Shocker: Verizon's tiered data plans are overly expensive

STARTING JULY 8TH I WILL MOVE TO A NO TIERED DATA PLAN (CANCELLING THE MF'ER) AND TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE THE PLANS ARE EXPENSIVE.

Sprint better be ready to take a butt load of new customers.

I'm ecstatic about my 59.99 for "unlimited talk/text and data (2Gb of full speed technically) that I weaseled my way into with T-mobile because they offered it by mistake for 4 hours.

This my friends, is exactly why I DON'T sign contracts and get phones for free/penny/99/199 because you're locked into this crap and unable to take advantage of stuff like I just did. Paid 337 for my BRAND NEW MyTouch 4G and not looking back.


Chumps!! (j/k)

So long as I can keep gandfathering on my plan as it is, I 'might' be ok, but games will be games & we know how the cards are stacked... Vegas rules boys.

Looks like 2013 I'll be without cellular. Not like I really need the thing anyway. Nice while it lasted.

Holy crap.
Not owning a business or having a use for texting or an internet connection, I still use my Razor which is $43.00 a month.
I'm 56 and can't read the display anyway without using Fishbowl reading glasses I have free long distance connect. My rollover minutes always get reset for not using them.

Still, people will pay that amount(s) which equals a monthly food bill or other things that are more important.
Jeff

Yeah, I'm at that point my bifocals don't want to focus on what's in my hands. I barely use the phone, but the internet connectivity is what I'm kinda roped to, but then I don't want to pack a tablet around either and certainly NOT for what these jokers want for DL rates, which is what I'll get hammered for because the contract will change.

Yeah I'm enjoying my unlimited data with T-mobile.

I can wait until I use my laptop or desktop. There is no urgent need for me personally having a third interweb connection.

It seems these day some people must have it.
Like I said, if I owned a business or needed to find out the latest and greatest it would be a different story. I retired in 2006.

I download music from a website for pennies on the dollar for what people pay for Apple bullshit. If I owned a ianything or the like, I could just upload the music to it.
Jeff

Disabled Vet 2001, been consulting since. Latest & greatest has been pissing me off too. Need to figure out a way to get these companies to not only pay for the items for me, to pay me for using them as well. Then maybe I could validate the expense...

Then again...

I salute you. Thanks for serving our country.

Somehow I contracted the silent killer Her-C. I need to sleep a lot so a job is out of the question.

Really don't know how I got it except I had a tat over thirty years ago. Drinking a lot years ago just exacerbates the problem
Bad liver and onions. I'm on on Liver transplant list but you need a good fit and livers are far and few in between. I relish everyday I'm still breathing.

Many vets have the same thing by having transfusion or for other reasons.
Jeff

Thanks. It was a haul. I don"t regret a thing.

Originally posted by Azuran:

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Yeah I'm enjoying my unlimited data with T-mobile.

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Same here. Verizon and AT&T are insanely expensive. Their customers are paying more for less.

Also what good is their developing "4G" network if it costs you a fortune just to use it?

I have a verizon unlimited plan and I got a text message saying I was over my 2GB limit just 4 days into this billing period. I called them and they said it was a mistake...but it sounds like I might not get grandfathered if they are already setting up the text messages.

If I don't get grandfathered, I don't have to worry about breaking my contract because they will have broken it for me. Then comes a serious issue...where to go? AT&T is trash in my area for calling and internet (plus the limits are unacceptable). T-Mobile has good internet here, but very spotty voice coverage...and they will be AT&T soon anyway. Then there is sprint...they make T-Mobile voice service look great while also making AT&T data service look amazing. I really have nowhere to go.

Originally posted by Azuran:

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Yeah I'm enjoying my unlimited data with T-mobile.

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Agree a 100% (Cheaper and Better 4G) My Sensation work like a Champ.

I drop Verizon 2 weeks ago !

