Discussion of Firms and Life in SF/SV - Page 41

sgtclub · 11-27-2003, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Manfred
I have returned to the Bay Area, and I was wondering what cell phone service I should use. So here's a poll:

What cell phone service do you use?
What type of cell phone do you have?
Are you happy with either/both?
Are you planning to swtich?

I don't want to keep my LA number, and my contract is over, so I'm free.

Advice appreciated.

Cingular. Very happy with coverage in the City and pretty much throughout the western US.

sgtclub · 11-27-2003, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AngryMulletMan
Yup, it means we're working holiday weekends again. I especially hate accommodating clients who ask me to email shit by end of day today, fifteen minutes before I was planning to leave when nobody is going to even fuckinging look at anything until Monday.

And, believe me, I'm going to make somebody's life miserable on account of this. Well, not really. Well, except mine. A girl can dream.

My condolences. If it makes you feel any better, every vacation I have attempted to take the last 2 years (including 3 day weekends) have involved similiar circumstances.

Sidd Finch · 12-01-2003, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
Cingular. Very happy with coverage in the City and pretty much throughout the western US.

Wow -- you must spend all your time in different parts of the city than I do. I have Cingular and think it's absolutely miserable. I can't get reception in lots of places where I would expect to, and where I know other services do work.

I watch people in my gym talking on their cell phones in the locker room, and I have to walk outside the gym and a block away before Cingular will pick up (although I have discovered a four-foot square just outside the gym will I get reception, provided I don't stand all the way up). Ditto in any number of locations.

Cingular's coverage in other parts of the US does seem much better, but I live and work in SF and will switch carriers as soon as they resolve the kinks in the number-portability system, and as soon as I figure out which service to switch to.

Tyrone Slothrop · 12-01-2003, 02:54 PM

Reed Smith (read: The Law Firm Formerly Known As Crosby) is starting a practice group devoted to the wine business. I have to believe they're doing this for the cachet instead of the money, but what do I know -- I just drink the stuff.

c2ed · 12-01-2003, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sidd Finch

Cingular's coverage in other parts of the US does seem much better, but I live and work in SF and will switch carriers as soon as they resolve the kinks in the number-portability system, and as soon as I figure out which service to switch to.

Even though their customer service can be maddening, I like Verizon. The only place I really have trouble with coverage is driving up 280 (but so do most people), or if I'm in a fairly remote area (where just about no company provides coverage, anyway).

Some of my friends like T-Mobile, but I find their ads so annoying, I refuse to switch to them just on principle.

C(though if any guy shows up in my yoga class saying "Can you hear me now," I'll switch from Verizon right after I get out of the lotus position)deuced

Gattigap · 12-01-2003, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by c2ed
Some of my friends like T-Mobile, but I find their ads so annoying, I refuse to switch to them just on principle.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, annoying? Blasphemy! CZ-J. Mmmmmmm.

FWIW, I've had good experiences with Verizon when I'm up in the Bay Area, including the City and down on the Penninsula.

In LA, coverage is pretty good except (of course) in the areas where I'm trying to find a house. Damn them.

Sidd Finch · 12-01-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
I have to believe they're doing this for the cachet instead of the money, but what do I know -- I just drink the stuff.

What makes you say that? There's tons of potential business in the wine industry -- lots of property-related and trademark work, both lit. and transactional,

They also have lots of the general stuff that any good-size business deals with -- employment, tax, whatever -- plus regulatory and other specialized work that a firm with a dedicated practice can capture.

Plus, lots of wine clients are smallish cos owned by rich guys who have the cajones to litigate.

Perhaps you think wineries won't pay big firm rates -- but I've seen enough wineries hire big-ticket lawyers and firms, and in any event my guess is that Reed Smith has lower rates than some of the big firms in SF.

aside to Ty: happy now?

NotFromHere · 12-01-2003, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Manfred
I have returned to the Bay Area, and I was wondering what cell phone service I should use. So here's a poll:

What cell phone service do you use?
What type of cell phone do you have?
Are you happy with either/both?
Are you planning to swtich?

I don't want to keep my LA number, and my contract is over, so I'm free.

Advice appreciated.

OK, since no one else has chimed in on ATT, I have ATT. The people here with Verizon have much better reception than I do in the city here, but complain about the customer service. Not as bad as complaints for Sprint or T-Mobile, but still complaints. Outside of the city I get great reception with exception of some parts of 580. I have never had any customer service complaints plus they gave me $20 to stay another year.

I spoke to the ATT rep yesterday (they have a really cool new Siemens phone) and she assured me that my complaint about reception in the city was being "worked out" in that ATT plans on building new cell sites. I'll believe it when I see it.

sgtclub · 12-02-2003, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Wow -- you must spend all your time in different parts of the city than I do. I have Cingular and think it's absolutely miserable. I can't get reception in lots of places where I would expect to, and where I know other services do work.

I watch people in my gym talking on their cell phones in the locker room, and I have to walk outside the gym and a block away before Cingular will pick up (although I have discovered a four-foot square just outside the gym will I get reception, provided I don't stand all the way up). Ditto in any number of locations.

Cingular's coverage in other parts of the US does seem much better, but I live and work in SF and will switch carriers as soon as they resolve the kinks in the number-portability system, and as soon as I figure out which service to switch to.

Maybe it's your phone. What type do you have? I have a nokia, but am in the market for a new one.

Sidd Finch · 12-03-2003, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
Maybe it's your phone. What type do you have? I have a nokia, but am in the market for a new one.

I have an Ericsson, which admittedly is not a great phone but is very compact and has the cool flip-cover that makes me feel all "beam me up Scotty" like. My wife has a Nokia and has the same problems with Cingular, and friends of mine with the same service have the same problems seemingly without regard to the type of phone.

Tyrone Slothrop · 12-03-2003, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
I have an Ericsson, which admittedly is not a great phone but is very compact and has the cool flip-cover that makes me feel all "beam me up Scotty" like. My wife has a Nokia and has the same problems with Cingular, and friends of mine with the same service have the same problems seemingly without regard to the type of phone.

I figured that cell-phone technology is at a point where the phones are all essentially the same (save for features like cameras, etc.). But if someone knows more about this, I'd be curious.

Atticus Grinch · 12-03-2003, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
I figured that cell-phone technology is at a point where the phones are all essentially the same (save for features like cameras, etc.). But if someone knows more about this, I'd be curious.

I think there's a distinction between GSM phones (international standard) and CDMA phones (American standard, some networks provide "3G" access with fast data rich connections). Some phones are interoperable; I know AT&T uses GSM enabled phones.

Cell phones are kinda beyond my CE expertise. I just buy whatever phone looks coolest and works with all the fucking car chargers and hands-free sets I've already paid for.

fufu · 12-03-2003, 04:25 PM

err, that was supposed to be vicinity.

Atticus Grinch · 12-03-2003, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fufu
I bought this model as I have to travel to Europe every month and can call to/from Europe without having to change phones once I hit the Continent.

You can't throw something like that out on the board without at least telling us whether your firm is hiring.

Edited to add: That keypad is way fucked up.

fufu · 12-03-2003, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
You can't throw something like that out on the board without at least telling us whether your firm is hiring.

Edited to add: That keypad is way fucked up.

Not hiring but if we do I'll be sure to let y'all know.

I have small hands so the keypad is fine for me. Mr. FuFu has problems with the keypad size. I also have mLife so I can send and receive email as long as I maintain a geosynchronous orbit in the Southern sky.