Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Need some help.....

Im getting rid of Fios (Glenn beck is going off the air so whats the point) and im gonna do the full blown just internet thing starting June 1st. Anyone one have Apple tv? Google tv? This thing:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-1080p-Media-Player/dp/B003MVZ60I"][COLOR=#670100]Amazon.com: Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player: Electronics[/COLOR][/ame]

Or something else that integrates all the free and pay stuff out there, with local hd channels, movies, internet stuff and more? Mind sharing your set up with me? [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I only have a laptop at home (my roommate also has apple laptop, im a pc) and i would prefer that i dont have to use either, so i want something thats stand alone. I do want the ability to bluetooth or somehow else send something stuff from either of our laptops to the tv if easy/possible.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also just got off the phone with verizon here are the upload download speeds available:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]upload/download:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]5/15[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]25/25[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]35/35[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I signed up for the cheapest (slowest) upload/download option since its just a phone call to change. Is 5/15 fast enough for hdtv through netflix, hula, ect? [/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Get a ps3. Blu-ray plus hulu, Netflix, vudu, and amazon on demand.... Although with hulu you'll get 10 times the content if you get playon and just stream everything from your laptop over wifi to the ps3.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Btw Bluetooth doesn't have the bandwidth to stream anything other than cheap audio.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

u need a new tv, the tv i got to replace the one you have has wifi built into it's pretty sweet. the ps3 route is pretty money too, netflix is way easier to use throught he ps3 because the tv just has netflix as an app. and i'm using the 15/5 right now w my netflix and it works pretty damn good for netflix, not sure on hulu.

what made you make the switch richmond cable can't be that expensive, i'm interested to see what you think. are you gonna go to bars or try and stream sports? i would love to dump directv but their sports coverage it amazing

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I didn’t have legit internet before (just “barrowed” my neighbors signal and rebroadcasted an encrypted version as my own through my ddwrt router or teatherd through my phone), but my new roommate freelances as a graphic designer and needs legit internet. And I don’t watch much tv, especially during the summer, so whats the point in having both? I figure for football ill get a hdtv antenna for the local channels, and I only really follow the CAA for basketball and you have to watch most games online anyways. Thursday and Sunday and Monday night games usually stay on too late for me anyways so I wont really miss watching them…. I guess I can watch a crappy internet feed for those games if I really have to. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Verdana][COLOR=black]My roommate has a 360, will that work for anything or is a ps3 pretty much needed. I don’t play video games at all so id rather go the non-gaming route if the xbox wont work. Also I don’t have a bluray player or a even a dvd player so I know I need to make some purchases.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]This looks pretty sweet:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][ame="http://www.amazon.com/Roku-XDS-Streaming-Player-1080p/dp/B00426C57O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305900978&sr=8-1"][COLOR=#800080]http://www.amazon.com/Roku-XDS-Streaming-Player-1080p/dp/B00426C57O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305900978&sr=8-1[/COLOR][/ame][/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]It plays Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu….. I don’t think theres anything else? Id like to somehow have the have the hdtv antenna streaming though the Roku or something else if possible so I don’t have to switch inputs, I do plan however on buying a sweet remote. [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Yeah I realize now that Bluetooth aint strong enough to transmit anything but music, but I guess I could set up a network to get content off my laptop with Roku or something else? [/FONT][/COLOR]
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Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=mlmdub130;803738]u need a new tv, the tv i got to replace the one you have has wifi built into it's pretty sweet. the ps3 route is pretty money too, netflix is way easier to use throught he ps3 because the tv just has netflix as an app. and i'm using the 15/5 right now w my netflix and it works pretty damn good for netflix, not sure on hulu.

what made you make the switch richmond cable can't be that expensive, i'm interested to see what you think. are you gonna go to bars or try and stream sports? i would love to dump directv but their sports coverage it amazing[/quote]

I hope the wifi built into the TV works better than the internal wifi built into laptops.

USB wireless adapters work so much better...faster too.

Hmmmm...my new LG LCD has a USB port...wonder if it will work? I've just used it to view pictures on a thumb drive, never tried to put a wireless adapter in it.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

If you don't want to go the PS3 route (even though it's the best blu-ray player on the market), there are plenty of blu-ray players out there that have internet capability that will allow you to use services like netflix, hulu plus, amazon on demand, itunes, etc. The one up they have on the Roku box (which looks pretty sweet by the way, and for $100, it looks hard to beat) is that it does play blu-ray movies.

