profile 2) for basically free so I'd say my route is the best by like $300-$400.

Trogdor has a lot of the same viewing habits I do and has gone the media server route but has issues with both the free & pay TV services delaying some shows and not showing others. I'm giving it about a year or so before internet TV gets it's act together.

[nathanm]

OK, back to the topic, now that we've completely derailed it.  Sorry everyone.   

Oh yeah, this was about ISPs in Tulsa, of whom there are now apparently approximately two in the consumer market.

Anyone else think that the FCC's subversion of Congressional intent in allowing at&t to get away with declining to allow 3rd party ISPs access to their U-Verse VRADs might have something to do with it?

I'm coming to the view that we need a nonprofit (possibly government owned) wholesale network running fiber to every structure in the county. Let the various content providers offer whatever services they like over that network. at&t is stuck on stupid with U-Verse, and Cox seems pretty uninterested in doing DOCSIS 3 here. (Boy did they deploy it but quick down in Lafayette where the water department deployed fiber)

Maybe then we'd get some local ISPs back in the residential broadband business.

[Cherish]

That's largely because the PS3 has an internet connection (easy updates, bd-live, etc) while the Bluray manufacturers were being cheap and not including any network capability. Ironically the much cheaper competitor (HD-DVD) had network connections in every unit. The downside for me is that you have to buy an additional box to use a remote like my Harmony on the PS3. I had an HD-DVD player I got for basically free and resold, then got a bluray (that does profile 2) for basically free so I'd say my route is the best by like $300-$400.

Trogdor has a lot of the same viewing habits I do and has gone the media server route but has issues with both the free & pay TV services delaying some shows and not showing others. I'm giving it about a year or so before internet TV gets it's act together.

I've got both the PS3 and HD A30 (and still have it with about 35 HD movies buy one get one free fire sale ) bought for 80 bucks got a $50 Best Buy giftcard when Toshiba announced no longer support in Feb 08, so Best Buy gave $50 gc to customers who bought an HD player from them, so spent 30 bucks for HD player not bad.  I use my A30 for upconverting since the PS3 upconverting is awful compared to the HD.  That's about the only downside of PS3 is the upconverting power is not great compared to stand alone bd players and hd players.  Also audio codec support wasn't that great in the beginning but now its superb 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio my A30 only has Dolby TrueHD that matters to me since I have a receiver that accepts both codecs.

Plus the early generation HD players only had 1080i support and PS3 has always had True HD (1080p support).  Even when Toshiba players were dying out a couple months before then there were bd players with ethernet or USB drive for updates and they were all 1080p.  So unless you bought Toshiba HD A30, A35 and above (X series were above 699) models the lower end Toshiba's which were selling at 300 and below but not less than 200 at the time didn't even have 1080p only 1080i.  So yes Red was a cheaper alternative but there was reasons for that.  I've always been purple with a streak of ps3 fangirl in me LOL. 

[OpenYourEyesTulsa]

I mentioned in my previous post that I used Magic Jack for my home phone.  My Magic Jack quit working yesterday and here are some things to know about magic jack:

• If you do not purchase Magic Jack from their website they will make you seek a replacement from the store you bought it from based on that store's return policy.  So buy it from their website to get the 1 year warranty.
• When you seek support, there is no phone number.  You have to chat with them online.

I guess these are ok to deal with considering that I am saving about $200 a year on my home phone.


Another thing I wanted to mention is to check out a program for your computer called PlayOn.  It turns your computer into a media server so you can stream Hulu, You Tube, Amazon VOD, and Netflix to your PS3, XBOX360, Wii, DirecTV box, or any other device that can be a media center extender.  You can also download plugins for things like Spike, CNN, Comedy Central, etc.  It is $40 but they have coupons all the time.  Some people say it can replace your cable service but I think they still need to work some more bugs out and add more content.  But it is definately worth the money.

[Hoss]

I mentioned in my previous post that I used Magic Jack for my home phone.  My Magic Jack quit working yesterday and here are some things to know about magic jack:

• If you do not purchase Magic Jack from their website they will make you seek a replacement from the store you bought it from based on that store's return policy.  So buy it from their website to get the 1 year warranty.
• When you seek support, there is no phone number.  You have to chat with them online.

I guess these are ok to deal with considering that I am saving about $200 a year on my home phone.


Another thing I wanted to mention is to check out a program for your computer called PlayOn.  It turns your computer into a media server so you can stream Hulu, You Tube, Amazon VOD, and Netflix to your PS3, XBOX360, Wii, DirecTV box, or any other device that can be a media center extender.  You can also download plugins for things like Spike, CNN, Comedy Central, etc.  It is $40 but they have coupons all the time.  Some people say it can replace your cable service but I think they still need to work some more bugs out and add more content.  But it is definately worth the money.

As far as the media server goes with PS3, I use a Linux box and Mediatomb.  Works great.

But I'm geeky like that..