Comments on: Okay, Is Now the Time to Dump Cable TV?

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:34:43 +0000

I live in the UK, and cable TV isn't *quite* as big a deal over here (more satellite or OTA), but we had it once- and dumped it over a decade or more ago when digital TV barely existed and the internet was all static text and images. Might have missesd it a bit, but lived without.

Now I think I can find much better things to watch on Youtube than on telly sometimes, and it's easy enough to watch what for me would be the BBC iPlayer or 4oD (our Channel 4's on-demand service). and there is plenty more the web can offer, news-wise and otherwise.

Low-tech also rules. Even the radio is better than TV, and I can pick up old VHS tapes for next to nothing since everyone else has moved on.

I still watch TV (over-the-air) but probably don't need it. Even if I sometimes fantasise about getting free-to-air satellite…

By: Danny

Danny — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:56:50 +0000

You can watch streaming CNN, FOX an others here: http://mixmedianow.com/onlinetv.html

By: Larry

Larry — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 22:25:39 +0000

I reccomend all of you junk cable and stay with your internet. I am a cable tech and I will tell you they are raping all of us!!!! You would not believe the BS fees you all pay.

By: Should I Dump AT&T? And if So, What Next?

Should I Dump AT&T? And if So, What Next? — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:02:27 +0000

[...] all: News Earlier this week, I sought your advice on whether I should get rid of cable TV, and many of you responded with useful feedback. Now I need your thoughts on an equally major [...]

By: Tech

Tech — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:03:04 +0000

As bandwidth increases more and more people are going to be dumping cable television.

By: Cord Cutters | alvear.com

Cord Cutters | alvear.com — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:24:19 +0000

[...] don’t seem to miss their old life. Earlier today, Harry McCracken from Technologizer asked his readers whether he should dump his cable provider. He’s even thinking of hooking up a computer next to the TV to get some added [...]

By: sean

sean — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:22:25 +0000

I use a TivoHD with an OTA antenna. I learned to like the cooking shows on PBS and learned to live without ESPN. I also subscribe to netflix, so I get the streaming through my tivo. In addition I download a pile of video podcast (mostly revision3 and NYtimes) via my tivo and that seems to satisfy my entertainment needs.

By: heulenwolf

heulenwolf — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:05:48 +0000

I spent way too much time, effort, and $ on experimenting with HTPCs, a large LCDTV with a computer-friendly input, and most recently on a Mac Mini. Costs on all of those elements have come down and services have gotten better but they’re still not good enough. Hulu usually runs out its video buffer multiple times per show even though I’ve got a speedy enough ISP (~5 Mbits down), a wired Gb Ethernet connection, and sufficient processing power (Core Duo). Other boxee-like interfaces work sometimes and down work others (usually beta software). There’s no HTPC equivalent to “flipping channels” when you just need to relax. You have to know what you want to watch, what’s the best way to find it, have software and hardware that both support its playback, and even then it doesn’t guarantee a good watching experience unless you pay program by program to get it. So, I still use both CATV for flipping and online for catching up on previously-aired or podcast content. My fiance has no patience for Hulu’s stutters, Plex’s immature interface and crashes, or the frustrations of mousing around TV Stations’ websites, so we end up watching live TV more often than the alternative.

By: John P

John P — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:52:20 +0000

Here’s what I did:

1. Built a sweet little PC for the living room (in a nice case that looks like it belongs in the living room) and got rid of every other box that I had under the TV except for my consoles. Right now the PC has a DVD drive but in a few months I will upgrade to a Blu-Ray drive.

2. Got a Netflix subscription; between it and Hulu/YouTube I don’t really watch that much “TV”.

3. Downgraded to Comcast’s limited digital cable package (their most basic digital package available); last I checked I was getting CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, and FOX (can’t really remember as I get 99% of my news online).

With this setup I am paying roughly $85 a month for high-speed internet, basic cable channels, streaming movies and videos, and three-at-a-time movie rental.

By: Dave E

Dave E — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:37:36 +0000

I just purchased an (Internet ready)Vizio 42″ with Internet Apps: have Clear WiMAX 4 G with a Netgear Rangemax dual band wireless-N Gigabit router.Works perfectly except none of the Vizio installed widgets(widgets gallery) have the following.
I want to connect to my Dell desktop to the Vizio utilizing a device that makes my Vizio screen behave like an extended browser to access free international tv sites like Beelinetv.com
Please assist.
Thanks in advance.