Screen Grabs: jerkface Verizon FiOS guy brandishes a Kindle

Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Yeah, we know a Screen Grabs about a commercial about technology is kind of cheating, but there are a couple of gaffes to point out here. First, Mr. Smug Surfer-Do "I Was In A Band But We Split Up Over Creative Differences" Verizon FiOS Guy is a total jerk, so we're totally rooting for the Zach Galifianakis look-alike, even if his bandwidth might suck. Second, waving a Kindle around might make you look like you rock at your job, but we're guessing a paper clipboard is about 100 times more functional for the actual task, unless you're supposed to read self-help books to your customers. Bitter cable users who can't get FiOS yet unite!

[Thanks, Don R.]

[rock99rock @ Sep 5th 2008 11:11AM]

Seriously, the picked THAT guy to be the face of Verizon fios?

[Techie @ Sep 5th 2008 12:04PM]

All I hear is FIOS, FIOS and more FIOS but are there even any cons against it? Besides what are the pros again?

[HunterXI @ Sep 5th 2008 12:16PM]

Bitchin' fast Internet connections, prices equal to those of cable. TV service & digital phone service also equivalent to cable. The only downside to me is the router (Actiontec MI424WR). It's a router with a rich feature set (infinite port forwarding rules, configurable settings for just about everything under the sun), but it has two major flaws:
1. Unless you turn off uPnP, some uPnP configurations will just keep piling up, one every few minutes. It gets to the hundreds and then the router gets a bit buggy.
2. The thing has weird problems with connectivity all the time. With my old one, my connection would be randomly slower and occasionally drop WiFi connections for no apparent reason. I don't *think* the new one is doing it, but it may be.

[BrokenMonkey @ Sep 5th 2008 12:32PM]

We got our FiOS when it was just rolling out and we got a regular D-Link 4-port wired router, attached to our own Linksys WRT54GS wireless router. However I do know someone with a crazy wireless router that they got from Verizon after their original something stopped working and it doesn't even work with the Xbox 360.

[Lars @ Sep 5th 2008 1:38PM]

I haven't had any problems. In fact, the wireless on the FiOS wireless AP/hub/router thing works better than my old Linksys wireless AP. I'd randomly get disconnected from games like Warhawk when using my old AP, but hasn't happened once with the Verizon one. Not to mention the speed...

[Ryan Trevisol @ Sep 5th 2008 1:43PM]

Cons? Weren't people's houses burning down at one point?

That doesn't really matter to me; I rent. My problem with FIOS is strictly availability.

[Timmy P. @ Sep 5th 2008 1:45PM]

I have had no a single problem when connecting with computers sporting WiFi cards. I do have the worst time when trying to connect with my Wii and DS. But that could also be a problem with nintendo's stuff there. Either way Verizon FiOS is hands down the best ISP my household has seen/used.

[Steve @ Sep 5th 2008 3:31PM]

Fios rocks, but the two negatives I can think of is that you have to pay large monthly fees if you have it on multiple tvs, so it can cost A LOT if you need it for more than 2 or 3 tvs.

Also, they don't have some of the packages like MLB Extra Innings or NHL Center Ice or any of those, so if you like any of those, you're kinda screwed with fios... but over all it's so much better than cable

[David S @ Sep 5th 2008 5:26PM]

I would say the downside of FIOS is customer service and the Actiontec router.

The was FIOS flashes the Actiontec router with their firmware, it only has a ridiculously low amount of cache enabled. This can cause some issues with bittorrent users and online gamers. Also it's G, so no N. The issue is somewhat confounded in that the router they give you is also the cable equivenalt of a modem. For me in the home, a coax line runs to the actiontec router, so there's no swapping it with your tomato fimware linksys.

If you kinda know what you are doing, you can get around this by turning your router into a bridge, and use your own router on the other side of it.

FIOS customer service is horid though. Customer Service such as adding services is handled by the local Verizon office, and Whenever I called them in the afternoon, you can tell that they are only trying to close the call, and on multiple occasions they transferred me to the tech support line when I wanted to add an additional cablecard to my account. Combined with closing at 5 or 6 pm local time, they are my worst phone support experience in memory. The tech support side is better. Also I've had 1 hr plus hold times from both.

[Forrest @ Sep 5th 2008 11:11AM]

A friend of mine has FiOS, and he's not terribly pleased with it. There's something up with his router so that every time he gets a phone call (traditional land line), his latency goes through the roof and stays there until he reboots the router. Ugh.

