I've canned Comcast's lousy hardware and service in favor of Verizon's fiberwire based service.

I'm going with a MultiRoom DVR w/ MediaManager and HD, and linking the multiroom capability to two standard digital boxes in the bedrooms. And I'll be doing an HD box in the mediaroom/attic where my outlaw sleeps. I can't wait to get home and try everything out! I've had my Aquos for almost a year now and have yet to view an HD broadcast on it. Hopefully my first experience will be watching the Eagles against the Saints.

Something dumb about Verizon, and a warning to anyone else making a leap:
The MultiRoom DVR can only share recorded programs to the Standard Digital boxes, not the Digital HD boxes. What kind of crap that is, I dunno. We'll see, maybe a software update will address that down the line.

The lack of multi-room viewing is not specific to Verizon; it's a licensing issue.

I can't speak to Verizon but this seems to be an industry-wide issue. I am a TiVo user, I've got two SD boxes and an HD box and TiVo has the same issue.

Esssentially it's because CableLabs has not approved the Multi-Room or TiVo to Go features with the TiVo HD box. It is almost certainly an issue with the cable companies and content providers dragging their feet on approval of the copying of HD material between devices.

Also be aware that you can't pause or otherwise navigate live TV from the individual rooms (natch, since you don't have the capabilities on the boxes themselves). All you can do is set recordings on the DVR. That was a dealbreaker for me.

I can't wait till Verizon's service is up and running in my area. I've had Comcast for only 4 months and already they've proven they're the worst customer service company out there. That and since they have a cable monopoly in my area (Essex County, NJ), their prices are horrible as well.

Let us know how Verizon works out.

The initial install didn't fly. Something about they didn't get some port issues sorted out until 2pm and the install will take around 6 hours, so they'll be back on the 22nd.

In response to a couple replies here:

1.) I definitely understand I won't be able to pause live TV unless I'm directly viewing on the multi-room DVR. That's ok w/ me for now. I mainly do all my live TV watching in my living room, and all my movie/recording watchin in my media room.

2.) And Palmer, I think you may have misunderstood my original post. The problem with not being able to view recorded programs on the HD box is a programming issue that is suppsosed to be resolved very soon. Apparently the software the runs on the standard digital boxes was done first (I can't explain why), so it won't be long before all the boxes Verizon supplies can link up to the Multiroom DVR. That's the hope at least.

I'll update everyone on the 22nd.

Gotcha. I hope they take care of it soon for you!

Best,
Tony.

I had Comcast (DC area) for 4 days and it was lousy. I have had a combination of DirecTV and Verizon DSL for the last 3 years.
About a year and a half ago, Verizon showed up, dug up my yard without as much as leaving a note on my door and left my front yard a mess. Three months later they called me to sell me FiOS, I told them that I was already a Verizon customer (except now an angry customer), explained the problem, and they just referred me to another number. I did try Earthlink DSL for a while but, as it turns out, it costs more and Verizon still gets a fee for the infrastructure. So I can't really protest with my wallet and am stuck with Verizon and a bruised front yard. Because of these tactics, Verizon FiOS has been a monumental failure in this area. I only know of one house in our entire development that has FiOS and that was someone who just moved in and was not victimized.

So I guess to sum up my post, I agree that Comcast is terrible in all respects. IMHO, the jury is still out on Verizon FiOS. If fiber-to-the-curb doesn't catch on soon, Verizon may just end up the proud owner of a buried treasure, while one of the wireless broadband protocols (that are cheaper to implement) passes them by. Robert Cringley had an interesting article on the potential of a decentralized media distribution network. The idea may just be too tempting to somebody like... Apple Inc.?
Well, those are 2 cents from a disgruntled Verizon customer, so pay me no attention.

My final opinion on FiOS is represented by the fact that I just paid $180 early termination fee to CANCEL their service completely.

I warn anyone considering them - if you have billing trouble, you could be in for a rough ride.

I hate to hear that you have a problem. We have had the FIOS a while and we love it.

The PQ was great. The DVR was superior to Comcast's. But their customer service was truly appalling. Today's phone experience was really unbelievable. Such a shame. Great product. Shady business practices.