How much is HIGH DEF and D* worth to you??

[mphinne2]

Ok buyers remorse may be kicking in here. I currently have Time warner cable, with 4 rooms, 1 reg reciever, 1 reg DVR, 1 high def, and 1 high def DVR. I get 3 of the 4 networks in high def.

I ordered a Direct tv 4 room set up/ non HDTV with 2 regular recievers and 2 direct tivo's. No high def at all. I can still cancel this if I want tommorow.

From my research I have found that without HDTV I save $30 a month with D*. With HDTV I save about $20. This doesn't count equiptment cost, without HDTV I end up breaking even with freebies and rebates. With HDTV I end up having to kick in an extra $300 for the equipment.

I just haven't found my self watching that much HDTV yet, so I'm just not sure if it is worth the extra every month to stay with Time Warner. What do you all think?? Is Direct TV better than Time Warner, am I being stoopid to even consider leaving Cable???

Thanks for any help!

[bgall]

I personally would never go with D* for high def or DVRs because I don't like the idea of paying upfront costs for receivers that will only work with that company and the way they were made.

[miniz]

Originally posted by bgall
I personally would never go with D* for high def or DVRs because I don't like the idea of paying upfront costs for receivers that will only work with that company and the way they were made.
why is this different then any other provider?

[bgall]

D* is the only company that makes you buy DVRs and HD STBS.

Cable, Dish, and Voom all lease their STBs. And Dish and Voom rent their boxes for the same price the people who own boxes will be paying in mirror fees anyways, so their lease plans are basically free.

[mphinne2]

I guess thats sort of true, but I got 2 reg receivers, and 2 tivo receivers, dish, splitter, and instalation for $116. $50 rebate, and $75 in free HBO and Cinemax, so really its just for the year commitment, and after that I own it, so I'd assume I could probably get much more than I paid for the equipment back after my commitment expired. That is of course not counting the HD box if I want to buy that.

[CSNHottie]

I love my D*, switching from cable was one of the best decisions of my life, but when I do get an HDTV, I am kicking DirecTV to the curb and going back to Comcast. D* is a much bigger ripoff (compared to HD offered in my area), and I would consider VOOM over D* first

[miniz]

Originally posted by bgall
D* is the only company that makes you buy DVRs and HD STBS.

Cable, Dish, and Voom all lease their STBs. And Dish and Voom rent their boxes for the same price the people who own boxes will be paying in mirror fees anyways, so their lease plans are basically free.
They also don't own the STB's, which means they can't sell them. You have to pay to get the best. Ever wonder why DirecTV is the home of the best HD DVR on the market, or has awesome HD receivers? It costs money to develope the best, the free after rebate deals DirecTV offers is much better then renting from another provider.

[WILDCAT NATION]

Just my opinion, but I haven't had cable in like 7 years, and if I can help it, will never, ever go back...ever.

I like the fact that I'm not paying high rental fees and lining the pockets of a cable company that couldn't care less about customer service...I can take my satellite reception with me to football tailgates, etc. with very little effort....and I rarely, RARELY lose reception..whereas, with cable, I was always losing reception...

D* is cheaper, better, and more convenient (no "we'll be there between 12 and 5 on Monday)..I do all my own work.

I just recently got HD, and I will end up paying about 35 bucks out of pocket for everything I needed...real expensive...:)

Their programming is just going to get better..especially HD...I can't go wrong...

[GScott]

Originally posted by bgall
D* is the only company that makes you buy DVRs and HD STBS.

Cable, Dish, and Voom all lease their STBs. And Dish and Voom rent their boxes for the same price the people who own boxes will be paying in mirror fees anyways, so their lease plans are basically free.

You're right cable just charges a much larger DVR fee. Compare Insight which charges about $12/month to lease a DVR to DirecTV who charges $4.95 a month with about $60 upfront for the hardware. Hmmm...Who is costing me more long term?

[miniz]

D* also charges by the account for Tivo. $4.95 no matter if you have 1 or 6. Cable charges around $12.95 per DVR, so does E* (but less).

[grendyl]

D* is not cheaper in some areas. I figure the average product life cycle of DVRs is 4 years being generous. If you break up the 900 bucks of the HD-D* Tivo over 48 months, it comes out to roughly 19 bucks a month (this is not counting lost interest, etc for paying the 1k all up front) When you add in the tivo fee, that's roughly $24 a month (not including the HD + service plan fees), which is more than what my cable company charges for DVR + HD + free replacements & service. And they are coming out with a new model next year that I can trade this one in for. Even if they charge 5 bucks extra a month for the new stuff, I am still ahead. In my case, cable is a better deal cost-wise.