Of course for 20 up and 20 down, I'd be willing to tell people to stop calling me.

[blizz419 @ Sep 5th 2008 11:15AM]

a problem with the router is not a problem with the actual service its as you said a problem with the router.

[System48 @ Sep 5th 2008 11:18AM]

Agreed, can't wait to get FiOS. I have TW's Road Runner Premium @ 15Mbps down but a measly 768Kbps up.

[Forrest @ Sep 5th 2008 11:35AM]

IIRC he's been told that it's not a hardware problem, and that nothing can be done about it.

[Mike @ Sep 5th 2008 12:11PM]

lol most likely he needs to get one of those fun little 100$ boxes that can replace the router....i forget what they're called.

they fix everything :)

[Josh @ Sep 5th 2008 12:14PM]

@system48: weird, I have RR turbo and my upstream is 2mbps (same 15mbps down)

[blizz419 @ Sep 5th 2008 12:23PM]

if Its actually the router and not the modem, go pick up a linksys or D-link router or somethin problem solved

[Xenoterranos @ Sep 5th 2008 1:06PM]

Wow, that's weird. It sounds like they have some QoS going on there, whereby they're guaranteeing tlow latency for the phone call data at the expense of added latency for all other traffic. Does the latency immediately go back to normal after the phone call is over?

Perchance this is why we need net neutrality? I can't imagine that the latency would go through the roof like that if you made a call over Skype. :/

[David S @ Sep 5th 2008 5:11PM]

If you are getting latency when the phone is in use, it's probably not the actiontec router but the ONT box. At each Fiber install there's a ONT box that breaks out COAX, RJ45, or ethernet from the fiber depending on your setup. Somethign might be wrong with. If power cycling doesn't do it, you should probably call tech support and have them look at it.

[riggs @ Sep 5th 2008 11:13AM]

damn fios....COME TO MY BUILDING ALREADY DAMMIT!

[bazooca @ Sep 5th 2008 1:31PM]

i've now lived in 2 apartments where FiOS is right outside on the lines, ready to be run to the buildings, but in both cases, the owners didn't need another cable runnning to their buildings, and verizon won't connect without their permission. boo, ludites.

[Wwhat @ Sep 5th 2008 2:00PM]

They have FIOS in my area, but I don't like the company that offers it, so it's a no-go.
The moral of the story? Learn to say no.

[z0phi3l @ Sep 5th 2008 5:24PM]

@ Wwhat

that is probably THE worst reason to not get a better service. I used to have FIOS, but this crappy town I live in now is strictly Comcast, so I'm screwed, there's not a day that goes by whaere I'm not cursing at Comcast for some reason, but never had a problem with Verizon.


Now Verizon's cell phone service here is horrible, but FiOS is awesome, go figure

[basroil @ Sep 5th 2008 11:15AM]

I got cable internet, pretty nice. Normal speeds are about 18mbps/2mbps, and latency in my area is almost at lan level (games to servers in my area or even NYC are 2-20ms delay, yes, you read right, 2). At least the cable guys in my area use an industrial PDA, less chance of using sharpie on a display.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Sep 5th 2008 12:00PM]

I get 15 down 1 up at peek times and 22 down 2up when it's slow... This is coming from the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

But since I have Comcast I get great speeds but they're about to cap the network...

[stevo @ Sep 5th 2008 11:17AM]

looks like luke johnson if you ask me..

[blizz419 @ Sep 5th 2008 11:17AM]

yup i of course couldn't get fios so i went with comcast but hey atleast my roomate got a free Wii outta the deal since i didn't need it already got my wii60 combo

[blizz419 @ Sep 5th 2008 11:20AM]

and this has what to do with the topic?

[Cade @ Sep 5th 2008 11:21AM]

The funny thing is that the kindle uses Sprint's network not Verizon's!!!

[7on @ Sep 5th 2008 11:48AM]

Thank you Captain.

[Andrew @ Sep 5th 2008 12:07PM]

Kind of reminds me of the new Jerry Seinfeld Windows Vista commercials and how Seinfeld had a Macintosh in the background in (I believe) every episode with Jerry's apartment in it

[derX @ Sep 5th 2008 11:21AM]

That commercial actually wasn't bad at all, although it's terribly ironic. Don't you just love how Cable guy, who, of course, is a representation of those "crappy other guys" is a big red-haired man? Big Red is crappy, who'd a thunk it?

