you guys seem to value DirectTV over TiVo/Cable . . . Why are you guys so hung up on DirectTV over cable?
Only reason I may be "hung up" on DirecTV is b/c they are my current provider. I think it behooves any sub to continually evaluate whether DBS (DirecTV v. DISH) or cable provides a better solution based upon the sub's particular consumer preferences. Each sub places a different value on different aspects of each provider's services (i.e. VOD, DVR, Sports Programming, lineup, pic quality, etc.)
FYI, I dumped cable 7 years ago b/c the pic quality was absolutlely a POS. Trigger was the ability of DirecTV to deliver DBS feeds of local broadcast channels. Compared to the local cable company, Adelphia, DirecTV was a "G-d send." All channels digital. Perfect pic quality. No more peach fuzz pictures, no loss of TV signal b/c of BS excuses, etc.
Today, what carries the day is HDTV programming. But for DirecTV's commitment to expand their HD platform in a few months, I'd probably seriously consider going back to cable, now operated by TimeWarner.
I don't think DirecTV's present HD platform is very good because of excessive compression to fit w/i their present limited bandwidth. As a valued customer, DirecTV has provided the HD programming package for free for 4-5 months, & half price for another 12 months. So, I've been patient awaiting their expanded HD platform, which will be unparalleled over the competition.
Quality of the HD DVR can be a determining factor going forward for many HD subs . . . including me. I was very content with my Replay, but unfortunately, it's not HD capabable. I wish it was. I would prefer that DirecTV had a deal with TiVo to produce a MPEG4 compatible machine, but it doesn't. It's present machine, developed by NDS is poorly designed, & fraught with a lotta issues, most of which are not that material (i.e. like loss of recorded programs or failure to record scheduled programs). The UI is just a POS & not well designed -- a tribute to inexperienced software engineers who don't have a clue about consumer interface.
I've never owned a TiVo, but I value its loyal following as testimony to a well designed UI, which is what most here value. Going forward, it will drive many to go with a particular carrier. Critical to this whole discussion is that most ,if not all MSOs (cable cos.), offer their DVR, which I gather are NO BETTER than the NDS-designed machine DirecTV offers.
I reserve any judgment about the TiVo machine Comcast will be rolling out b/c, well, it's Comcast. If you're Comcast sub, & the machine is to your liking notwithstanding whatever Comcast seeks to usurp over it (i.e. pop-up ads, inability to skip over commercials, other marketing BS, etc.), then go for it. But not everyone is a Comcast customer, or wants to be.
In sum, I'm not "married to DirecTV." For the present, they, IMHO, offer the best solution to my preferences, that is HD programming. I'll be patient with their HD DVR for about another year or so, as I have with their HD platform. If it doesn't improve, or if they don't offer a TiVo option, then I might consider going back to cable, but not before evaluating TWC's HD platform compared to DirecTV. Looking out over the next 6 months, there's no comparison. |
