Thread: HD TV

Preface:

I refuse to subscribe to cable TV... something in my DNA will not allow me to 'pay' to watch commercials. In my mind - and the way it used to be (a thousand years ago) - pay TV was commercial free.

I have home built and erected antenna farms for "2-Way" radios, built receivers, transmitters and antennea of every known quantity, watched TV signals from far regions on everything from copper tubing to pringle cans (great for homing in on somebody's wireless connection they 'forgot' to secure... nothing malicious... never). I once built a 127 element 'yagi' just to listen to Dulles Airport ground control transmissions (S-5) from 90 miles away... the planes were easy(at 20 thousand feet)... the tower was 'more challenging'... Been there, done that.

When the government decided to move 'free' TV from the VHF band onto UHF, and to digital, I didn't panic. I, like millions of other Americans, got my coupons, bought my convertor and tuned in. Unlike most other Americans I got a deep fringe UHF stacked bay type antenna I could lean into a corner of my apartment.

About that time my analog TV blew up - again - so I got a new 32" flat LCD job with all the bells and whistles.

I'm a bit of a geek... and a gamer... so I already had a balls on vid card in my computer that seemed to have a DVI connection I wasn't using. A quick trip to Newegg got a DVI to HDMI cable with an audio cable long enough to reach the new TV.

Enter Netflix... end preface.

Netflix ROCKS!

You know all those TV shows you missed while you were doing something else? They have them. All of them. Commercial Free! In HD!

Remember those 10 years of X-Files you suffered through to get to the good episodes... but missed the good episodes? All there. Remember those 4 seasons of 'The Twilight Zone' you've been watching for 20 years? Ever seen them in HD? All there. Remember Star Trek? Care to see those episodes newly digitised with added CGI never seen before in widescreen HD? All there (July 1).

If I had been a rich man and had not invested in Netflix stock the minute they went public I would be a sad man.

As a poor man I am amazed I'm paying 9 dollars a month, getting unlimited downloads of their streaming offerings - that multiply faster than I can keep up - and when it hit's the flix... the commercials are nixed!

A side effect of HD programming is something we all can relate to:

Have you ever noticed while watching HD-TV the amount of guys that could use a shave? Do they expect us to believe they have shaved?

I have a light beard and I watch these guys with their 5 0clock shadows and I just want to give them a brush, some soap, a razor and the link to SRP!

I really want to shave that guy from 'Stargate Universe'... you know the guy I mean. The show was cancelled, but his unshaven face really pisses me off!

lol

If anyone is interested in my ramblings, I'd be happy to offer solutions if you want to hook your computer to your TV. I got both of my cables for under 30 bucks from NewEgg. My brother got me a magnum mouse extender cable so I can run it all from the bed... I'm sure a wireless application for both keyboard and mouse would work as well.

The one thing about Netflix is you need at least a 3 meg download rate - and these days that's pretty much old hat. I have 7 meg... on copper. DSL.

Enjoy... comment... request...

Post here or PM.

Tony

You should check out Hulu also.

Hulu isn't bad and has a great selection but you still end up watching commercials but not as many as if you were to watch the show on TV. I use netflix on my 360 and PS3 almost daily. It's great. I've even thought about picking up one of the roku boxes for my bedroom.

I have, but my AVAST and Adaware go apesh*t anywhere near that site.

I caught almost the entire series of Star Trek Enterprise (killer!) on the CBS site, but they felt the need to inject the same commercial every time the program faded to black - every ten minutes. That got old.

Apparently Netflix got the license for the Star Trek... everything... and it's going live July 1. I know the original episodes are going to the stream... they recently changed them from "DVD" to "streaming soon" in the status area.

Netflix is also forming their own network of sorts... with their own programming. Solely for the streaming community - that obviously will support their endeavor.

They're geared up to take it out a whole new door... and it's about time.

They have DVRs now. Pay for content, skip the commercials.

Originally Posted by commiecat

They have DVRs now. Pay for content, skip the commercials.

What does that mean? I mean really?

What is a DVR?

Is it better than streaming real time, widescreen, HD right now?

If DVR is better then tell me about it... 'cause I want it!

DVR's, aka digital video recorders which are widely available in satellite and cable receivers, record high definition widescreen video for playback whenever the end user likes, which allows for TV viewing to your schedule, not the networks schedule, which to me is the best thing since sliced bread. Streaming HD internet sources like Netflix, HuLu, and Amazon have the same HD picture quality, but as of yet don't allow recording for playback at the viewers schedule, but i hear they're working on it!