Give sprint another try. they have come a long way since merging with nextel. 4G is the shit and my only internet (and 3g)... AND UNLIMITED not "unlimited"** like the other fags. they also have one of the fastest 3g speeds around.

That is bad but it could be worse. Last time I looked into data from Bell/Telus/Rogers it was over $30 for 1GB. It's probably more by now.

Originally posted by KillerBug:

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...where to go? AT&T is trash in my area for calling and internet (plus the limits are unacceptable). T-Mobile has good internet here, but very spotty voice coverage...and they will be AT&T soon anyway. Then there is sprint...they make T-Mobile voice service look great while also making AT&T data service look amazing. I really have nowhere to go.

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The exact same issues for me... Basically, I'll give up cellular service all together. $100 (rounded up) a month, after taxes and all the hidden fees? Forget it. There are other 'luxuries' (like another can of soup) that I'd rather spend the money on over the month than a device that I pretty much dread someone trying to find me on again anyway.

I mean that's $1200 a year. That could have been my new computer.

Prepaid services have come a long way as well... Look what we have and starts $25 Virgin mobile, $40 metro, $50 boost, $60 t-mobile and even $60 att are offering... i mean there is a option to everyone. i got my wife out of att and got VM i can say for sure that is the way Im going soon, now they are getting a version of the DX(no skin) for $25 a month.

i dont seem to see a lot of people talking about these killer options.
You cant compare what they(prepaid) offer now with the big 4 but, like I seen a walmart guy saying "costumer vote with their wallet and what they buy" so if paying that much is ok they will keep charging. Remember what land line companies use to charge for making phone calls before all the Voip took over?

@i1der...

They're all good options, but some of the folks complaining here live in areas that are outside what I would call metropolitan areas. Literally, all the townships I come in contact with have less than 10K people in them. It would take me about 2hours to drive to a township with a population with enough people to merit cellular service worth the competition it would take to get the phone companies to offer proper service to maintain my business.

The other pay-for-use services are offered, but they piggy-back onto Verizon (the primary here); thus area at their mercy. Making it painful to want to go with another service at all, despite how attractive they truly are.

Im switching back to smoke signals....

I use Sprint. No squinting @ a 4.3 inch [img][/img]screen using HTC EVO 4G... Everything data plan free mobile to mobile (Any mobile not just Sprint network). They say unlimited internet data and texts and they mean it. All the other companies stopped allowing WiFi tethering.... Not Sprint. Downloaded 700 gigs once in a month just to see... If it were true..... Sprint is expensive.....same as your plans.... But 2gb data for a month? That's insane. That's what a?single movie download and a single tv show episode? I pity you people. Smartphone but you dare not use it.....that's hilarious! Sprint Everything Data for the win. I can't believe millions are digital data slaves to these lame companies. Can't you read and compare the terms offered? You people are on some serious dope.... If you passed on unlimited data plans on Sprint...then get some whack and expensive data plan elsewhere. I don't know what Sprint used to be. But I got it last October....and its been phenomenally good. I live in a 4G city and my internet speed so much faster than my landline cable.... I dumped my Comcast.... Sprint unlimited data with my rooted EVO.....dream come true..... Sometimes download speed on 4G its 20mb/s ! It's dream come true. My experience with my EVO and Sprint made my wife dump ATT.... Now my family is all using Sprint family plan. Don't be a digital data slave...

Originally posted by LordRuss:

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Originally posted by KillerBug:

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...where to go? AT&T is trash in my area for calling and internet (plus the limits are unacceptable). T-Mobile has good internet here, but very spotty voice coverage...and they will be AT&T soon anyway. Then there is sprint...they make T-Mobile voice service look great while also making AT&T data service look amazing. I really have nowhere to go.

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The exact same issues for me... Basically, I'll give up cellular service all together. $100 (rounded up) a month, after taxes and all the hidden fees? Forget it. There are other 'luxuries' (like another can of soup) that I'd rather spend the money on over the month than a device that I pretty much dread someone trying to find me on again anyway.

