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When I cancelled my digital cable service (too frakking expensive and I can watch just about everything I want on the intertubes anyway), I told the cable rep that I wanted to keep basic cable along with my internet service.
She said, "That will be good, because of the change-over next year." and I realized what a boon this is for the cable company.

I don't have an HD set, so I'm not concerned with that. Maybe later after my fortunes improve...

I don't want to smurf around with over-the-air signals. I probably don't yet qualify for one of those coupons anyway. Basic cable is more reliable, offers all the channel clearly without having to rotate an antennae, and only costs another eight bucks or so over the cost of broadband internet service.

Time Warner would charge me an extra $5 for internet if I didn't keep TV, so this actually only costs me another tree-fitty anyway.

(belatedly acknowledges the joke) (damn ads are constant now)

Last edited by user (2008-11-30 2:45 pm)

user wrote:

Basic cable is more reliable, offers all the channel clearly without having to rotate an antennae

I just set up a converter box for my grandparents.  All of the channels are DVD-quality with no need to rotate the antenna.  Digital really is better.  Of course, I watch mostly cable channels, so dropping isn't even an option for me.  But if all you need is broadcast, an antenna is a great way to go. (and yes, everyone qualifies for the rebates).

Last edited by Mr. T (2008-11-30 8:58 pm)

Ok, I was thinking those coupons was for po folk.

Jasoco wrote:

Bat wrote:

Tivo users beware.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 … nears.html

What do you mean "TiVo Users"? TiVo already confirmed my Series 3 was 100% ready for the switch.

Not the switch, this:

..if the MPAA gets its way. The organization is seeking a waiver that would allow it to institute output controls on devices that receive digital signals. These controls may stop various devices like HDTVs and DVRs from operating as expected.

mo' ron wrote:

user wrote:

I don't want to smurf around with over-the-air signals. I probably don't yet qualify for one of those coupons anyway.

Uhh... why wouldn't you qualify? I'm pretty sure every household in the US qualifies, regardless of if you use an antenna or not.

No.
The website says it is limited to people using an antennae.

If you get the coupons when you have cable service, it is because you lied to a government agency and you are essentially stealing tax payer money. I doubt they will ever prosecute.

The coupon thing is a joke though, no one locally takes them, I'd have to go some distance to redeem a coupon even if I wanted the converter box.

Time plug gas makes the converter box visa coupon more expensive than just buying one locally sans coupon.

Jasoco wrote:

If that happens, I'm sure TiVo will email me. Seeing as they care about their users. If something passes that will cause their own hardware to create problems, they will let their users know and tell them what to do.

I expect so, but I don't know that there's much they'll be able to do about some of it. The digital transition is a non-issue, but these proposed draconian regs would be new to broadcast, albeit echoing the 'VCRs will kill TV' brouhaha of the '70s/'80s. (In the event that saved Hollywood, as backend sales- VHS tapes and DVDs- came to generate more worldwide profit than box office revenues).

Bat wrote:

Jasoco wrote:

Bat wrote:

Tivo users beware.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 … nears.html

What do you mean "TiVo Users"? TiVo already confirmed my Series 3 was 100% ready for the switch.

Not the switch, this:

..if the MPAA gets its way. The organization is seeking a waiver that would allow it to institute output controls on devices that receive digital signals. These controls may stop various devices like HDTVs and DVRs from operating as expected.

From the SEC article:

The MPAA wants an exemption on that restriction for high-definition movies that are broadcast prior to their release on DVD.

Selectable Output Control allows a cable or satellite programming distributor to shut off analog and/or digital output on selected broadcasts, an option that MPAA says it wants studios to have if they begin to distribute early-run movies on cable. The studios want to be able to close down the analog route and offer only digital content, which they see as more secure.

"The Petitioners' theatrical movies are too valuable in this early distribution window to risk their exposure to unauthorized copying," MPAA wrote to the FCC in May. "Distribution over insecure outputs would facilitate the illegal copying and redistribution of this high value content, causing untold damage to the DVD and other 'downstream' markets."

Such a change is outside the scope of what Tivo's can do anyway, and will not affect normal Tivo service.

arkayn wrote:

Kool-Aid Guzzler wrote:

Such a change is outside the scope of what Tivo's can do anyway, and will not affect normal Tivo service.

Not quite, record to the Tivo and then while watching the recorded movie also run it through a DVD-recorder and burn to disc.

"broadcast prior to their release on DVD" - I believe this means Pay-Per-View.  I was not aware that Tivo had Pay-Per-View access.

Bat wrote:

Of course, another contributing problem may be that some people aren't sure what content they're viewing in the first place. Leichtman Research Group, which surveyed owners of HDTV equipment, found "about 18 percent of individuals with an HDTV continue think that they are watching HD programming, but are not."

What are these people, blind?

Analog?

wellfleation wrote:

Bat wrote:

Of course, another contributing problem may be that some people aren't sure what content they're viewing in the first place. Leichtman Research Group, which surveyed owners of HDTV equipment, found "about 18 percent of individuals with an HDTV continue think that they are watching HD programming, but are not."

What are these people, blind?

Nope, not blind, just don't care all that much.
TV couldn't be less interesting to me as a piece of technology and as long as the picture is as good as your typical analog signal I am perfectly happy. I will probably end up with a bottom of the line HDTV when my current sets die but I won't replace them before that.
Sure, HD is all beautiful and all. I have seen it.
I just don't care all that much. TV=Good enough is good enough for me.