My thoughts from an internet service centric viewpoint...
Pros: Faster Better service (less port blocking/restrictions from what I hear) Consistent speed Cons: Verizon - can be a pain to deal with, but I hear the FIOS team is good. A bit pricey
Comcast: Pros: Cheaper Better for TV from what I hear Cons: Comcast - shady-ass company Shared bandwidth Restrictive policies on intartubes
Costs them about $4000 - $6000 per setup. I'd say get in now before they decide they have sufficient infrastructure and can safely let you pay for installation.
The service is much faster. Verizon is unethical, but so is comcast. Prices will be shooting through the ceiling for both as soon as they can pull it off.
We've been on Fios for a year and really like it. We have a bundled Internet, TV, and house phone package. Really good customer service. Fast Internet service.
I believe Comcast is using Tivo for their DVR interface which I believe is still the best UI.
I believe you will find that Fios is lacking some channels in its line up. Ive heard people complain that they don't have Scifi (though given how shitty their line up is now, maybe thats not a big deal).
Also, from what I understand, if you get Fios they will cut the copper to your new house, you will no longer have regular telephone service or the option to get it. You will not be able to hook up a phone to a jack and at least get 911 service.
Maybe that's not a big deal for you since your all cell phone centric, but it seems like its worth mentioning since apparently Verizon doesn't bother to tell you they are going to do that.
I have FIOS. They definitely do carry SciFi, including SciFi HD. For less money, I have about twice as many real channels (not counting music, HSN, etc.) as I did on Comcast. There are a couple HD channels that got pushed into add-on packages that I think should not have been (the non-HD version is included in Basic), but that is just because I am cheap. Their website is pretty good for channel lineup info, just punch in your zip code and check for yourself if any channels you want are missing.
If you maintain active service on the copper pair(s), or manage to convince the installer that you do, they will not disconnect it.
The IP service is much better than what I was getting from Comcast. I do have occasional issues with their outgoing SMTP server deciding I am sending spam, but that is easily worked around. So far the only port block I have run into is inbound 80/tcp, but inbound 443/tcp works fine so I switched my webserver to SSL mode.
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no subject
Date: 17 Jul 2009 17:13 (UTC)Pros:
Faster
Better service (less port blocking/restrictions from what I hear)
Consistent speed
Cons:
Verizon - can be a pain to deal with, but I hear the FIOS team is good.
A bit pricey
Comcast:
Pros:
Cheaper
Better for TV from what I hear
Cons:
Comcast - shady-ass company
Shared bandwidth
Restrictive policies on intartubes
no subject
Date: 17 Jul 2009 17:55 (UTC)The service is much faster. Verizon is unethical, but so is comcast. Prices will be shooting through the ceiling for both as soon as they can pull it off.
no subject
Date: 17 Jul 2009 18:50 (UTC)I believe Comcast is using Tivo for their DVR interface which I believe is still the best UI.
no subject
Date: 17 Jul 2009 19:27 (UTC)I believe you will find that Fios is lacking some channels in its line up. Ive heard people complain that they don't have Scifi (though given how shitty their line up is now, maybe thats not a big deal).
Also, from what I understand, if you get Fios they will cut the copper to your new house, you will no longer have regular telephone service or the option to get it. You will not be able to hook up a phone to a jack and at least get 911 service.
Maybe that's not a big deal for you since your all cell phone centric, but it seems like its worth mentioning since apparently Verizon doesn't bother to tell you they are going to do that.
no subject
Date: 17 Jul 2009 22:17 (UTC)If you maintain active service on the copper pair(s), or manage to convince the installer that you do, they will not disconnect it.
The IP service is much better than what I was getting from Comcast. I do have occasional issues with their outgoing SMTP server deciding I am sending spam, but that is easily worked around. So far the only port block I have run into is inbound 80/tcp, but inbound 443/tcp works fine so I switched my webserver to SSL mode.
no subject
Date: 18 Jul 2009 21:27 (UTC)