Recommendations for people who spend too much time online, Part 2: ISPs
Recommendation 2:
Take advantage of your provider.
Lately the buzz on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) has seemed pretty negative. From reports that providers are unplugging people who use too much bandwidth (article) to scarier reports that they might even be filtering e-mail off their servers for political reasons (article) the news hasn’t been particularly pretty (sorry those are both Comcast stories, fanboys). Let’s face it, they’re great big monopolies that often control all the cable television and high-speed internet in a geographic area, and they know it. Nevertheless, I would like to suggest a couple of ways that you can make that fat bill you pay your provider every month a little more worth it.
Way 1:
Free Customer Service and Technical Support
A lot of people have horror stories about trying to connect with a live human being to get help with anything technology related. After pushing 1 for English, 3 for Support, 2 for Technical, 3 for does not apply, and so on for 15 minutes, only to be put on hold for 20 minutes, and then finally to be disconnected for an unknown reason, a person can be prone to just give up. Well hang in there little buckaroo, it’s not so bad as all that. I have found that most automated phone systems have a fast track to a live person if you just wait long enough to hear the right option. After a list of options, there is usually a “for all other queries” or “to speak to an operator” or something that gets you to that nice human being you’ve been hoping for.
What’s more, in my experience, technical support people at ISPs seem to be computer geniuses. Whereas their bosses want them only to stay on the line with you long enough to make sure that whatever is wrong on your end isn’t the ISP’s fault, I find that it takes very little cajoling (if any) to get them to go through every single thing that is wrong with your machine and help you fix it. I think it’s just their way of sticking it to the man. So since they seem so willing, you might as well use them. Also, just in case you get a support tech who is having a bad day and doesn’t want to be all that useful…you can always call back and get somebody else.
Way 2:
Free Software
Anyone out there getting that bug from the Norton Security Suite that came bundled on their computer last year when they bought it that says their subscription is up and it’s time to get out the credit card to keep the thing running for another year? If you have Comcast or Time Warner, you can just ignore it. Comcast offers it’s users the popular McAfee Security Suite absolutely free, including upgrades and renewals. Likewise, Time Warner will give you EA Anti-virus and Firewall for nothing. All you have to do is go to your provider’s home page and find the link. Be on the lookout for other free junk from your ISP. It wouldn’t hurt to visit their home page from time to time.
Comcast home:
http://www.comcast.net
Time Warner RoadRunner internet home:
http://www.rr.com or http://help.rr.com
This entry was posted on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 2:36 pm and is filed under Reviews and Recommendations, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