I've been contemplating the jump for a while, with our only issue being that we're pretty far from DC and Baltimore (50 miles), so antenna signal strength will be an issue for local channels. I'd get a blu-ray player for one of the TVs (so the kids can still watch DVDs) and I'd build a small HTPC for the big TV. But in the meantime, I might go with the Roku Box. For $100 to get all those features is pretty outstanding.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Mlmpetert:

I did this very thing you are talking about and I have not had any regrets. I ditched Directv a few months ago (after football season and most of college basketball season was over) and went with over-the-air tv antenna and the internet thing.

I use a combination of a PS3 and a new Dell i5 Inspiron for my media entertainment. I have Playon and Hulu plus. Regular Hulu will not work on the PS3, but works perfectly on my Dell. Hulu plus is OK, but I'm a little disappointed with its content. Still, for only $8/month, I guess I can't complain too much. I just have found that the majority of my entertainment can be seen on regular Hulu. Anyways, Playon is OK, but I've been a bit disappointed with it. I've found that mostly what it does is just allow you to pull in all of the content that is already on those station's websites for free. So, I just usually go to those websites on the computer, but I can see how you might need the server for the PS3.

As far as the over-the-air thing, you will be surprised at what you can pick up, especially if you're in more of a urban populated area. My girlfriend can pick up around 25 channels, free and in HD, in her apartment. I do well to pick up about 7 at my house, but I don't watch a lot of TV other than NBC or FOX anyway. It has saved me about $90 a month!

I figure if it becomes and issue during football season, I can always subscribe to NFL Rewind if I wind up missing a game. But anyways, hulu and Netflix is just about everything you need as far as TV is concerned.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I really don’t want to do a whole separate HTPC at this point…. And after reading this:

[url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/207197/google_tv_vs_apple_tv_vs_roku_settop_box_smackdown.html]Google TV vs. Apple TV vs. Roku: Set-Top Box Smackdown | PCWorld[/url]


Im kind of leaning towards google tv. It sounds like it’s the next best thing to a a htpc set up with the big exception that hulu wont work on it. I like that the roku is cheap and has hulu, but I think id rather have full blown internet and no hulu. Maybe I get lucky and in the next few months hulu strikes a deal a google? Plus I have a droid and there is some integration and likely more in the future.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I live in Ricmond city so i should get most available stuff through a antenna. And my cable bill is about the exact same (91/month). Do you know if NFL rewind is only available through the internet, or do you know if i could get it with a Roku or something similar?

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=mlmpetert;803801]I live in Ricmond city so i should get most available stuff through a antenna. And my cable bill is about the exact same (91/month). Do you know if NFL rewind is only available through the internet, or do you know if i could get it with a Roku or something similar?[/quote]


Well, the NFL rewind is fairly new, so I'm not sure if you can get it through the Roku box or not. Honestly, I haven't checked since I don't use the Roku. I want to say that it's mainly an internet thing. BUT....if you do get Playon, you can play NFL Rewind through the Playon server onto a PS3 (or XBox 360.) I think the service is $50 a season...which isn't bad considering you can watch any NFL game you want to at any time (after the game has been played of course) and the games are all in HD.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Just checked the Playon website. The Roku box is supported by Playon which means you should be able to feed NFL Rewind through your Roku. Not a bad deal!

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Well i think the google tv option is out for me..... it doesnt really intergrate tv and web UNLESS you also have cable:

[url=http://simplygoogletv.com/2010/09/why-google-tv-may-not-work-for-you/]Why Google TV May Not Work for You | SimplyGoogleTV[/url]

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=mlmpetert;803816]Well i think the google tv option is out for me..... it doesnt really intergrate tv and web UNLESS you also have cable:

[URL="http://simplygoogletv.com/2010/09/why-google-tv-may-not-work-for-you/"]Why Google TV May Not Work for You | SimplyGoogleTV[/URL][/quote]


Did you read the comments section? I'm not sure how accurate that little piece was.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=skinsguy;803832]Did you read the comments section? I'm not sure how accurate that little piece was.[/quote]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Yeah there are kind of a couple ways to get around it but it requires buying something that costs as much as google tv (300ish) or flipping back and forth from inputs (which takes away from the integration whole point).[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also just read this (good comments here too):[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][URL="http://gigaom.com/video/google-tv-2-0-honeycomb-arm-android-market/"][COLOR=#670100]http://gigaom.com/video/google-tv-2-0-honeycomb-arm-android-market/[/COLOR][/URL][/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Which makes me want to wait anyway until other kinks are worked out, its possibly cheaper and its also made for people who don’t want to have cable.... It still sounds good, but perhaps a little rushed by google the first time around, hopefully theyll role out with something a little better later this year.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]So at this point im thinking the easy initial way to go for me is to start out trying apple tv or roku.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I have a Roku, love it

