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To: StockHawk who wrote (25652)	6/1/2000 10:26:00 AM
From: StockHawk	Respond to of 54805

Not OT: satellite TV and GMST Although agreements have yet to be signed with DirecTV and Echostar, expect both DBS operators to ultimately license the Gemstar IPG within the next year. Thomson currently provides Direct TV with its IPG and, Thomson has a license to make and sell the Gemstar IPG. However, DirecTV does not have a license to "use" the Gemstar IPG and expect DirecTV and Gemstar to reach a friendly resolution over time. from 2020insight.com

To: StockHawk who wrote (25652)	6/1/2000 10:30:00 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 54805

I bought Direct when it first came out, and now have Dish. I bought my son Direct and he switched to Dish. The general feedback I get is that Dish has better programming, and is easier to deal with than Direct. This is all very antecdotal, and I am not a good source, as I have just about quit watching over the air TV. I just installed a Panasonic 42" direct HD, 16/9 ratio, Sunday, and am trying to get a digital 6 channel sound system, with bose speakers, to operate correctly. I bought it for movies, which are fantastic with this combination of systems. The TV was 4K, and I have about 2K in the rest of it. The picture quality is actually better than I have ever seen on a movie screen. I find that you end up having to use at least 3 to 4 remotes, because the sound and picture are separate, and the reviews I read of the combo remotes for $395 and up are not very favorable. I put the system as much for my friends as for myself. If you look at my party pictures, you will see that a large section of my crowd ends up in front of the TV. I just signed up for a free month of "Netflix", a on-line DVD rental outfit, that keeps you supplied with up to 4 movies by mail, and mails you more as you send them back. The concept is great, with no late fees, or fixed time to keep them out. The on line format is a copy of Amazon, and gives you a great way to go through and select movies.

To: StockHawk who wrote (25652)	6/1/2000 11:28:00 AM
From: Mike Buckley	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 54805

Clayton Christensen Web Conference -- FREE! I recieved the following e-mail from Christensen's web site because I registered there months ago. If you're interested in participating in the mentioned web conference, you might need to register (for free) also. I won't be able to participate due to a conflict. I hope they make it available at least with streaming audio if not video. --Mike Buckley =========================== Thank you for your interest in joining Innosight, a new concept in management learning created by Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen. In just a few weeks, we will be contacting you again with detailed information about joining Innosight at an introductory rate. In the meantime, we would like to extend an invitation to join a free web conference with Clayton this Friday, June 2nd at 1:00 pm EST, at placeware.com. Clayton will discuss and answer questions about his groundbreaking book, The Innovator?s Dilemma, as well as about Innosight. Please register by clicking through to the following link: placeware.com Thank you again for your interest and your patience as we prepare to open the site to membership. We look forward to having you become part of the Innosight community! We?ll be in touch soon. www.innosight.com

To: StockHawk who wrote (25652)	6/9/2000 12:23:00 PM
From: StockHawk	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 54805

OT: Satellite TV - Recently I asked for help in deciding on a satellite TV system and several people were kind enough to PM. I also did research, reading satellite web sites and a few newsgroups. Since there are probably a few people reading this thread who might be considering a satellite system I thought I would post some of what I learned. After consolidations, there are really only two providers left. Direct TV, owned by Hughes/GM, and Dish Network owned by Ecostar. Direct has about 2/3s of the market. A variety of manufacturers (Sony, RCA, etc.) make equipment for Direct's system and you can choose at a local electronics store. Dish, for the most part, has their own private-label products. While you can buy a Dish system through a store you can also deal directly with Dish. From what I read Dish seems to have better customer service The very small sample of newsgroup postings I read had quite a few angry Direct TV comments and somewhat cult-like admiration for Dish. Their equipment is also less expensive. For $200 I am getting a satellite dish and a receiver with a hard drive that can pause, record, and play back, live TV. Plus it has a search function so you can search programming by actor, etc. That $200 includes rooftop installation. Both now provide access to NBC, CBS, ABC (about $5/mo), but Dish serves more areas. Also there are some superstations, like the WB that Dish can provide but Direct can not. Dish claims that their equipment can be upgraded via satellite downloads. I saw no such claims for Direct. Satellites are in different positions in the sky and depending on where you live that can make a difference. In the northeast US, Direct's satellites are higher in the sky. Basic programming - 40 channels or so - cost about $20. Both have a similar $30 package that includes more channels and about 30 CD music channels. Direct has about twice as many pay-per-view channels (55). And there are sports differences. StockHawk