Well, tomorrow Comcast begins limiting our Internet consumption. And if the future brings with it greater technology and Internet usage, this means Comcast is going the way of cell phone companies… Oh, wait, cell phone network carriers have UNLIMITED data plans. For those of you who want to know about the nuts and bolts of Comcasts decision to cap the net, check out this white paper.

I find it funny that Comcast is trying to make customers mad. I haven’t talked to one customer of their’s that likes them. Everyone is simply forced to use them. It is time for other carriers to step in and take charge, because it is apparent Comcast is not going to pick up their game.

According to the Post Gazette, my name is StephEn Mack and I was hired by Impaqt to be the entire client services team. Talk about too much credit. I think I’ll stick with my Search Associate position in order to avoid all our customers coming after me when something goes south.

I just finished reading a post at TechRadar, which goes to show Apple hasn’t learned a thing from history. If the loss of Mac support for the PC has taught them anything, it should have opened their eyes to being more open, and allowing their users (and customers) to do what they want with a device they own. Here is my letter to Apple. I hope it will be heard.

Dear Apple,
With Google’s Android operating system launching next month, one would think you would be gearing up to compete, but instead you are making your customers angry (including me). I will concede that Android is of no threat just yet, especially in its current beta-ish state, but its launch alone means the likes of Microsoft and Blackberry may soon be answering. Yes, Apple, your iPhone has the best touch screen interface I’ve seen, looks like a business device should with the HTC G1 looking like a child’s toy in comparison, and is on a better network than T-Mobile, but Apple, there comes a time when you need to learn that keeping yourself closed off hurts you and your loyal customers, in the end. Customers who, if history tells us anything, will jump ship if the iPhone doesn’t evolve quickly enough. You are limiting that evolutionary process.

So, why would you deny developers the opportunity to compete in your App Store. Do you believe in capitalism or do you want a dictatorship? I suppose only time will truly tell, but you’re digging yourself into a deep hole and there comes a point when not even the tallest of ladders will allow you to climb out. Wait, what is that I hear? Your stock price dropping?

Kind Regards

I was quite annoyed to find out Windows 2000 could not handle my WPA wireless router setup, so I set out to find a solution. Believe it or not, it was much harder, than expected, to find a free WPA wireless solution that is compatible with Win2k. The ones that used to exist from McAfee and the Wireless Security Corp are all gone and I’m not really into spending $40-$50 just to get some added security benefits like network passcode. I’m just tired of typing in 128-bit WEP keys. Luckily I happened upon a forum entry about LucidLink’s WiFi Client. Though I haven’t had a lot of time to really test this program thoroughly, it’s free so you can test it out yourself.

Best of luck with you wireless security running with older versions of Windows.

This is the first post I’m attempting from my iPhone, so if there are typos I apologize. To conclude what has turned into a 3-part series, I have made it through two conversations with Comcast. They talked to me about what I experienced with their customer service and assured me they would speak with all parties involved in hopes of making the experience for other customers better.

They did not address the issues with their automated phone answering service nor did they offer me any sort of compensation for my troubles, aside from a few apologies.

Do I feel better having talked with them, no not really. I do hope they hear my pains and attempt to improve their service for others, but they cold have thrown some freebies my way to at least let me know they care.

Oh well. Let me know if you have a good experience signing on with Comcast in the future so that I know my talks with them were not in vain.

Not one hour after I posted the previous entry yesterday did I receive a call from Comcast’s corporate office wanting to talk to me regarding the experience I had with them. I have to give them kudos for caring enough about their online reputation to attempt to manage it. This got me thinking more about how they found my post so quickly and also why they made such an effort to contact me. Afterall, they had to look up my customer contact information and then call me. Apparently, this is not something that is new for Comcast. With hate sites springing up like wild flowers and many dissatisfied customers, these are stormy times for Comcast. In fact, they setup a special, internal task force to monitor their Internet reputation on blogs and social networking sites like Twitter.

What does this mean for Comcast customers? Hopefully, better service. I will be returning Comcast’s call today and have an update on what they say to come.

