Hi Clark,
I love your show for about two years now. Just wanted to update you on a few things. I work for a simi large Telecamunnications company in west Arizona. We install HSI/DSl and Phone services. Your right that many Cities are in the next year or two going to have a Web Type Network and it's a real WEB-NET WIFI. We are told that cell Phones, Ipods, Laptops will not only pick up the signal but each device will in a way Boost/Carry the signal. Using the cel phone techno developed in cell tower to cell/cell webing network. The cost will be under 15 dollors and may even go below that. The real problem is placement and start up dollors. But the plans in already and some city are firing up in small test areas. Mainly to see if consumers take to the slower speeds than home DSL. But there are many people out there that only us pc's for light stuff, Non gaming and such. Well still need a better connection for Gaming anyway. But some will think they mite be able too. But it will not happen on this type of network. Given time anything could develope, but the speeds will be set standard for any connection into the system. It will allow for most common use's though.
Agian Clark Thank You for being you.
Dennis the PC DSL Tech

Everyone is right when they say prices are increasing but they are only increasing because, we allow it. Do a little research and you will find that the US HSI (high speed internet) market has been getting suckered for years in comparison to other countries, especially those in Asia. There is even a congressional committee that was formed to deal with this issue even. It’s a rip off to the American consumer, just like cell phone contracts and cable. You give too much credit to Comcast, et al. Yes, they will continue to try to stop anything that helps keep the consumer from paying exorbitant prices, but the tide is already turning. In my little amateur techie circle, we can clearly see that in the next 5 years the way we think of paying for internet access will have totally changed. Internet access will become pretty much free for all or at a very minimum cost, like Clark suggests. BUT where they will get you is in the additional service tiers that people believe they need and sign up for. And believe me, they will create some. Just like cell phone extras.-Yes I said it. 65% of the things people do on their cell phones is a waste of time and it just makes them look “cool”. It’s a status symbol now. We are getting what the majority ask for and they are willing to pay a heavy price to look cool and not look poor-and I am a GenX/Y'r saying this.
But on the internet front, Clark is spot on. The same could be said for cable, too, due to the ease of internet tv and movie watching and the ever increasing on demand options. This is why movie theaters are going by the wayside also. In our lifetime, we’ll see movie theaters become institutions of nostalgia and all new releases will be able to be viewed on demand on your TV/pc for a nominal fee on the day the film company releases it originally. I watch TV on my pc now- for free, with the exception of my Netflix bill, and I watch all the shows and movies I would have watched with basic digital cable, even shows in other countries on foreign local channels. And with the purchase of $100 piece of equipment, I can transfer all those shows to my TV and watch them on my TV instead. Think about it: $181/yr. for viewing vs. $1200/yr. with cable/satellite. Two years ago, Cavalier was offering high speed internet, 12-15 MBPS in our area for $14.95 for first six months and then $21.95/mo thereafter. Now their prices have shot up to $39.95, but I am sure its because they are a CLEC leasing lines from ATT and their lease rates had to go up . Also, the consumer seems okay with paying $40/mo + for HSI. Businesses only are in business as long as they are reacting to the needs of the consumer in all ways, not some.

does anybody know where we can get high speed internet in canada for $10.00 per month

Orange PVC containing fiber sprouting up everywhere

What effect, if any, do you think Clear will have on all of this? They have hit 4 or 5 major cities and seem to be growing fast. They offer home internet and "mobile internet" via a usb dongle for your laptop that all operates over 4G Wimax. They are somehow connected with Sprint, so wherever sprint has coverage, they do/will.

Their prices are not as low as $10, but seem to be lower than Comcast (the only other option here in Atlanta).

10 years ago, there was talk of cities offering "free wifi"; The only reason $10.00 anything will come to fruition is due to the fact that we have all been overcharged for so many years. This is especially true for text messaging and early termination fees, forcing customers into 2 year contracts. (No one has to create a two year contract for a home phone, but somehow it is legitmized for cell phones and data cards.)

Believe me when I tell you "all over wifi" is a pipe dream due to geographic obstacles (hills, trees, mountains). The best we can hope for is metropolitan access and you must understand that any "web access" will stem from the existing infrastructure (towers, poles and underground lines) ~ so if your cell doesn't get great reception, never will your computer. Beyond that, $10.00 will be "minimum" throughput; therefore as the web grows and filesizes grow, $10.00 may get you on, but the speed and performance are inevitably doomed to downgrade over time. Don't get too excited about this, people. The reality will not be as sweet as it the marketing makes it sound.

Not highly publicized by AT&T for obvious reasons, is the availability of high speed DSL (768mb plus) in some areas to those who have never had DSL service with either AT&T or the former BellSouth. This requirement is part of the merger agreement between the two companies. I took them up on the offer by subscribing with a one year commitment and it really is incredibly fast even on my Pentium 3 box with only 384MB RAM running Windows Vista Business believe it or not.

The problem is its for big cities. You always hear about free internet but its not available in most places

What ever happened to that free internet that was supposed to be coming after the analog to digital tv conversion took place?

Which features does Open Office lack?
I know it doesn't have grammar check.
What else?

Clark -- what have you been drinking? :) The big's (comca$t, AT&T, etc) will NEVER let that happen!