2009
02.12

SkyBeam: Comcast/Qwest Alternative?

Category: Other / Tag: , ,  / 3 comments

So lately SkyBeam has bought out most of the wireless internet providers in the area (WisperTel and Mesa Networks, to name a few). This is important because SkyBeam now serves the Golden area. So if you’re willing to pay the $100 setup fee, you may have an alternative to Comcast if you want relatively high speed uploads and an alternative to Qwest if you want service a bit cheaper. The speeds and prices are also a bit better than Comcast’s Economy tier…

$34.95 – 1.5 Mbps downloads, 512 kbps uploads
$44.95 – 5 Mbps downloads, 2 Mbps uploads

The above prices include $5 for equipment rental.

One caveat: the service may or may not be good. Reviews have been mixed. Additionally, speeds aren’t quite guaranteed. When I asked about service, I was quoted 3-5 Mbps for downloads, 1.5-2 Mbps for uploads. Then again, the system may work well enough. At least there’s another option, rpovided you have line of sight to a WisperTel…uh…SkyBeam tower.

2009
02.12

How to get $24.95 high-speed internet…and basic cable…

Category: Other / Tag: , , ,  / Add Comment

If you’re in Golden you know that internet options are rather limited. There’s SkyBeam (more on them in another post) who might cover you with their wireless system, but that assumes line-of-sight and reviews are mixed. Otherwise you’re left with Comcast (cable) and Qwest (DSL). The prices, if you just want internet? Rather atrocious:

Qwest (multiply download speeds by 85% to get the actual amount; uploads are around 700 kbit/s…below are advertised speeds)
$39.99 – 1.5 Mbit/s down, 896k up
$46.99 – 5-7 Mbit/s down, 896k up (at my place I can only get 5 Mbps)

Comcast (with PowerBoost, see here for how that works)
$54.95 – 6 Mbit/s down, 1 Mbit/s up
$64.95 – 8 Mbit/s down, 2 Mbit/s up

Nothing below $40 per month as far as anyone can tell…

…until you call in to Comcast and ask for their Economy tier. Which is $34.95 with no other services, and delivers a megabit per second down, and 384 kilobits per second up. No PowerBoost Worse performance speed-wise than Qwest’s 1.5 Mbit tier, but also cheaper. But not much cheaper…

Read More >>

2009
02.12

Tip: Work Faster with New Hotkey Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 7 beta 1

Category: Tips / Tag: ,  / Add Comment
NOTE: This is another bunch of tips passed on to me via Jeff Neet…

Windows 7 beta 1 includes some handy new shortcut key combinations that allow you to navigate and manage the Windows workspace more efficiently. Here are 10 new Windows 7 shortcuts that will help you speed up your workflow (“Win” means the Windows Key):
Win+Home: Clear all but the active window
Win+Space: All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop
Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window
Win+Down arrow: Minimize the active window or restore the window if it’s maximized
Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the active window to each side of the monitor

Win+Shift+Left/Right arrows: If you’ve got dual monitors, this will move the active window to the adjacent monitor

Win+T: Shift focus to and scroll through items on the taskbar
Win+P: Adjust presentation settings for your display
Win+(+/-): Zoom in/out
Shift+Click a taskbar item: Open a new instance of that particular application
Tips provided by Stephen Rose, the Senior Community Manager for the TechNet Springboard Series. Stephen supports Windows Client IT Pros (for Windows Vista and Windows 7) worldwide. He is an MCSE, MCT, and two time MVP in Setup and Deployment.