Digital Cable Is No Good ... Opt for Satellite
Written: Oct 05 '99 (Updated Oct 05 '99)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Great Channel Guide, Music Channels
Cons: Slow to change channels, more expensive
|
|
|
| tom's Full Review: AT&T (TCI) |
I recently moved to San Francisco and signed up for cable service with TCI, which is now owned by AT&T. TCI insisted that I sign up for digital cable, and even though I repeatedly said that I did not need the supposedly enhanced service, they pressured me into getting the digital cable. Not a good call. I'll be switching to Satellite TV in the next month. Let me explain:
Digital Cable supposedly has all sorts of benefits -- instant access to Pay Per View programming, programming schedules, detailed information about each program, music channels, and a host of extra channels. I believe that it's cable TV's response to the satellite TV services provided by DirecTV and the DISH Network.
----------
Here's what's good about Digital Cable
----------
* More channels -- you get what you pay for. $10 a month brings Discovery, History, TLC, and all the other channels that make cable worthwhile. Sure, these channels are the ones that are STANDARD with most old-school cable packages, but get ready to pay for digital cable if you want them now.
* Channel Guide -- this is great. You have instant access to all the programs, sorted by channel, type (sports, movie, news, etc), time, etc. No need for TV guide or the newspaper -- just browse through the Channel Guide to see any program that's coming on in the next week. You can even set alerts that will automatically change the channel just in time for the start of your favorite program. So surf with confidence that you won't miss the start of the Simpsons.
* PIP Channel Guide -- better than the full-screen version of the channel guide is the small window that pops up at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to SURF CHANNELS WHILE STILL WATCHING TV. What paradise. You can watch your show while also flipping through the titles of other shows that are on at the same time -- believe me, this is an awesome feature.
* Good music channels. If you like Muzak, you'll find it here. You can turn off the TV and listen to ad-free radio on your stereo.
* Lots of pay-per-view. More ways to spend your money! About 10 channels with movies from 3-4 months ago.
* Potential for Cable Modems -- get DSL instead. It'll be faster when all your neighbors are on the network, and you won't be held hostage to @Home.
---------
Here's what's bad about Digital Cable
---------
* $10.00 per month more. What gives? I pay premium prices for what used to be standard (Discover Channel, History Channel, TLC, etc.)
* Slow to change channels. I mean really slow. Try 1-2 seconds wait while the box tunes to each channel. This can get really annoying.
* Unwieldy equipment. The cable box for digital cable is far larger that our VCR. It's so big that it does not fit in the cabinet that houses our 32-inch TV (the cable box is too wide for that). We all laughed out loud when we saw how big this equipment is.
----------
My Recommendation -- get Satellite
----------
Well, in my mind you have two reasonable options:
1) Basic Standard Cable:
If all you want is the basic news, CNN, TBS, MTV -- then just go with basic cable. This is a great choice for infrequent viewers who don't want to get movies, documentaries, etc.
2) Satellite TV:
If you want movies, premium channels, sports, etc., then it's wise to go with Satellite TV. You'll get far more channels, more sports, regional broadcast networks (to help you avoid sports blackouts), and all the same pay-per-view options and Channel Guide enhancements as digital cable, and you'll pay the same amount, if not less.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tom
|
|
Member: Tom Fallows
Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 150 members
About Me:
Check out:
http://www.drivespeed.com
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.