Ting vs T-Mobile: One Year Later

Summary

Pros

• Pay only for what you use
• They will credit 25% of your early termination fees, up to $75/device
• Still offer $25 credit
• Can BYOD from Sprint, including iPads

Cons

• Relatively expensive texting and data
• Sprint coverage, no data roaming
• Cannot BYOD devices from carriers other than Sprint
• The psychology of rationing usage

Code for $25 credit

The current Ting homepage. I'm glad to see my $10/month per device is below the average $21.

Introduction

As you can read from my earlier posts here, here, and here, I've had a lot of (mostly positive) experiences with Ting. Now, after a year of use, I wanted to go back and provide updates on the service, and what has changed. 

Discussion

While Ting has continued to accept more and more devices (e.g. iPhones, iPads), I'm glad they have continued to save a lot of money with them, and they have excellent customer service. Here's an example they've put up on Youtube:

Note: accurate hold time is accurate

Unlike other companies that run ads such as the one above, Ting actually lives up to the its portrayal of itself as a fun, quirkly company. For example, here is an article that the CEO posted on the Ting blog year: T-Mobile CEO John Legere stole my 2012 brand strategy and my 1987 hair.

Despite not taking itself too seriously, Ting has been making major improvements over the past, and is working on addressing concerns. Here is another article on their blog that came out a few days ago: You Asked: How to block unwanted callers.

The user interface has also been updated on the website:

The Latest Ting Dashboard

Ting has also put their money where they're mouth is, and have offered their ETF credit on a permanent basis now. I guess a lot of people must have been using this, because they changed the terms of the program from paying 100% to paying 25% of the ETF (within certain limits in both cases). Nevertheless, I would have liked to take advantage of this myself, but sadly,Ting only offered ETF credits sporadically at that time.

Coverage continues to be be fine: I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and have never had problems with reception, even on BART. The buzz is that Sprint is continuing to expand their network, and the fact that they don't have as good of a presence as other big carriers outside of large cities. Because of Ting's deal with Sprint, BYOD is limited Sprint devices, and there is no data roaming outside of the Sprint network.

The biggest drawback I experience is from how Ting has implemented is its main selling point: you only pay for what you use. Ting charges people a certain amount of money for a certain range of service. If you go above or below that range, you'll be charged the appropriate fee for that range. There's no question that this setup is way cheaper than traditional plans for my family and I, but this sometimes leads to rationing towards the end of the billing cycle, if we are close to the limit of a minute/text/data bucket, to avoid the extra fee associated with the next level.

$3 for 0-100 texts per month is pretty good...unless you only send/receive 10

A solution would be to bill based solely on each minute/text/MB used. I've seen similar suggestions on the Ting blog, but as I understand the response from the Ting team, this would be a lot more complicated and expensive than the current system they have, and they've designed the ranges of their bucket system to accommodate most users. I agree that this works well with minutes, but as you can see from the screenshot of my Ting dashboard above, its frustrating when we use only a handful of text messages per month, and are charged the flat $3 for 0-100 texts.

Conclusion

By expanding their device offerings, continuously updating their website and services based on customer feedback, and saving people even more money with ETF credits, Ting has kept improving itself. I am definitely happy with my service with Ting over the past year, and will keep you all updated if that changes in the future.

Code for $25 credit

Thanks for reading! You get a Ting $25 credit code! 

Ting iPhone Beta!

Click here for Ting coupon code

Summary

Pros

• iPhone 4, 4S (along with Android and Windows phones)

Cons

• No iPhone 5, 5S, 5C

Hopefully the die-hard Apple fans can now switch to Ting.

Introduction

I've written plenty about Ting's virtues, and I'll just reiterate that I don't get any freebies or any payment for reviews beyond ad traffic and coupon codes.