4 mean that's $1200 a year. That could have been my new computer.

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A new smartphone is a computer. Hardly ever use my laptop unless its tethered to my EVO 4G.... and it replaced my cable....landline.... And internet bills.... So now my superfast internet is in our pockets 24. 7 totally worth it.

I also have sprint. I have the evo. Although Im not a huge fan of this phone. Sprints service and features are excellent. I have 2 phones on my account. We both have unlimited minutes, data and texting and I pay something like $93 a month. I tether my phones 3G/4G connection via wifi to use my laptop and iPad to go online anywhere I want. Its awesome and its free. I am looking forward to getting the iPhone when it comes out for sprint, but Im kinda worried that once the iPhone comes, sprint will end their unlimited data plans and start with the tiered plans just like AT&T and Verizon did.

You.d dump your EVO for an iPhone with less features? Why would you do that? And you can't surf anywhere on the web with Apple anything. No Apple device (iphone or iPad) supports Flash (50% of the web?)....New EVO 3 D came out yesterday.... You crazy? Or just not very informed? (Another white headphone wearing mindless minion). God blessem.

He probably wants to dump his evo so that when Sprint drops his calls, he can just blame the iPhone antenna. Sprint can claim whatever they like about their internet speeds, but what point is a PHONE on a network that can't hold a signal long enough to order a pizza?

...And yes, I have tried them since NexTel...the calling only got worse. And yes, I am in a major market...I am close enough to the city core that I can see the buildings of downtown from my house. It might not be NYC, but I'm not in the middle of a bunch of cornfields either. I might suspect that Sprint is focusing on more rural areas...except I have driven across the state with a Sprint owner...and they had to use my Verizon phone for most of the trip (on the interstate). I still use my phone for phone calls, so sprint isn't even an option. These days I also use my phone for web, so AT&T is out too...given that T-Mobile is about to be AT&T, I lose that option as well. If I am not grandfathered, I honestly don't know what I will do.

AT&T and Verizon have created an effective monopoly here, with all the competition except T-Mobile being useless...and the same FCC that says I can't setup a lot power radio transmitter will happily take bribes to let them get away with it.

I've never dropped a call since I had Sprint (10 months)... wait one time I was on the regional rail train and we were in a deep tunnel.. But I cant really call that a dropped call.. we went underground for a minute. Is your Sprint experience current? Or is this some 1985 grudge you've held all these years? I live in Philadelphia PA... and I've never dropped a call.
So wait? YOU DONT EVEN HAVE Sprint?
What part of NEVER dropped a call in 10 months dont you understand?
Minimum daily download speed never under 3megs and sometimes to 20megs... the Network your describing sounds unlike the SERVICE I'm getting (I'm an ACTUAL Sprint customer...you uhm -aren't).
Good try though!
Dont fall for the okie doke people. Tiered plans are insane. Just get "Everything Data Unlimited" from Sprint.
A VERIZON customer cannot tell you a thing about SPRINT.
He's got sour grapes cuz he has a crappy 2gb data plan (that he pays a fortune for)and I can download 50 gigs a day and pay the same (or less). (I'd be mad too if I was FOOL enough to get locked into a 2 year contract and look across the street at the smart people laughing hysterically at my red coolaide drinking ass!).
2 gb data plan is one movie download and a single tv show episode- thats all them lames at ATT and Verizon get a month!!!! OMFG!
I download ten times that every day!
Why get a smartphone with 2g/3g/4g radios, wifi, wifi router, gps and all the rest of the damned toys if you cant freaking use it!
You got sucker written on your foreheads if you go out like that!
A smartphone with a muzzle on it is crazy! Take the muzzle off kids- go Sprint Everything Data- and dont listen to the dummies- who drunk da coolaide already.

