 Review by Goober 
UPDATED: 175 days ago
member for 7.8 years, 3264 visits, last login: a few minutes ago
 Naperville,Dupage,IL
 Contract price not specified.
 "Reliable"
 "No Video on Demand, unhelpful CSRs, No speed Increase as promised, won't match Comcast pricing"
 "Comcast may be better now. Don't automatically board the WOW bandwagon."
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(ratings match consensus)
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Fantastic service. I never was one that suffered from the broadband drought in Naperville. I started with Flashcom, when DSL first became available, then moved to Telocity and then to Earthlink. Finally, after waiting for so long, I got WOW cable literally the day it was available to the general public in Naperville. Also, I got the higher 1.5 Mb tier the day it was available as well. Other than for minor glitches in the beginning, my connects have been rock solid at fantastic speeds.
Install went with a little bit of a hitch, because he main installer was a jerk. He ended up getting fired over our situation, but his helper was stellar and ended up coming to our house the next day on his own to fix up everything.
WOW cable modem service is so good, that I can't imagine any cable provider in this area could be better. Particularly not at this price. I have cable TV and Internet, so the pricing is very good.
Anyway, WOW is really great.
UPDATE:
Switched to the Ultra service. The extra speed is very nice. Is it worth the extra $15.00? I'm not convinced that it is, particularly in light of Comcast possibly upping their standard tier.
Customer service also was average to below average in their handling of my particular issue regarding modem rental fees. I was told they wouldn't charge me one, but when I got the bill, there it was. Had a HELL of a time getting it taken off. And, even then, it was done grudgingly. I have one of their highest level/cost services (digital +2 pay channels + Ultra HSD) and have been an original subscriber since the Americast days and they treat me like crap--as if I'm stealing from them by asking them to waive the modem rental fee.
All in all, they are fine. Just a few disappointments. I will consider Comcast in the future depending on price/features/etc. that each company offers in the near future.
UPDATE 2
Have not seen the much vaunted speed increase, although a few others in the area have. Maybe by March? Regardless, even the reported WOW speed increase is dissapointing. WOW increased the download, but did not change the upload. So, as of this writing, we have become also-rans to Comcast's 6mb/768kb tier.
Unlike Comcast, WOW does not offer Video-On-Demand either.
Comcast has been running many promotions in the area. I presently have a discount with WOW for my service, which includes Ultra Internet and Digital Cable with two premiums. Comcast is running a special that beats WOW's pricing by a little in addition to the faster uploads and VOD. I was willing to add WOW Phone to the mix even if they would drop the price to meet Comcast. Not beat it--just meet it (even though WOW is less featured). No go. In fact, the CSR and his supervisor were pretty adamant about NOT doing it. Maybe once my discount expires I'll give it another shot. Otherwise I'll switch to Comcast.
I think the CSRs and WOW in general are becoming quite what one had always thought of Comcast. Certainly no better and somewhat worse. WOW keeps raising prices, does not provide the same featuires as Comcast, and has the arrogant attitude to go with it all. I am not happy.
Once my discount expires with WOW (June-July), I plan on leaving the service for Comcast. Who would have ever thought it. If my reviews feel like a downward spiral, that's what they are, just simply reflecting WOW's downward spiral in my books.
If you are considering a cable provider, take a long hard look at Comcast. They may very well be the better deal.
UPDATE - 4/19/2008
I switched back to WOW again after leaving Comcast about a month ago. Not for any other reason other than for the fact that the Scietific Atlanta boxes can take an external drive for their DVR storage. Comcast's Moto boxes will not.
VOD for WOW sucks basically. Not even close to Comcast's in terms of content. Reliable service though and better pricing.
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