Screen Grabs: jerkface Verizon FiOS guy brandishes a Kindle
By Paul Miller 
posted September 5th 2008 11:05AM
posted September 5th 2008 11:05AM
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.]
[Thanks, Don R.]
Sorry, folks....
I won't even blame the comment system on this one....
I was replying to Bob up there and hit refresh by mistake. It saved my message upon reloading but I didn't notice it was no longer a reply.
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...
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.
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.
Ha, Zach Galifianakis...YAY North Wilkesboro.
The guys that installed my Fios looked nothing like that. They had on dirty jeans and t-shirts full of holes. A far cry from that black Verizon polo shirt.
The "other guy" looks like a cross between Zach Galifianakis and Louis CK.
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
Looks more like Louis CK than Galifianakis.
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.
Screw Verizon, I don't care if there bandwidth is better, which I don't think it is, but even if it is I'm not giving them any money period.
10 East 23rd street is a comic shop near my apt.
Geeeeeks.