YouTube money! EpicMealTime, living the dream of being paid to eat bacon. Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/7492062494/

Ting is a great, relatively new cell phone service provider. After several months of using Ting, and referring it to friends and family, the only negative I've heard was the lack of Apple devices from those who just have to have that type of device. Well, now the wait is over, as Ting has begun quietly allowing people to begin bringing Sprint iPhone 4 and 4S's to Ting.

Discussion

If you don't already know about Ting, I've written some reviews on my experiences on this project:

Ting vs. T-Mobile, $25 credit

Ting Coupon Code and Update: Coverage, Billing, Customer Service

Ting Early Termination Fee Refund

And lest you think I only write positive reviews, see my FreedomPop reviews:

FreedomPop - free internet?

FreedomPop Hub Burst - Free Broadband?

FreedomPop Freedom Phone? Update from San Francisco Bay Area

FreedomPop: it's a trap! Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyku/3082069553/

Conclusion

I'm assuming that people researched Ting before worrying whether this phone or that phone was supported. With that in mind, you can get the latest Galaxy, Galaxy Tab, Windows phone, and now Apple phones as well on Ting (hopefully support for the latest iPhone will come once the Beta concludes).

Epic Winning! Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58638907@N02/5549964876/

Click here for Ting coupon code

Google Chromebook Build, Torture Test, 4-months later

Summary

Pros

• Extremely durable (drops, water spills)
• Still boots fast, works fast
• Battery still holds charge well

Cons

• "Cheap" design
• Holding the Chromebook by the left or right corners next to the touchpad can interfere with moving the mouse, clicking
• Doesn't perform well while loading multiple websites

Durability level of Chromebook Series 3

Introduction

This is a follow-up to the review on the Chromebook Series 3 I wrote back in September of 2013. I've had my Chromebook Series 3 since July of 2013, and wanted to share some of my experiences with this device. And to be clear, I bought this device with my own money, and am not getting paid to review anything beyond aid traffic to this site (though it would be awesome if that was the case).

Don't think I'm not willing to sellout and drive a Google version of the Red Bull car.

Discussion

Well, the Chromebook has held up really well. I don't know if it's because it's so light in weight, or because it's so cheap in price, but this Chromebook has been through more abuse than all of my other electronic devices combined. It's fallen of tables, been sat upon, been thrown onto hardwood flooring, and has come through with only cosmetic damage.

Starting to look as beat-up as Boba Fett's armor. Note that the right corner hinge piece is crooked because it came off completely after one fall, and I just popped it back into place: ugly, but it works.

Despite my unintentional torture test, the Chromebook has just kept chugging along. It's especially great for use while lying down, checking emails or browsing videos. I think it outshines a tablet in that situation, due to the fact that since it is in a laptop form, you can prop it up more easily to view when you're too lazy to sit up.

Conclusion

My Chromebook still boots fast, holds charge well, and does what I want it to do despite all the abuse. Only complaints I have (beyond the "cheap" build which I don't care about given the insanely low price) are few. One is that the touch pad will not work well if you are lifting the Chromebook solely by the left or right corners next to the touch pad. The other is that loading and response becomes slow if you start opening multiple tabs at once (understandable with limited RAM, same problems with tablets).

I think the Chromebook is great; only problem is that I've ended up using it more than my parents, who were the intended recipients...

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanelteemusk/2608975252/

Ting Early Termination Fee Refund

Click here for Ting coupon code

Summary

Pros

• Early Termination Fee (ETF) Relief
• No time limit--Ting is offering this program from this date onwards

Cons

• Only 25% of ETF covered, up to $75 per line

Some of us (I) had to pay T-Mobile several hundred dollars in ETFs a few months ago...

Introduction

I've still been using Ting with no problems. In fact, some of my family members have moved to different states for work, but everything is still great. The only thing I have to complain about now is this new ETF relief program that Ting has instituted, and how I don't qualify for it.

Well, that and the lack of iPhones (but is that really a bad thing?)

