The kickback is only half the equation. The total amount should, and I'm only speaking theoretically here, discourage future BS. The lawyers may get it all, but more importantly, the do-badders lose it.
If AT&T lost a class action suit over unlimited throttling I'd do a little dance even if I didn't get a dime.
Instead of developing my opinion from the polarized sources around the internet, I came to that conclusion after physically handling both. On a side note, I like both devices.
I am an owner of both an iPad and a Tab who has described the similarity between the two products, including coworkers thinking I somehow got the Android Home Screen on my iPad.
Fan? No. Somebody that has first-hand experience to bring to this discussion? Yes.
Was there a guaranteed minimum speed on the old contract?
No, there was not, and you are right. If I had technical grounds to break the contract without an ETF I would.
However, I did purchase the phone while they were running ads that you can do things like get email and view maps etc. It probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law, but from a customer service point of view they really should make good on what they showed us.
Before you get too excited about switching carriers, I should let you know I'm leaving AT&T because their idea of a contract is that I pay them until the contract is over, but they don't have to hold up their end of the deal. Here's my story:
Last year I renewed my contract with Unlimited Data grandfathered in. Six months later they announced a 3 gig limit before 'throttling' would begin. (At this point I'd like to note that my contract does mention they'll play around with network performance as necessary, but the 3 gig limit is NOT specified in it.. they just arbitrarily added it.) They do not say, however, what the minimum speed will be. In my view, this is a critical component of the contract. The speed that they reduce the connection down to affects the tasks I can do with my phone. I don't care, for example, if I cannot watch Netflix on the road, but if I cannot get email or text messaging, then how can they really call it "unlimited"?
I contacted their customer service, after going round and round with lines like "well if you use Wifi..." or "if you switch to a tiered plan..." or "... well it really won't affect you", I could not get an answer. One day I got a letter from AT&T from some VP of such and such department saying that I should be happy because they've upgraded the network in my area and that they're glad I'm continuing to be a customer of theirs. At the bottom was a request for feedback with this VP's email address. I emailed him explaining that I don't know what 'throttling' actually means and, instead of writing me back, he punted my message off to customer service. Frustrated, I emailed again and told them that if they had read my email they would realize that I'm addressing the VP and that customer service was already of no help and.. customer service, NOT the VP, replied again. They said that their network performance was proprietary information that they would NOT share with me. The only way I'll find out how slow my connection will be throttled is if I go over the limit and see what happens. I'm getting to a point where this is very tempting to do. I don't really want to abuse their resources but they're driving me to it.
If you do end up going to AT&T I wish you luck, but I strongly recommend that you do NOT assume that any contract you enter into with them will mean you'll have any guarantees of service. Two years is a long time to be disgruntled.
I wonder if one of those fine, granular controls is "none at all"?
When I was in high school I took Economics for a semester. They taught us about 'no free lunch'. I was foolishly under the impression that most American schools covered this.
All kidding aside, I have felt as though my feelings on how crappy music is today could be in proportion to my age, it's nice to read that that's not necessarily true.
Your argument that the author is responsible to this is basically like saying it's my fault if I write an article declaring the sky to be blue, and people interpret it as being a defense of neo-Nazi propaganda.
Heh. If you're creating something where you can be called an author, it's your job to communicate clearly. If you cannot write an article about the sky being blue without people reacting that badly to it, that is indeed your fault.
This example didn't serve you like you thought it would.
Android is on those devices. Nobody using them is being exposed to the slightest inkling of how Linux works and the OS's 'freedom' is splotchy at best. In the context of Linux on the Desktop or OSS there's nothing to crow about.
You're seriously asking why it's his fault lots of people aren't understanding the thought he articulated? I cannot speak for the dude in question, but when I write up a post, I feel responsible for using the right words to make sure the picture painted in your mind is identical to mine. That means I also have to take context into account... which means it isn't solely about using the proper wordage. I don't always get that right, and it's frustrating, and I sometimes even foolishly defend it, but at the end of the day it's still my fault.
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The kickback is only half the equation. The total amount should, and I'm only speaking theoretically here, discourage future BS. The lawyers may get it all, but more importantly, the do-badders lose it.
If AT&T lost a class action suit over unlimited throttling I'd do a little dance even if I didn't get a dime.
Instead of developing my opinion from the polarized sources around the internet, I came to that conclusion after physically handling both. On a side note, I like both devices.
I am an owner of both an iPad and a Tab who has described the similarity between the two products, including coworkers thinking I somehow got the Android Home Screen on my iPad.
Fan? No. Somebody that has first-hand experience to bring to this discussion? Yes.