All these iPhone users, and well it doesn't really matter what phone you use if your data plan is this horrible...2gb a month? my god thats 2 and a half hours of decent video- and a month?!
A month! for how much?
Lets stop for a minute to consider. Dude- forget phones. Just data plan.
2gigs data. Ten years ago that was wow- alot. But it is 2011 soon to be 2012. 2gigabytes data...A MONTH. 2gigs a DAY isn't enough!
Why would you ever consider a plan that drags your usage of the world wide web to this bit of crumbs? For that much money?
I pay $210.00 a month for 3 phones with Sprint (Family plan 1500 minutes talk(which seems low- but isnt- everyone we call except Grandma is on a cell number which is FREE via "free mobile to mobile" {any mobile unlike the other carriers who have free mobile to mobile just on their network})- and "Everything DATA Unlimited" covers internet, unlimited texts, unlimited video chat(my phone has front and back cameras and vid chat software- but I use googletalk with video cuz its clearer)...
Anyway long story short... I pay about 70.00 dollars a phone for all that and the peace of mind knowing I can download whatever the hell I want whenever I want and no ones throttling my download data speeds or cutting me off or charging me some exorbitant fee if I go over a cap.

So I pay what you pay BUT YOU have all these restrictions and having a data cap seriously crimps your style! (But not mine- I'm unlimited without the caveats).
You have same phone as me or a better phone... But you can barely use your phone when you want to- BUT YOU PAY SAME AS ME OR MORE.
Why?
edited by ddp
Paying them to limit your service is the nut move.
If you live in a decent city ignore the comments of dropped calls and such- thats only for them folks out in the boonies.
Get you some Sprint or not. Come to think of it..if you lames come to Sprint in droves... maybe my blazing fast internet will slow down?edited by ddp

And I thought I was wordy...

and profane...

and opinionated...

and odious...

and... and... and...

Wow... Relax chevnoire. You're getting a little worked up. Why do you dislike people because they prefer something different than you. I know that the Evo has more" feature" than the iPhone. But I don't like it. I had two iPhones before, loved them. I switched to the EVO to save money on my bill and because on paper, the specs were way better than the iPhone. But it the user experience that matters to me and my experience with the iPhone was fantastic. Not so much with the Evo. I dislike the screen.... It bigger yes, on selling point for me... But it sucks. It's washed out, and doesn't look as good as the iPhone's to me. It has 3 brightness levels, super low, medium, and super high. I mean, trying to get a personal photo on there as a wallpaper without it blowing it up and cropping it is ridiculous. The battery is absolutely horrendous. I've set all my setting to the most "energy saving" setting possible. The phone can't make it more than a few hours without dying. The texting is also horrendous, every word I spell is misspelled, and then it learns it that way, I'm spending most of my time deleting and editing than actually sending messages. With the iPhone I used to text soooo fast. The camera sucks.... Yeah it's a whopping 8 megapixels with dual flash.....8 megapixels of crap, the photos are always grainy, the contrasts are too high. I have to play with all the setting and retake a picture 3 or 4 times to get it right, the zoom sucks and can't focus. And you're right, it does flash....I love having to close all those annoying banners and pop ups whoever I'm trying to read an article. Honestly, I don't miss not having flash,... I never really ran into any problems not having it though. Would it be nice if the iPhone had it? Yeah... But that's my only gripe with the iPhone. And seriously,... Everyone knows the only reason they want flash is to watch porn.... I don't need to watch porn on my phone. And with a lot of the internet switching to HTML5, the iPhone doesn't have it so bad. It was the first phone to actually give you a real web browser for the Internet, instead of some crappy mobile version. So yeah, when I switched to the evo, I was happy at first, but the more I used it the more frustrated I got with it. I would glady switch bad to the iPhone. I think it's better FOR ME, and for what I use it. I did check out the new evo.... It's ugly, the screen makes me dizzy, you can't really see it too well if you hold it at an angle. I didn't get to play with it for very long, but I will give it a try. Now that I know what to look out for for myself. If I don't like it, I'm expecting I won't , I'll just hold on to this one until an iPhone comes out for sprint.

Mr. Paragraph, how I miss you so.