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=mlmpetert;803834][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Yeah there are kind of a couple ways to get around it but it requires buying something that costs as much as google tv (300ish) or flipping back and forth from inputs (which takes away from the integration whole point).[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also just read this (good comments here too):[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][URL="http://gigaom.com/video/google-tv-2-0-honeycomb-arm-android-market/"][COLOR=#670100]http://gigaom.com/video/google-tv-2-0-honeycomb-arm-android-market/[/COLOR][/URL][/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Which makes me want to wait anyway until other kinks are worked out, its possibly cheaper and its also made for people who don’t want to have cable.... It still sounds good, but perhaps a little rushed by google the first time around, hopefully theyll role out with something a little better later this year.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]So at this point im thinking the easy initial way to go for me is to start out trying apple tv or roku.[/FONT][/COLOR][/quote]

Yeah, I think the Roku is probably your best option.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I have seriously thought this out even bought some over the air antenna to see what I got.

My thought was OTA antenna on each TV, main TV gets PS3, add TIVO for DVR service, and Roku boxes on all the other little TV's.

What holds me back is sports, there is really no good live streaming sports. the lost of MASN, ESPN, Comcast Sports Net, etc... is the deal breaker.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Ive been a little slow with things, but i got the internet a couple weeks ago and i have a xbox 360 hooked up to the tv for pretty much just netflix. I got the 5/15 download upload speed which is fast enough to play around on your laptop (even videos) and have the netflix going on your tv.

I got a roku xds today so ill be playing with that tonight and tomorrow. Everything ive read about hulu plus seems to make it sound like hulu plus completely sucks. Anyone use playon to get hulu on their tv through a roku or something else? Like it? Use it for other stuff then just hulu?

After i get the roku situated ill be buying a hdtv antenna next. I havent decided if ill go with a outdoor unit or not yet. Im in the city so reception shouldnt be a concern but i already have coax cable running throughout my house so it wouldnt be but a hour maybe 2 to install a antenna......

On a personal note, the biggest change ive noticed is that unless I want to watch something in particular I don’t turn the tv on, its too much of a hassel to fire it up just to put a show on that you have to devote your full attention to since there are no commercials. I think that’s a plus since Im not just watching tv for the sake of watching tv. The major down side is that I havent really watched any news in over a month…. I really miss The Fox Report.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I've got Hulu plus through the Roku and it's great, no complaints. I also use Hulu plus on the iPad.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I heard that hulu plus on your tv has less content then regular hulu viewable from your computer?

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I will have to say Hulu Plus compared to Netflix streaming sucks. The ADs are awful it freezes up all the time. IT rarely saves my place if I stop a show mid way. It was just plain awful.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I got playon added to the Roku and it is the awesome. Definitely one of the best channels. Honestly when i first got the Roku i thought it kind of sucked; it was just a way to watch netflicks without firing up the xbox. Playon does what i thought the Roku was gonna do by itself, definitely a must add channel. The only thing that sucks about it is that you have to have your computer on when using it. Also all the channels within playon dont seem to be fully developed yet and aren’t always all that well categorized or can be difficult to navigate. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Matty do you have it? If so id like to know any differences between Hulu+ and the Hulu embedded in the playon.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I thought this was a good read for those thinking to switch. Comcast and company i nthe near future are going to make it harder and harder to pull this off, as long as they are also your internet provider.

[url=http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/08/technology/netflix_starz_contract/]Studios are starting to play hardball with Netflix - Jul. 11, 2011[/url]

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=mlmpetert;810206][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I got playon added to the Roku and it is the awesome. Definitely one of the best channels. Honestly when i first got the Roku i thought it kind of sucked; it was just a way to watch netflicks without firing up the xbox. Playon does what i thought the Roku was gonna do by itself, definitely a must add channel. The only thing that sucks about it is that you have to have your computer on when using it. Also all the channels within playon dont seem to be fully developed yet and aren’t always all that well categorized or can be difficult to navigate. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Matty do you have it? If so id like to know any differences between Hulu+ and the Hulu embedded in the playon.[/FONT][/COLOR][/quote]

No I don't, I'll have to check that out.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Not surprising, still cheaper than cable but certain to upset many people I'm sure