As some of you know, I made a slight move closer to Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago and am finally beginning to settle in. It’s been a long unpacking and shopping process (we keep finding more things we need), but those 3M hooks come in quite handy. When they don’t decide to drop off the wall, allowing picture frames to crash into the floor.

With moving comes the fun of setting up utilities, television, and Internet. Who needs a phone line anymore with cellphones around? Of course the only available Internet provider in my area is Comcast. It’s not that I have had big problems with Comcast cable Internet in the past, but I don’t agree with them putting a cap on what should be unlimited Internet. I also don’t like that they make me clone my MAC address to get multiple devices online at once. I’ve got 3 computers, 2 game consoles, and an iPhone that want to connect to the Internet and Comcast doesn’t like it.

I tried to find a DSL or FIOS provider, but to no avail, so I bit the bullet and went online to see if I could sweeten the deal any. I found some interesting deals through the Comcast Special web site, which eventually netted me a free cable modem, wireless router, and cash back, but this was only the beginning of my hassles.

#1 Deal

Comcast offered a deal for current cable customers to receive Internet for $20 more a month for 6-months. I am a new customer, don’t you think they want my business enough to give me this deal? Nope, I had to become a cable customer first. Luckily, I was planning on it in the first place.

#2 Or no deal?

Comcast and Bridgevine, the place that runs the Comcast Special web site, don’t tell you this anywhere in print, but they want you to be a digital cable subscriber to nab the deal listed above. If I had more time to watch TV I might be interested, but basic cable is fine for watching 24. Especially because you still get high-def input with it (who knew?). I wouldn’t have been angry about this, but they don’t mention digital cable in any of the fine print, nor did the Bridgevine sales rep I originally talked to, when I was researching, tell me this when I asked him if basic cable would do the trick.

It took some standing up to the saleswomen on the phone and threats of wanting to talk to her manager (who was conveniently in a meeting at the time), but I managed to get the $20 cable Internet deal out of her. And yes, I got the free modem, router, and check too; or rather the forms to fill out to get all of these. Aside from the fact that they sent me a cheap D-Link router (cheap, meaning it’s crap and doesn’t hold a connection, not that I dislike D-Link). But this was just the beginning.

#3 Comcast doesn’t want my business?

Once I made it through the Bridgevine sales department. You would think I was home free. Nope. I was on hold with Comcast as a new customer, waiting to setup my Internet. Not only was I on hold, but I kept being placed on hold only to receive an automated system asking me what I was calling about. Press 1 to… I mean how many times can I say, I need to talk to a rep and I AM A NEW CUSTOMER!!! Does Comcast want me to plaster this on my forehead and walk to their competition next door or do they want my money? With everything I am reading about Comcast losing customers and Verizon FIOS gaining steam, they should want me to have the best phone customer service around, but no. I have talked to them three times and each time have gone through, not one, but three computerized operators.

Sure it all worked out in the end. I have Internet for all my devices, I’m searching for a new wireless router online, and have enjoyed some new TV shows on Fox while waiting for January to roll around for 24, but still, I feel like just a number to Comcast, and am not a happy customer. On the other hand their tech support people are really nice, it’s just their sales department that sucks. Go figure.

What has been your experience with Comcast or other Internet providers?

So, this “blog” has been sitting stagnant for long enough. This is my attempt at resurrecting this site to be what I have wanted it to be – my ramblings and rantings and opinions on Internet marketing, technology, and life.

To bring you up-to-date, I recently accepted a job as a search engine marketer with a Pittsburgh firm called Impaqt. I’ve been learning a lot of new tricks, keeping up with the numerous blogs on the subject of SEO and SEM and think I can begin contributing to this industry in a meaningful way – this blog.

As a short introduction, I have been developing web sites professionally for over five years and have been working in the Internet marketing industry professionally for just over a year. What is to come are my findings and experiences.

Sometime over fall break in October (2007) I traveled to Michigan to see my now fiance for several days. I just happened to bring a bouquet of flowers, a poorly learned guitar song (Hey There Delilah), and a REALLY cool Celtic engagement ring. So, now this poor girl (Alex) has begrudgingly agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. Wish her luck.

Here’s some pictures from the event:

I apologize that the links and content for this site are missing… I am working to put everything in place and should have everything ready within a couple days.