Originally posted by chevnoire:

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All these iPhone users, and well it doesn't really matter what phone you use if your data plan is this horrible...2gb a month? my... tl;dr...

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Every time you post I feel like I'm watching a sprint commercial.

@Azuran...

Sure, if far less talented Bill Maher were doing the commercial...

Sorry- you have a crappy phone and crappier plan...and I'm excited about mine (and kinda laughing at how you could be so dumb).

@ End of the day... you still have an expensive phone that does less than mine and a network that you pay through the roof for- but dont get much for.
I can't be mad. How can I be mad at no worries and great service?

And for the fellow that had trouble with his Evo 4g... dude- I'd expect since you were on Afterdawn.com .. that you'd know to "root/jailbreak" your phone to get all the real cool features it does for free.. like wifi tethering, all of the paid apps, etc...
Every one knows the Qik software sucks for video chat- as everyone knows to use Gtalk. As everyone knows the 8meg cam on back works best with camera360 software for incredible pics and HD video, as everyone knows you can mod out your Evo almost daily with the literally hundreds of roms(custom versions of Android specifically for your phone model with many new features and capabilites) available by the development communities at android central and XDA Forums specifically for your Androided Evo 4g. you've had your Evo what a year- and have no clue- the out of the box Evo is nothing compared with one thats been rooted and rommed. I knew all that before I bought my Evo 10months ago! Silly me -reading about it...lol
But I guess some people need every single thing spelled out for them. You just cant stop letting people know how uninformed you are about almost everything, huh? (Clueless?)Damned son.
Sprint commercial.
Naw- I've just had every cell company and found one that does what it says and I am extremely happy with the service. And pleasantly cheerful to dispute the haters who dont even use the service from discouraging folk on the fence from using something I think is wonderful..
Look my comments in the end are for some chap wondering about all the hype and bluster- trying to navigate what its really all about.
The flame wars with the unfortunate people who are mad cuz they bought iPhones/junkPhones and have ATT and Verizons ridiculously inadequate service- is just a bonus for me personally. I like pointing out peoples stupidity to them in a public forum. You can spot the chumps who fell for the coolaide- lookat their comments.
Not disputing one fact I've mentioned -notice? But mad and snotty.
You got to love the hate from an idiot- too dumb to cost and feature compare products before they commit themselves to 2 year contract.
I do! I love it.
ROFLMAO for the win! Good luck with 2 and 4 gig data plans a month...some of us are paying less than you but getting 20gigs a day-or whtever the hell we want- cuz its really and truly "Unlimited"....
I know thats why ur really mad- you got an expensive smartphone you cant use for shit for a 2 years contract. And have no one to blame but your own dumb ass.OMG its still so funny- please shower me with vitriol and hate...every line of it makes me laugh just that much the harder.
Good luck with ur data plan. 2 and 4 gigs - A MONTH oh my fucking god- how could you be so stupid?
(Still laughing)....that one month i was checking to see if really was unlimited- on Verizon 700gigs worth of data usuage... bill would have been 6,860 in addition to regular monthly fees: computed from "4gb monthly verizon plan with $10 per gig in overage cost"
Fuck that!
Go Sprint kids..and stop playing with them lame ass companies.

Wow.... this guys has some problems. lol. He's way to serious about what YOU should have and do with it. If you're not like HIM you are a stupid idiot I guess. How immature. So basically after reading your response, from my understanding is that you're basically saying that the Evo is a POS and that the only way to get it to be a great phone is by hacking it and using a bunch of other 3rd party softwares, in order for it to be any good? I don't wanna do all that. I just wanna have a phone that works. If I buy a phone with certain feature. I owuld expect those feature to work and work well. I'm not a teenager anymore. I don't have time for all that.

still steaming.... huh?
I dont give a shit what you have. Your responsible for you...but going forward the next man doesnt need to be sad and angry like you cuz u were too dumb to pick a decent plan and phone...I did all the research for em- so they can avoid the pitfalls of blindly signing a 2 year contract and looking like you- to wit: an angry chump.
What do you keep sniveling responses for then...
Mr. "I'm not a teenager"?
White headphone wearing drones- woke up I see.....
Must be especially unsettling for them to "snap out of it" when they realize thinking people did a little research and didnt get suckered into the hype...
But hey- them white headphones are so cool (too bad they dont fit worth a shit, huh?)...
OMG this is so much fun!

and I was supposed to be onerous...

and cantankerous...

and facetious...

and over sexed...

and over educated....

and and and ...