Discussion

Earlier this year, Ting set aside $100,000 for ETF refunds. The whole pot was depleted in seven minutes: some people got their entire ETF's covered, while others were left out in the cold. Now, after several months, Ting is relaunching a permanent ETF relief program. People switching over to Ting from other carriers can get 25% of their ETF per line--up to $75--refunded.

There are only 3 steps to take:

1. Activate a device with Ting.
2. Port your number to Ting.
3. Send Ting your ETF documents.

If my previous contacts with their customer service is any indication, this will be a fairly painless process (if you call their toll-free number, you'll get in touch with a rep within a few rings). However, if anyone experiences anything different, please share this in the comments section.

Mmmmm, you can practically smell it...

Conclusion

There has been a lot of movement in the mobile phone industry, both on the part of manufacturers and service providers, and I am very excited to see what the future holds for this industry. Besides the new and improved hardware, service providers are falling over themselves trying to out-do each other. Sprint is really playing the exclusive phone angle, AT&T is letting people upgrade their devices every year, and T-Mobile dropped their two-year contracts for all new customers.

Sure, the ETF refund isn't a full one like last time. However, it is still a good deal in my opinion (better than what I got), I don't see a lot of other companies doing anything else like this (yet).

(Duh!)

Click here for Ting coupon code

San Francisco Bay Area: I-580 vs. I-680

Summary

Pros

• Shorter commute time
• Gentler (less?) gradient

Cons

• Longer commute distance

San Francisco: Disneyland for adults! Note: lines have moved from the sidewalks to the highways...

Introduction

Traveling from San Francisco, Marin, or the Richmond/Berkeley Area to San Ramon or Dublin/Pleasanton? This guy does, and the traffic can get absolutely nuts, especially around I-680.

From personal experience, I'll agree SF Bay Area traffic isn't as bad as Los Angeles's. Still isn't fun though.

Discussion

So, what are the options? To quote Sherlock Holmes, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbably, must be the truth." Applying that logic to the simply task of getting from point A to point B, there are a couple options. First, to take the shortest distance possible between the points. Second, to take the path that takes the least amount of time (not necessarily the same as the first option). Third, to leave the driving to someone else so as to work during the travel time (carpool, public transportation).

Now, I would say that most people would go for the first option, and this was what I initially did. In this case, that would mean going through the Caldecott Tunnel and I-680. Unfortunately, these two can quickly turn into bottlenecks, and increase your travel time by 25%-50%. I've found by avoiding the Caldecott Tunnel and traveling south via I-580 will add five miles to the journey, but cut the travel time by up to 30 minutes. I consider travel by I-580 to be the my second option listed in the paragraph above, and is now my primary way of driving from San Francisco to San Ramon.

Finally, I have taken public transportation options, such as BART, more recently, direct buses from San Francisco to San Ramon. It's not a bad way to go, but as there may be a BART strike soon, I'm making sure to drive at least once a week to brush up on my driving skills.

For all it's flaws and dramas, I still use it.

Conclusion

There are a lot of ways to get to the deeper East Bay. I actually prefer public transit now, since I can get a lot of work done, but when I drive, I absolutely take the I-580 over the I-680. It's much quicker; for a 13% increase in travel distance, I'm gaining 25% in decreased travel time.

There are six toll bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area. In other words, there's a cover charge just to get in your car and drive most places (but this is a whole other topic I will cover in an upcoming post).

Chromebook vs. iPad

Summary

Pros

• Long battery life
• Physical keyboard
• Very lightweight
• Very low prices

Cons

• Heavy reliance on web (wifi or 3G)

Chromebook Series 3

Introduction

I purchased an iPad for my mom last year, and she has been using that device a lot more than any desktop or laptop in the past. I have to admit, the long battery life and low weight are great features to have when you just want to relax and watch a video or surf the web recreationally. I wanted a device like that for myself, but couldn't justify the $400+ price tag for such a specialized device when for a little more I could get a good laptop for an extra one or two hundred dollars. Thus, I began to look at the $250 Chromebook as a possible casual computing platform.

