How much broadband is too much?

Posted on August 29, 2008
Filed Under Internet & Technology | Leave a Comment

Bossman Om Malik just published a bit of a rant about Comcast’s recent announcement of a 250 GB bandwidth cap, which will go into effect on October 1.

As I’ve now decided to switch to Comcast for my Internet from Verizon, I read the Comcast FAQ on the subject in greater detail. I don’t have a problem with a pay-as-you-use plan, as long as it’s very clear what you’re paying for and what you’re using.

This section concerns me:

What is normal or typical use?

Bandwidth usage changes over time as Comcast’s customers use the Internet and the services and applications available for it. Currently, the median data usage by Comcast High-Speed Internet customers is approximately 2-3 GB each month. This reflects typical residential use of the service for purposes such as sending and receiving e-mail, surfing the Internet, and watching streaming video.

In our 16 day exodus, I used my Sprint EVDO modem the majority of the time. Why should I pay for wifi? I wasn’t online all the time, but I admit I often left the modem plugged in to fetch podcasts while we enjoyed our vacation or simply because I forgot to disconnect when walking away. Sometimes it was plugged in overnight, maybe refreshing my Gmail pages as new email came in at best. I have an unlimited account with Sprint, so I didn’t pay much attention to my usage.

Out of curiosity, I logged into my Sprint control panel:

Unless I’m misreading it, I’ve used over 1 GB in just a couple of days since I’ve been back to work while waiting on deliveries. No movie downloads. About 30 or so subscribed podcasts, maybe 25% of which are video. No music downloads. Basic surfing, emailing, twittering and managing accounts “in the cloud.” I think I looked at maybe 10 videos on YouTube since August 27.

Even with Eric and the girls online too, I don’t think I have anything to fear with the cap. Not yet. But Comcast would clearly consider my use way outside the norm. I will likely hit at least 50 GB a month with an always-on cable modem based on what I can see from my Sprint usage.

What do you think? Is Comcast sniffing funny glue thinking 2-3 GB/month is a “typical” user? Comcast says they’re basing this on median data usage. That’s not the same thing as an average. What’s typical? Someone who works outside the home all day and checks their AOL email for an hour in the evening?

Verizon drops the ball. Again.

Posted on August 29, 2008
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment

We moved out of our townhome on August 13th. Now, 16 days later, we’re checking out of the 6th and final accommodation since we moved out. If I never see another suitcase or hotel key card again, I won’t complain.

3 nights in an Extended Stay once we moved out before we left for our vacation. 4 nights at an Embassy Suites in downtown Atlanta, GA (visited friends and Atlanta attractions such as World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium). 4 nights at Camp Yofi, a fantastic experience for our entire family about 2.5 hours outside of Atlanta. 1 night at a Hampton Inn outside the Atlanta Airport because we flew on points and couldn’t book reward travel for a Sunday. 1 night at a Clarion Inn near our old home the night before the closings. 3 nights at a Hampton Inn near our new house as I’ve spent the last two days dealing with all the pre-move details.

The movers are coming today with all our stuff that has been in storage since August 13.

Aside from the hassle of living out of a suitcase, the transition has gone smoothly. There were a lot of moving parts. Utilities to transfer, deliveries to receive. For the most part, no problem. Except for Verizon.

Off to camp

Posted on August 16, 2008
Filed Under Kids, Life, Relocating | 1 Comment

Considering how infrequently I’ve been blogging lately, I feel a little silly posting a “going on vacation” blog.

We’re in a hotel now, completely moved out of our condo. Everything that’s not with us is in a nearby storage facility. This afternoon, we board a flight for Atlanta, GA. This is a vacation planned and paid for months ago, long before we even considered the possibility of moving. We’re going to relax around Atlanta for a few days, then we’re heading to Camp Yofi in Clayton, GA.

Camp Yofi is a 5 day family camp for Jewish families with a child with Autism. There are activities for the whole family of course, but they also have separate tracks for siblings and parents. It’s a wonderful way for us to have a “normal” experience while at the same time acknowledging that we, as a family with a child with special needs, have more difficulty doing just that.

We get back on Monday, August 25th. Then we’re driving from the airport in Philadelphia to my Mom’s house in New York. We’ll stay there overnight, then Eric and I head back to New Jersey early Tuesday morning to close on both the sale of the condo and the purchase of our new home. The girls will stay with my Mom until Labor Day weekend. I’ll take Wednesday and Thursday to get organized (furniture and appliance deliveries, register the girls for school, clean up) and then our stuff is coming back from storage on August 29. Emily starts school on September 3, and Laini starts on September 8. Whew! Gonna be a crazy week.

Obviously, I’m taking my computer with me. First because I don’t have a home to leave it in, and second because I’m very nervous about being away the week before closings. If anything needs to be done, I can do it as long as I have my MacBook Pro. I’m going to try really hard not to even glance at my work-related email for the week. I set vacation auto-responders on both accounts (C3 & WWD) and I disabled them from pushing to the iPhone. I can’t remember the last time, if ever, I made a serious attempt to disconnect from work. I just won’t think about the avalanche that will await me when I return until I return.

Finally, I received some good news the other day. After reviewing Laini’s records and having all the necessary conversations, the Child Study Team at the school district we’re moving to agrees that the private special needs school Laini attended last year on our dime is the appropriate placement for her. That means that they not only support the placement and will work with us on her IEP, but they will pick up the bill and provide a bus for her. This is such a relief on so many levels. Financially, of course. But also emotionally, knowing that in the end, I think we made the right choices.