??? Hmmm.... I said I have sprint. My plans is great, I have unlimited everything for 2 phone for less than $100. That's almost unheard of. I said I like sprint, I just want to get the iphone when it comes out for sprint cause I don't like this evo and for me the iphone was a better experience. You're the one going all crazy on people.

It's like me saying.. "You know what? For me, I like the Diesel Mercedes better cause it's really economic on fuel, it's comfy, it rides smooth and has a decent amount of room. And you go ballistic yelling "What! You need to get the Porsche 911 instead, it's so much sportier, and faster!" And I say "That's true but, it's only a two seater, less efficient on gas, it has a stiffer sportier suspension which make the ride kinda harsh and I have no room to fit the kids or their sport equipment etc" and you say "Well, you're an idiot!!! Everybody knows that a Porsche is so much better! Everyone knows that you can custom install extra seats and change the suspension and you can always put the kids sports gear on the roof with some straps!!!"

What's wrong with you guys? Don't you know anything?

1972 Dodge 3/4 ton panel van with an in line 6. Rides like a log wagon, little or no pick-up. 0 to 80 in about 4 days. 2-80 air; for you youngsters, that's when you roll down the two windows and do 80 mph for your air conditioning. Because they didn't JUST put air in everything like they do today.

You haven't a clue how many bodies you can get in that thing & the springs not even budge in that bad boy! It was GREAT!!! THAT'S Driving!!!

I would go into drive in movie theaters, but you guys might go into brain lock... & what does that have to do with bloated Verizon capped bandwidth sales?

Correction LordRuss..... 1972 Dodge3/4 ton would only do 0 to 80 (sometimes) lol.

I love going to the drive in, We have one that is still open. It's great, safe, and cheap. It's like 8 dollars for 2 movies, sometimes 3. Last movie usually ends somewhere between 2am-3am.
Do they still have them in your area?

If you have the need you are going to pay.
"If you want to play, you have to pay."

Except for RAM, I've have yet to hear of prices going down in the tech industry.

People who think the have the need regardless if they rarely or never use some functions think for whatever reason it is a must have.

Same thing will happen with Verizon's tier BS
Jeff

Everyone with a brain knows the 73 Ford Gran Torino Sport is the ride! unstock 351 cleveland engine boosted and bored, balanced and blueprinted- pushing 450horses edelbrock manifold holly650carbs running str8 headers...
Getting an astounding 5miles to the gallon (gas station to gas station baby)... It eats camaros for breakfast and vettes for dinner.


Prices going down>? New Archos g9 tablet Android Honeycomb 3.1 dual 1.5 TI processors and 250gig HARDdrive wifi going for $279$ this september! Fastest tablet on the planet with the biggest storage and its the cheapest!
So foooey on your no tech prices going down madness- you just gotta know where to look, sonny!

Originally posted by Mofomac:

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Correction LordRuss..... 1972 Dodge3/4 ton would only do 0 to 80 (sometimes) lol.

I love going to the drive in, We have one that is still open. It's great, safe, and cheap. It's like 8 dollars for 2 movies, sometimes 3. Last movie usually ends somewhere between 2am-3am.
Do they still have them in your area?

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Sputtering and kicking like the mule it was too...