[url=http://mashable.com/2011/07/12/want-netflix-dvds-streaming-thatll-be-16-a-month/]Want Netflix DVDs & Streaming? That'll Be $16 a Month[/url]

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=SmootSmack;810492]Not surprising, still cheaper than cable but certain to upset many people I'm sure

[url=http://mashable.com/2011/07/12/want-netflix-dvds-streaming-thatll-be-16-a-month/]Want Netflix DVDs & Streaming? That'll Be $16 a Month[/url][/quote]

like this guy, i highly dout i will be using netflix much longer, and it seems like i'm not alone
[url=http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/12/7069809-thousands-threaten-to-quit-netflix?gt1=43001]Technolog from msnbc.com - Thousands threaten to quit Netflix[/url]

here's the email netflix sent me
[quote]We are separating unlimited DVDs by mail and unlimited streaming into two separate plans to better reflect the costs of each. Now our members have a choice: a streaming only plan, a DVD only plan, or both.

Your current $11.99 a month membership for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs (including Blu-ray access) will be split into 2 distinct plans:

Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month
Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs (including Blu-ray), 1 out at-a-time (no streaming)
for $9.99 a month

Your price for getting both of these plans will be $17.98 a month ($7.99 + $9.99). You don't need to do anything to continue your memberships for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs.

These prices will start for charges on or after September 1, 2011.

[/quote]

weeeeaaaaaaakkkkkkkk

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I've been using the streaming only option for a while now. I definitely won't be going back to discs with this price hike.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=Mattyk;810508]I've been using the streaming only option for a while now. I definitely won't be going back to discs with this price hike.[/quote]


For disk I have been using red box. Look it up on line reserve then go pick up, WIN! Only lost is when you are either picking up or returning some jack nut is there reading the description of ever movie and can't pick anything. So you are stuck behind him.

I love the folks who rent like 12 movies at one time, seriously you are going to watch all that in a night? Plus they are always saying it is only a buck why not.

ALSO! Redbox is now renting games as well!

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I use Amazon on demand through the Roku for movies. I'm really not a plan ahead kinda guy for what I want to watch.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=Mattyk;810534]I use Amazon on demand through the Roku for movies. I'm really not a plan ahead kinda guy for what I want to watch.[/quote]
$6 a movie no thanks.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=mredskins;810557]$6 a movie no thanks.[/quote]

I've never paid $6 for one, they are usually $2.99 or $3.99

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=Mattyk;810508]I've been using the streaming only option for a while now. I definitely won't be going back to discs with this price hike.[/quote]

Same here. I also use Amazon for anything new that I want.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=Mattyk;810574]I've never paid $6 for one, they are usually $2.99 or $3.99[/quote]
ok i see that now. sadly it won't run on xbox or ps3

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

i still don't understand why FRPLG and MAtty don't just use Red Box for a $1 a movie. You can check their inventories on-line reserve then go pick it up. I guess it depends where you live too and how close one is to you. I can walk to 3 of them.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

Simple, it's easier and quicker to use Amazon. The extra $2 doesn't bother me, and the nearest redbox for me is a 10 minute drive away. Not worth it to me.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=Mattyk;810601]Simple, it's easier and quicker to use Amazon. The extra $2 doesn't bother me, and the nearest redbox for me is a 10 minute drive away. Not worth it to me.[/quote]


Yeah if it was 10 minute drive i say F it too.

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I use Vudu or CinemaNow for my movies

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

[quote=SmootSmack;810649]I use Vudu or CinemaNow for my movies[/quote]


I am going to try Vudu on PS3, thanks!

Re: Making the Switch from Cable to just Internet
 

I [COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]ran across a article like this a few weeks ago:[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][URL="http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/03/15/netflix-future-contracts/"][COLOR=#670100]http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/03/15/netflix-future-contracts/[/COLOR][/URL][/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]So I guess Netflix didnt really have much choice. Im definitely switching to just streaming and either ordering from amazon, redbox or something else like vudo come September. [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also in regards to a thread i started a while back, albeit with some threadstarter’s remorse, there is a documentary streaming on netflicks about Ray Kurzweil and the singularity of machine intelligence. I havent watched the whole thing but it seems like an decent documentary and at least makes you think for those interested in checking it out. Also how long does content stay streaming? Will this documentary get replaced or does netflicks just add to their catalog?[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][URL]http://www.thewarpath.net/parking-lot/42096-judgement-day-t2-style.html[/URL][/FONT][/COLOR]
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