I'm a cable modem user (on Cox Communications) in Fairfax County, Virginia for several years now. Recently, Cox offered a higher speed option (15 mpbs by 2 mbps), so I jumped right on it.

The upgrade went smoothly, but I was only measuring speeds of around 10x2. After a bit of searching, I found out that I ought to upgrade to a DOCSIS 2.0 modem, so I did that. Now, I'm regularly measuring speeds of 16-19mbps down and 2-2.5mbps up. I've tested at various times of the day and those numbers have been quite consistent.

I should add that the modem swap was painless and that Cox support was entirely effective. In one phone call, I gave them my new MAC address and fired up the modem. I did experience a couple of network problems, but it turned out to be a router problem at my end, so I can't fault Cox for that.

I also noticed that the voice quality of my VoIP service (Sunrocket) immediately improved as well.

So, put me in the "highly satisfied customer" group. Kudos to Cox for offering this service!

Quite a few years ago, I became a "Mac hater". Long story, but the short of it is that a Mac net used by our publications department (at a company where I was working) let me down at a critical time. It caused me a lot of grief. Then, when Apple killed off the Newton, I swore eternal hatred.

Before I go on, I should note that I still use my Newton 2100 every day. It still has the best "to do" list handler I've ever used. Despite the jokes about its handwriting recognition -- which were ALL about its first generation of software -- it still recognizes my handwriting better than I do. It remains the best PDA software ever written, as far as I'm concerned.

And then, slowly, several other things happened:
1) Apple put BSD UNIX under the hood in OS X.
2) OS X has matured through a few major releases and is now a superb OS.
3) Apple put Intel CPUs into the Macbook Pro line. "Boot Camp" added the ability to boot/install NATIVE Windows XP. So, I have that as a fall-back if I simply can't get something running under OS X. (I haven't needed to use it.)
4) I get a nice educational discount via CMU, along with a fabulous rebate on an iPod -- which I gave to my wife.
5) I've been listening to numerous people's opinions that I value who all say that it's time to try Mac. You know who you are...

So, I switched a week ago. Now, I'm hopelessly, unapologetically, completely a Mac guy. It has unified my computing needs/desires in a way that nothing else has been able to. UNIX where it matters and the world's best user interface in front. It talks with my Linux servers and my windows desktops/laptops just fine.

Plus, the Macbook Pro, with a 2 Ghz dual-core Intel CPU, DDR2 memory, SATA hard disk, etc., is the fastest computer in my gaggle. This thing absolutely ROCKS! People complain about Macs costing more than their PC counterparts, but you really do get more for the money. I'm fine with that. I've never minded paying a bit more and getting a bit more.

As a result, my laptop is no longer a traveling copy of my data. My Linux servers now carry a non-traveling backup of my work. As it should be.

The Mac talks wifi, bluetooth, usb, firewire, infrared, VPN -- you name it. I can connect up to _something_ nearly anywhere on the planet and securely connect to the net.

And, one of my favorite things about Apple, from the first day that I used my first (of 3) Newtons, is the cross-application data integration. My Macbook hasn't let me down. My IM package (iChat) gets its real names from my rolodex (Address Book). My email program (Mail) shows me a green icon next to any of my contacts (from Address Book) who is logged into IM at the moment. THAT is cross-app data integration. I haven't felt that feeling since I first learned to love my Newton. No Windows or Linux set of apps has ever provided that feeling to me. Apple GETS IT. Their software guys and gals know software like no one else. Kudos!

I now think of "PC people" as those that haven't tried a Mac. Once you try, you will never accept anything less. Redmond should be quaking in their shoes (but they're not).

Back around January 2000, I bought my first BMW, a brand new, fully loaded 528i. It's been a superb car from day one. Always a pleasure to drive, and truly "the ultimate driving machine". It has, however, been quite expensive to maintain, which I fully expected when I bought it. My rant isn't with that, but with the BMW shop where I bought it and where it's gone for service throughout its life--BMW of Fairfax (http://home.bmwoffairfax.com/).

I've never been overly impressed with their service, but I've been willing to accept that we live near a large metropolitan center (DC) and that it's just busy. Today's experience pushed me over the edge, however, and I'll certainly never go back.

For starters, their phone system is beyond archaic. My car went in for its oil maintence service early yesterday. Around noon, my service advisor left me a voice mail requesting my authorization to do an "inspection 1" on my car--for some $500. I called him back about a dozen times during the afternoon, leaving numerous messages on his voicemail and with the receptionist. No callbacks, no car. Today, I tried again to call him back, and eventually the receptionist found him. Come pick up the car in an hour.

So, on my way to pick up my car, I got a call from someone at BMW of Fairfax who told me that she was calling regarding the car that I dropped off. It seems that it was blocking a service lane and needed to be moved. I told her to talk to the mechanic that fixed it. She explained that she had already done so and that no one in Service had the key. I lost my cool, said something very unpolite that drew into question her intelligence, and hung up.

After I'd paid for the service, I went over to where the car was sitting and looked inside. A mechanic quickly walked up to me and asked if was my car. I said yes, and that I wanted to pick it up. He explained that it had just been dropped off for service and that the service wasn't done yet.

My receipt and I prevailed and eventually got my car out, but it wasn't without another hassle. Talk about "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" syndrome. I've experienced nothing but this kind of awful service at BMW of Fairfax since day one, and I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy. They strike me as the most horribly mis-managed "service" organization that I've encountered in many years.

I still love my 528, but am much more likely to look at a different car next time. Perhaps an Audi A6 or some such, but most certainly nothing from BMW of Fairfax. It's my opinion that they're nothing more than oxygen thieves.