Rule 34?

Discussion

So, what are Chromebooks? While the same size and form as netbooks, I think of Chrombooks more as tablets with keyboards. They are a basic way to access the internet to read and compose emails, watch videos, and browse the internet. It's super light-weight and doesn't heat up too much--very useful when you want to be lazy and use your devices while laying around in bed--and boots up and shuts down in a few seconds.

When Chromebooks first came out, they had no desktop, and immediately launched into the Chrome browser and did everything from that (whether normal web-surfing, or via Google Apps). They've since included a desktop that is mainly only there for aesthetic purposes, but worth mentioning as an example of how Google responds to comments, and how quickly and often they update the Chrome OS: they are currently on v29+ as of 9/17/2013!

But with the pluses come the minuses; you need to either log-in with your Google account (same one you use for Gmail, YouTube, GoogleVoice, etc.). There is a guest mode, but obviously none of your bookmarks or history will be available for you to use. With all the recent concerns about privacy on the internet, this is something to note.

Forget Ceiling Cat...

Conclusion

I've been using a Chromebook for several weeks now, and like it a lot. The battery life is great, so I can bring it with me to check personal emails when I'm out and about. In the end, while I don't think that it is fully capable of living up to claim's that it can be your one and only computer, it's a great supplementary device to have compared to a tablet.

Not the most powerful gaming platform, but you can have a little fun with it. Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjarrett/8316200130/lightbox/

Chevron Gas vs Others', Worth It?

Summary

Pros

• Better gas mileage
• Beneficial additives such as Techron
• Generally nicer fuel stations (less lines, cleaner, car maintenance items such as window cleaners, towels, ExtraMile, etc.)

Cons

• More expensive

Sweet, sweet lifeblood of cars.

Introduction

I was raised to seek out the cheapest gas stations, but with gas ~ $4/gal, savings of even ten or twenty cents become negligible on a percentage basis. For that reason, I began looking for the best value rather than the cheapest price when it comes to gas.

Yikes!

Discussion

Chevron's advertising strategy has long been a one of asking drivers' to "care for their car" by filling up at a Chevron, and by pointing out the benefits of using their fuel. This is a smart move; like Apple products, Chevron is not aiming to be the cheapest option for consumers, but does want to present itself as the best option when all things are considered.

Who doesn't love their cars?

I myself was pretty skeptical of Chevron's claims, but because I started working at a location in Walnut Creek with a convenient and fairly cheap Chevron nearby, I decided to try it out to get some of my own empirical data to make a more informed decision.

From a gas mileage perspective, I have definitely noticed a consistent increase of 2-3 mpg for several weeks after switching to Chevron. I cannot speak on the affects of additives such as Techron, but I have definitely noticed that Chevron gas stations generally have shorter lines, are nicer overall then those of their competitors.

So, does it make sense to stick with Chevron? Crunching through an representative example of my experience:

With other gas:
$3.80/gallon * 1/(28 miles/gallon) = $0.1357/mile

With Chevron gas:
$4.00/gallon * 1/(30 miles/gallon) = $0.1333/mile

Here, a $0.20 increase in price ($0.20/$3.80 = 5%) is outweighed by a 2 mpg increase in fuel efficiency (2 mpg/28 mpg = 7.14%). Your results will probably vary from mine, so I encourage you to try switching and calculating whether or not Chevron gas is worth it for you.

The numbers don't lie (I just miscalculate them from time to time).

Conclusion

I have gone over to the dark side, and am now using Chevron gas on a consistent basis. I encourage people to give it a try, and see if their experiences are as beneficial as mine were.

On a related note, this type of positing is representative of what people see in, and turn to, ChartNine for: a new (and seemingly contradictory) way of looking at things, backed by cold, hard, facts. If you have ideas on what we should analyze next, please let me know via comments or private messages.

Time to join the Dark Side...