Was there a guaranteed minimum speed on the old contract?
No, there was not, and you are right. If I had technical grounds to break the contract without an ETF I would.
However, I did purchase the phone while they were running ads that you can do things like get email and view maps etc. It probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law, but from a customer service point of view they really should make good on what they showed us.
While most Slashdot readers are familiar with many of the facts of the case and the law...
Hahaha!
Before you get too excited about switching carriers, I should let you know I'm leaving AT&T because their idea of a contract is that I pay them until the contract is over, but they don't have to hold up their end of the deal. Here's my story:
Last year I renewed my contract with Unlimited Data grandfathered in. Six months later they announced a 3 gig limit before 'throttling' would begin. (At this point I'd like to note that my contract does mention they'll play around with network performance as necessary, but the 3 gig limit is NOT specified in it.. they just arbitrarily added it.) They do not say, however, what the minimum speed will be. In my view, this is a critical component of the contract. The speed that they reduce the connection down to affects the tasks I can do with my phone. I don't care, for example, if I cannot watch Netflix on the road, but if I cannot get email or text messaging, then how can they really call it "unlimited"?
I contacted their customer service, after going round and round with lines like "well if you use Wifi..." or "if you switch to a tiered plan..." or "... well it really won't affect you", I could not get an answer. One day I got a letter from AT&T from some VP of such and such department saying that I should be happy because they've upgraded the network in my area and that they're glad I'm continuing to be a customer of theirs. At the bottom was a request for feedback with this VP's email address. I emailed him explaining that I don't know what 'throttling' actually means and, instead of writing me back, he punted my message off to customer service. Frustrated, I emailed again and told them that if they had read my email they would realize that I'm addressing the VP and that customer service was already of no help and.. customer service, NOT the VP, replied again. They said that their network performance was proprietary information that they would NOT share with me. The only way I'll find out how slow my connection will be throttled is if I go over the limit and see what happens. I'm getting to a point where this is very tempting to do. I don't really want to abuse their resources but they're driving me to it.
If you do end up going to AT&T I wish you luck, but I strongly recommend that you do NOT assume that any contract you enter into with them will mean you'll have any guarantees of service. Two years is a long time to be disgruntled.
The playground is where I spent most of my days.
I wonder if one of those fine, granular controls is "none at all"?
When I was in high school I took Economics for a semester. They taught us about 'no free lunch'. I was foolishly under the impression that most American schools covered this.
That's just standard studio bullshit to capitalize as much as possible on the franchise.
Isn't the standard complaint about book-to-movie conversions is that BFD scenes get left out?
Those people did something you obviously haven't... they played it.
Who cares about Apple OS's?
139 comments and counting.
Haterade Addicts get Another Opportunity to Bitch About Apple!
Sour grapes.
Heh!
All kidding aside, I have felt as though my feelings on how crappy music is today could be in proportion to my age, it's nice to read that that's not necessarily true.
Oh, my mistake, I guess this is the year of Linux on the desktop.
Your argument that the author is responsible to this is basically like saying it's my fault if I write an article declaring the sky to be blue, and people interpret it as being a defense of neo-Nazi propaganda.
Heh. If you're creating something where you can be called an author, it's your job to communicate clearly. If you cannot write an article about the sky being blue without people reacting that badly to it, that is indeed your fault.
This example didn't serve you like you thought it would.
Android is on those devices. Nobody using them is being exposed to the slightest inkling of how Linux works and the OS's 'freedom' is splotchy at best. In the context of Linux on the Desktop or OSS there's nothing to crow about.
You're seriously asking why it's his fault lots of people aren't understanding the thought he articulated? I cannot speak for the dude in question, but when I write up a post, I feel responsible for using the right words to make sure the picture painted in your mind is identical to mine. That means I also have to take context into account... which means it isn't solely about using the proper wordage. I don't always get that right, and it's frustrating, and I sometimes even foolishly defend it, but at the end of the day it's still my fault.
You're always on the hook to say what you mean.
Why has it automatically "failed" simply because it's not on every Tom, Dick and Harry's desktop?
Because it's not on any.
If people connote things that are much worse than the word merits, that's not the original author's fault.
Yes, it is.
Slashdot is proud to host Haterade Addict meetings four times a day.
Basically what you mean is that the word is nowhere near as bad as it sounded in the original context.
C-C-C-Combo Breaker!!
Wait... what does Microsoft have to do with PCs coming with sound cards? If anything, they're the reason they became standard equipment!
Apple Defence Force!
ASEMBLEEEEEE!!!!
Has anybody else noticed that the Haterade Addicts are calling four meetings a day now?