richy

I haven't tried it in a decade but can I not use my phone as a modem via usb? I just kind of assumed it would still work that way. I guess hotspots can have ethernet ports which would be a plus.

I cant recall ever using a mifi \ hotspot thing or an external dongle or internal lte besides when works given me one for free to use. Since the days of proprietary cables from phones to serial ports I've used my phone. Somewhere around 2007 ish I think I swapped to using the phone as a wireless hotspot rather than serial \ usb tethering. I don't find the need but I'm sure it works better for others. I seem to get a better signal with phones, less to carry around, charge, pay for etc.

Just as a point of interest, a tier 1 provider actually has a fairly specific definition. It's a carrier that doesn't pay for domestic (or at least for their native coverage area) transit for egress. They basically use just peering domestically. It's a bit of a shady definition used to protect a few entrenched large companies. Cogent used to love to call themselves a tier 1 when in reality they weren't. They also used to be shocking quality unless you really knew what you were doing. Sprint is most definitely a top tier carrier on a cellular and fiber basis, not sure if they are genuinely considered a tier 1 fixed line operator though. Plus the definition probably changed since I worked in the field. Sprint really shouldn't have to own such a large fiber network, it should be more economic for them to buy it in. However, I get the feeling they really need to own their own to protect themselves from predatory pricing and shady business practices from competitors.

Not sure about that:) If you check the earnings report statement for q2 there were a few jabs at sprint 'giving away service' and 'choosing not to respond to crazy offers'. I guess since merger talks are stalled everything is fair game again. Sad to see alleged professionals behaving like that.

Just my thoughts... 1- On the tmobile - comcast - buffet thing. This isn't much different from buying a home, its just talking to multiple partners to get a better deal. A Cable company might make sense, although they are debt heavy, if the real deal is with tmobile then talking to cable companies is a power play to increase sprints bargaining position. Tmobile undoubtedly was trying to assert that sprint was lucky to get any deal, this pantomime helps sprint get a better deal. Buffet just sees sprint as heavily undervalued and that there is security in the assets, he has a pile of cash, he thinks he can come in and turn sprint around or sell it for parts and make money either way. 2- I may be wrong but the 85% ownership limit isn't a hard cap, its a cap on how much you can have before the company is no longer allowed to be publicly traded. You pretty much buy the entire thing if you want more than 85%, unless he has covenants on his loans relating to a maximum % which would be weird. 3- Not sure on dish, they have no money and no experience building a wireless network. Cableco's and satcos are typically very debt heavy due to high startup costs, they run to show OCF not so much pure profit. Their attraction is basically as tax free cash generators to a company that makes lots of profit. Sprint doesn't need the spectrum, they need cash, Dish would be weird choice.

I really don't see what the site is called mattering much. Just leave it as it is. IF any merger happens there will be lots to keep up on with the technical challenges and merging the two companies brands would take time. If it does occur I feel sorry for Marcello, I don't think he is a worse CEO but I think John has gotten better results, mostly due to better luck. However you are measured on your results and I doubt they would factor that luck in. Unless he chooses to take some money and run I would see him in charge. The good news is I think he would take a run at the #1 spot. Better coverage, speeds and maintaining the pricing as thats he vehicle for gaining market share. Don't pull profits out of the company, run it lean and grow it and collect the profits in the future.

I really don't see any way sprint could have participated, they didn't have the money to do so and even if they raised some funds to do so they would have to deploy it. They money spent deploying it would be better spent ensuring they deploy everything they already have. It could have been a tactic to drive the cost down but there were so many other players I don't see it having a huge impact.

I don't see a merger happening. The FCC would likely block it as Chief Eunuch Ajit Pai is just on loan to the guberment from Verizon and I cant see Verizon wanting a tmo sprint tie up. He has his eye on a cherry job with Vzw after he finishes his time as an instrument of evil so will be remembering who bought him his current job and what he stands to earn after he goes back to the industry.

I have a psp emulator on my phone, I agree, I love it when I'm stuck in some HR training session. As for cases, http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Cases/742 is a great resource. Not every case that is large or looks cool will actually give you the best results. I had a quick look at that site and the case looks to be about xbox sized, I guess if you move the air quickly enough and with good airflow then it might be possible. A larger case would give you more upgrade options, like running dual cards in sli. I got an alienware 17 laptop and so far its been a dream, theres pretty much nothing it can't cope with. Right now its eating up Warthunder at 4k. Admittedly its churning out more heat than a nuclear power station but I have a newfound respect for dell \ alienware. You can also get some crazy deals on their outlet store.

4k isnt such a reach these days, my laptop can do it at a pinch (intel i7 6820hk, 32gb, nvidia 980 i think) but emulating dreamcast games at 4k? You are probably going to really look into how well it can use the resources you throw at it, i.e. does it need more cores, or less of them but faster etc same for the graphics. One thing I found was gaming at 1080p with more detail turned on and at a higher frame rate seemed better than 4k with a little less detail. Don't go for too small a case though, I know they can look cool but you want awesome airflow once you start racking in some high end cpu, ram and gfx cards. Good luck, if I get the time I'm going to try a ps3 emulator on my laptop.

Offhand no, but you can find out here http://reboot.fcc.gov/spectrumdashboard/

Samsung sets have some pretty neat integration with the newer samsung phones. I didn't play with it much but it seemed to do remote control, screen projection and screen mirroring. It wa sso easy to setup it managed to do it without my asking (not sure thats a good thing). I was just setting up the TV's and my phone vibrated and announced it had found the TV' and did I want to mirror my screen.

The guy in the picture with the orange bow tie in the picture fresh from his morning cup of kopi luwak.

How about a suggestion for a new rate plan? One actually on topic thought did occur to me. Re any potential merger between t & s, Ajit Pai is currently Chief Eunuch at the FCC but is also part of the federal revolving door corporate shill program. He came from Verizon and after doing their evil bidding will no doubt be headed back to them at some point. I doubt Verizon would be too happy with a merger, therefore the FCC probably wouldn't be too happy about it. It wouldn't be hard to say this potential merger would hurt competition and try and block it.

Funny but the last time I did a side by side it was the opposite, Verizons network was spotty and slow whereas tmobiles was fast. However verizon did cover more places (albeit not very well) than tmobile. I think its fair to say verizon still have a network advantage for coverage over tmo.