[Grovenet] Here's a little more on the DTV (Not to be confused with HDTV ! ! ! ! )

[Katie Allnutt]

Someday, they will make a high def, widescreen digital TV with a  
built in Blue Ray read/write programmable recorder that will stay on  
for more than 4 hours if need be.
If they ever do that we should write a law to standardize to that one  
format and let the technology settle for a while.  (I know, there's  
no chance.)

In the mean time it would be nice if the electronic industry set one  
standard for rechargeable battery cords and the little plugs on the  
ends. Where is the right cord when you need it?!

Katie
Could I ask that some of this stuff be made in the USA and not be  
thought of as a crank?


On Mar 31, 2008, at 3:33 PM, Bob Browning wrote:

>
> Crave
> A Blog from CNET
> Mar 31 2008
> Don't sign up for your $40 DTV converter box coupon--yet
>
> Matthew Moskovciak
> The DTV transition is less than a year away and as of January 1,  
> 2008, Americans have been eligible to sign up for a $40 coupon to  
> help purchase DTV converter boxes needed to receive new digital TV  
> signals. While your instincts may tell you to sign up as quickly as  
> possible, there's a strong argument to be made to hold off for a  
> little while. Here's why:
>
> 1. The coupon expires in three months
> If you carefully read you the FAQ on the government's Web site, the  
> program clearly states that the $40 coupons expire three months  
> after they're shipped. That's unfortunate because we're guessing  
> many people don't think much of it, and are just trying to sign up  
> before they forget. Now you're forced into getting whatever DTV  
> boxes that are currently on the market, even though...
>
> 2. Better, cheaper boxes are coming
> None of the DTV converter boxes we've seen so far are available for  
> $40 yet, which means you'll need to kick in some real American  
> dollars in addition to your coupon. Echostar is planning on  
> releasing a $40 converter box, the TR-40, but it won't come out  
> until this summer--so if you already have your coupon, you probably  
> won't be able to get it. That wouldn't be so bad, except that the  
> Echostar TR-40 looks like it's going to be substantially better  
> than current models, offering a full EPG and program search  
> functionality. Even if the Echostar device isn't everything it's  
> cracked up to be...
>
> 3. Current models will get cheaper
> This is just an educated guess, but don't be surprised if all of  
> the current DTV converter boxes currently going for $50 to $60  
> suddenly drop to $40 once the Echostar TR-40 comes out. It will be  
> near impossible for the other boxes to compete with free, so  
> they'll be forced to sell for $40, which means it essentially free  
> to consumers with a coupon.
>
> The main counterargument against waiting is that if you wait too  
> long, it's possible that the government's coupon program will run  
> out of money. That's definitely something to consider, as there are  
> only 22.25 million coupons available. After those are used up, an  
> additional 11.25 million coupons will become available, but only to  
> households that solely use analog over-the-air TV (no cable,  
> satellite, Fios, and so on). So if you're worried that you're not  
> going to get a coupon at all, you can play it safe and sign up now.  
> But it's probably a pretty safe bet that the current coupon program  
> won't run dry during the next couple months, and you'll get more  
> out of that $40 coupon.
>
> DTV transition resources
>
> CNET's Quick Guide to the DTV transition
> DTV Coupon Program
> FAQ: What the digital switch actually means
> Antenna Web: Find what digital signals you can receive
>
>
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> by xaxain March 31, 2008 8:40 AM
> I was at walmart this weekend and they had 2 units both of them  
> were $40. One was an RCA unit and I can't remember what the other  
> unit was but, I have seen then for $40.
> by Improviz March 31, 2008 2:57 PM
> Every discussion or story about the DTV conversion should state, in  
> bold letters right at the beginning: IF YOU HAVE CABLE OR SATELLITE  
> THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU. YOU WILL NOT NEED A CONVERTER. This ONLY  
> applies to people who get their TV over the air from an antenna. I  
> don't know anyone who doesn't have at least basic cable. I realize  
> there are parts of the country, like the 9th Ward in New Orleans,  
> that are maybe not wired for cable. And maybe economically  
> disadvantaged people do not have cable. But really, responsible  
> journalism demands that you try to stop a huge wave of people  
> running out and buying these who don't need them and can't use them  
> if they do buy them.
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