Is a CableCard slot important?

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I am using a CableCard with my Sony LCD RP HDTV. Compared to an HD digital
cable box, I find that the CableCard produces a slightly better HD picture
(from stupendous to really stupendous!) and a significantly better SD
picture. And it's convenient to be able to use your TV's tuner, remote etc.
to tune channels, rather than dealing with a cable box.

Downsides: CableCards are now one-way. So, if you use pay-per-view or
I-control movies or other two-way cable company offerings, you have to have
a box. (We never use those, so don't miss them.) Also, the cable companies
are not really up to speed with CableCard yet and because of the one-way
thing, not very enthusiastic about them, so you can anticipate problems
dealing with them.

If you have a CableCard slot you can still choose to use a box if you want
to. But without it, you have to use a box.

mack
austin


"TommyD Doe@com cast.net>" <tom<> wrote in message
news:r3Uod.453387$D%.85859@attbi_s51...
> I'm looking at several DLP sets. The're all very close. Only two have
> CableCard slots. Is the card important enough to eliminate the Toshiba
52"
> DLP?
> I saw the Toshiba at Best Buy and thought the picture was excellent.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 04:25:59 GMT, "TommyD" <tom<>Doe@com<>cast.net>
wrote:

>I'm looking at several DLP sets. The're all very close. Only two have
>CableCard slots. Is the card important enough to eliminate the Toshiba 52"
>DLP?

The cablecard slot is nice but I wouldn't personally rule out
purchasing a TV and settling for one that doesn't have the picture
quality but has a cable card slot in it. I get all these customers
who are excited about getting rid of the box and just plugging in the
card instead but when it gets down to it.... that's just one box
eliminated (*IF* the providers in your area are offering a card yet).

Until the cable card "thing" evolves to the point that it has DVR, DVD
recorder, PPV, etc., I wouldn't consider it to be a *major* selling
point that people who want basic cable or basic satellite can
eliminate *ONE* little box if the TV without the cable card slot
otherwise has everything you've ever wanted in a TV and more.

We all know the day will come where a box will not be needed at all
and we're going to be able to watch TV in some DPI format that will
make HD look like analog looks to us now. We may not even need a
remote... perhaps we'll be able to project our thoughts toward the TV
and it will do exactly what we wish.

In the meantime, if you don't like the TV's picture but it has a cable
card slot but the other TV without one has everything you are looking
for (but you don't like the idea of one more box).... my advice is to
hide the box, buy a $150 universal remote that actually works the way
you wish a universal remove would.... buy the TV with the best
picture. Just another 2 cents from just another guy :-)

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"HDTV-slingr" <NOSPAMMERS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ee98q0pama8pn707e9lh5h5lhvk1ik5g9i@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 04:25:59 GMT, "TommyD" <tom<>Doe@com<>cast.net>
> wrote:
>
> >I'm looking at several DLP sets. The're all very close. Only two have
> >CableCard slots. Is the card important enough to eliminate the Toshiba
52"
> >DLP?
>
> The cablecard slot is nice but I wouldn't personally rule out
> purchasing a TV and settling for one that doesn't have the picture
> quality but has a cable card slot in it. I get all these customers
> who are excited about getting rid of the box and just plugging in the
> card instead but when it gets down to it.... that's just one box
> eliminated (*IF* the providers in your area are offering a card yet).

CableCard, just based on my experience, gives you more than just "one box
eliminated". It also gives you an improvement in picture quality, at least
with my TV. And your ability to use certain features of your TV -- such as
the "favorites" menu -- with the cable offerings may be of value as well. I
think the main drawback right now is the lack of two-way service, for those
who use it.

mack
austin

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

In article <psf9q0dprd65krummjo5i3if8m44b62rdt@4ax.com>,
NOSPAMMERS@hotmail.com says...
> On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 15:14:59 GMT, "Mack McKinnon"
> <MckinnonRemoveThis@tvadmanDeleteThisAsWell.com> wrote:
>
> >> The cablecard slot is nice but I wouldn't personally rule out
> >> purchasing a TV and settling for one that doesn't have the picture
> >> quality but has a cable card slot in it. I get all these customers
> >> who are excited about getting rid of the box and just plugging in the
> >> card instead but when it gets down to it.... that's just one box
> >> eliminated (*IF* the providers in your area are offering a card yet).
> >
> >CableCard, just based on my experience, gives you more than just "one box
> >eliminated". It also gives you an improvement in picture quality, at least
> >with my TV.
>
> Ah, interesting. The providers in my area do not offer the cablecard
> service yet, so I haven't had the chance to compare PQ with, vs.
> without. Thanks.

Perhaps the cablecard, being newer than *your* box, amounted to a PQ
upgrade. Perhaps using a box that is newer than *your* cable card, will
again result in better PQ.

ie... perhaps PQ boost is a result of the software/firmware in the unit,
and not the units form-factor as box or cablecard.