Sad to say I was the last to work at the one in my area. I'll have to look it up, but rumor had it that it was the Guinness World record holder for the largest outdoor screen (at one time, long ago). Sadder still, it was torn down some 15+ years ago. Given the depleted economy where I'm at, we charged $1 per person for 2 movies. We were also the first to offer AM & FM radio broadcast of the features as well. It was a good time while it lasted.

Black Chevrolet... I was being facetious, flippant, & insolent... not everything needs your posterior topping.

Originally posted by LordRuss:

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Originally posted by Mofomac:

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Correction LordRuss..... 1972 Dodge3/4 ton would only do 0 to 80 (sometimes) lol.

I love going to the drive in, We have one that is still open. It's great, safe, and cheap. It's like 8 dollars for 2 movies, sometimes 3. Last movie usually ends somewhere between 2am-3am.
Do they still have them in your area?

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Sputtering and kicking like the mule it was too...

Sad to say I was the last to work at the one in my area. I'll have to look it up, but rumor had it that it was the Guinness World record holder for the largest outdoor screen (at one time, long ago). Sadder still, it was torn down some 15+ years ago. Given the depleted economy where I'm at, we charged $1 per person for 2 movies. We were also the first to offer AM & FM radio broadcast of the features as well. It was a good time while it lasted.

Black Chevrolet... I was being facetious, flippant, & insolent... not everything needs your posterior topping.

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That i s a bummer. Where are you located? Was was the name of yours? Ours has, I think, 4 screens, but they are adding I think 2 more next year and also putting in digital projectors. One of the few to remain open luckily. They also offer free Wi-fi and they'll give you a jump if your battery dies. Those portable jump starters they come in handy. It's kinda far out towards the country, about 15 minute from the suburbs and 40 minutes from the city, which I appreciate cause people from the city are often loud, disrespectful and they love to litter... I don't understand why people have to litter. There was a great big one in the city, but it closed down about 5 years ago. I like to bring my camping chair and just sit outside with my buddies watching it. There's also a small park where kids can go play before the movie starts and let me tell you, on Friday nights, there is a super long line all the way down the road in both directions waiting to get in. They are doing well there. Check it out.
link

Ha, not if you build your own PC.
Yes hard drives are cheaper and last longer.
Tablets do nothing for me.
Jeff

@Mofomac... it was located about 8-10 miles east of the college town of Carbondale & about 3-4 miles west of Marion in the state of Illinois; smack dab in the arm pit of the nation.

The "screen" (viewable portion) was literally 10 stories tall & built for 16x9 orientation. Originally known as CinemaScope (one of the popular formats of the day). You could literally see the movie from clearly from 4 miles away.

We never got to the point where the addition of Dolby audio or other fancy audio additions would have benefited, nor would that size screen benefit from a Barco light canon sizable enough to project an image (or merited the expense). The Zenon bulbs usually used to get an image on that screen (scheduled to last 1200 hours) only lasted 400 hours because of the abuse we put them through. Technology has come a long way since, so that may have changed, but not at that time.

I can also remember the lines to get in when I worked there as well. We had 3 service entries to get folks in & still have 2 lines backed out to 2 highways. We used to hold the movie for 30 minutes & there would still be a lines.

Then, down here, the freaking heat. It's like Vietnam down here in the summer. 100 degrees, 98% humidity & the stiffest breeze is a crusty grasshopper that jumped by. YUCK!!! And folks would STILL kill you to get in. Lawn chairs, your ghetto box, a movie, the kids and a beer cooler... that's pretty much what we had back then. Movie rentals hadn't kicked in 100% quite yet.

As far as garbage was concerned, we bribed folks with our own garbage bags. "Put your garbage in the bag, or we'll raise our prices. That or we won't let you in next time cause we know where you parked too..."

It actually worked. Then there's the stories I could tell you... It was like college training before I went I went on the road with the rock bands - which is another story...

For some reason Verizon keeps charging me two an twenty something dollars for one month and i paid for the 10 gb data plan and I'm still being charged as much as if I had a 2 gb data plan. I am so going to switch over to another phone company because this one extremely sucks.