[Paul Miller @ Sep 5th 2008 11:24AM]

Newsflash: you *are* that guy.

[acme @ Sep 5th 2008 11:29AM]

For months they wouldn't install fios in my area. A few weeks ago they FINALLY announced a deal so all of the residents can get it....but now my lease is up and i need to move out...DAMN YOU VERIZON!

[Anthony @ Sep 5th 2008 11:29AM]

can you say DICKED !!!

lol man that made my morning =]

[Konstantin @ Sep 5th 2008 11:30AM]

I am not a fan of Verizon right now. I called them to get the FiOS thing and they told me that they don't have service in my area (Manhattan) even though their commercials clearly state "now available in NYC." So the funny part is they tell me that I can request service in my area but that I have to go online to do so... Insult to injury!

[evengrift @ Sep 5th 2008 11:32AM]

Love Verizon Idiocy, remember when they had Macs in their DSL ADs, and didn't support the Mac OS?

Now Kindle is on Sprint..

[bob sakamano @ Sep 5th 2008 11:32AM]

paul,

the jerkstore called and they are running out of you!

[Najakwa @ Sep 5th 2008 11:50AM]

Oh yeah? Well I had sex with your wife!

[ByronGman @ Sep 5th 2008 1:37PM]

His wife is in a comma..

[EricC @ Sep 5th 2008 2:17PM]

His wife's in a comma, my wife's on her period...where does it end?!

[Najakwa @ Sep 5th 2008 4:02PM]

The life support machine company called...

[evengrift @ Sep 5th 2008 11:33AM]

Love Verizon Idiocy, remember when they had Macs in their DSL ADs, and didn't support the Mac OS?

Now Kindle is on Sprint..

[evengrift @ Sep 5th 2008 11:38AM]

Damn commenting system..

[john @ Sep 5th 2008 11:41AM]

I have FIOS and the services is not nearly this good.

The tech support is the worst I have ever seen and their sales team lies and lies and lies.

[OziD @ Sep 5th 2008 2:46PM]

i haven't had a problem with the tech support. and as long as you know what you want when you're going into the service, the sales team doesn't pull any crap, in my experience.

I told them I want phone and internet and I want them to put my add my direcTV onto the bill and give me a damn discount on the DTV, and they did.

(i read that they've done that, despite offering their own TV service here... and they did it no questions asked. I'd probably switch to fios TV, but I don't want to lose my NFL Sunday Ticket)

[diuqil @ Sep 5th 2008 11:59AM]

@Paul Miller

You're right! I clicked on iPerfection's profile and was brought to allislost.

I guess it's "Same rank, different name." for allislost.

[majortom1981 @ Sep 5th 2008 12:07PM]

Hmm I am very happy with my cablevision boost service 30/5 (can be higher then 30 but thats rare ) with allowed web and email servers and cablevisions eventual service area wide wifi thats free for cablevision customers.

[Stella @ Sep 5th 2008 12:11PM]

I just got FiOS. It is crazy fast and so far much more reliable than my cable service. Like, really fast. The upload is wicked.

But the Verizon guy that installed it kept telling me that my Airport Extreme wasn't supported and no one had them really and that no one understands them. He kept talking about how no one who owned an Airport knew anything about them and it was always a pain in the ass. But I imagine that most average people don't know that much more about their Linksys WiFi routers anymore than your average Airport owner.

Thing is, the FiOS modem has a built in four port ethernet and WiFi router with a rather clumsy web interface and I DO know how to use my Airport. He didn't know how to set the Verizon modem up to bypass the router so I could use my router as I did with my Cable Modem. I knew more than him.

I really like FiOS but that install guy I had was far from knowledgeable. What gives? And for a service that a business might use, why are they forcing their router down their clients throats. I wish it was just a modem they supplied. I manage my network and pick my components. I'm not going to use theirs.

[NekoDel @ Sep 7th 2008 11:09AM]

The Verizon FiOS MI424-WR also services the STBs for downloading the guide and On-Demand video. It probably also routes the multi-room DVR traffic, but I can't say for sure because I don't have one. The box actually bridges what looks like a 250Mbps coaxial network with the 100 mbps wired Ethernet and 54 mbps WiFi network. Now I wish I actually had 2 HD boxes, so I could see if two HD on-demand videos would actually stream without dropouts.

[AlphaTeam @ Sep 5th 2008 12:11PM]

But I like my Kindle.