Comcast dvr

[Novice]

Comcast yesterday announced testing of new equipment including dvr capable settop boxes. Anyone familiar with this, including potential pricing etc.

My plan so far is to go with d* but have a couple of reservations - is the picture as sharp as comcast digital ( I have a 60" Mitsubishi diamond tv). I use pip when sports are on, is this at all feasible with current set or should I wait for new dvr, possibly the new Samsung?? I really am on the fence, do you advise waiting for Xmas promos?? Thanks for any responses,

[Nightfall]

I recently switched from Comcast cable to Directv so I hope my figures and experiences work for you.

I was paying $57 a month for basic digital cable with one receiver. I know the Comcast PVR is coming out soon, but they are charging $10 a month for the service. If I want 3 TVs hooked up to digital cable with one of them being the PVR, I would have paid $72 a month. The analog signal is crap compared to Directv. However, the digital signal seems to be right on par.

With Directv, I get much more. Pricing it out with their Total Choice plus, locals, Tivo Service, and 2 extra receivers costs me $55 and that is for a totally clear picture on three televisions. In addition, I can upgrade the Directivo for more recording time. Another plus. I am paying $70 right now for the NFL Sunday Ticket and the total choice premier which is a killer deal

I have a Sony Trinitron Wega 36 inch TV in my living room and that is the biggest I have. I can tell you that I have a friend who has a 55 inch Toshiba projection TV and the analog cable channels sucked with Comcast. He switched to Directv and it was a night and day difference. I am not kidding.

It all just depends on what your cable system is like quality wise and what it is priced out in your area. Take a look at the bottom line price of both Comcast and Directv. Take into consideration all the rooms you want hooked up and what package you would like to get. Good luck!

[MMcKaibab]

I just returned my Comcast DVR today and went back to basic cable. The Scientific Atlanta DVR is certainly no TiVO. The navigation is crude, at best. The equivalent of TiVo's Season Pass is incredibly limited: if you want to record Judging Amy you get ALL eps of Judging Amy; there's no way to record only first run eps. There is NO To Do list so there's no way to cancel recording of a single ep while still getting other eps.

I did like the ability to record 2 things at once (or watch one show while recording a second) and the ability to get the East Coast feed of HBO. I also liked the HBO on Demand feature--when it worked, which was only about 50% of the time. But all in all, it really wasn't worth the extra $40/month Comcast wants for the digital cable and the box.

As soon as DirecTV makes local channels available I'll probably get rid of Comcast entirely.

[tomokun]

ComCast of NJ is getting the MOXI media center!

[pez2002]

what market are you In

[DS0816]

My aunt in Fort Collins, Colorado -- part of the Denver market -- asked me in mid-December to do some research for her on satellite. Not only did I send her information on DirecTV and Dish Network, I also included info on her local Comcast provider. (She doesn't have a home computer let alone not going on the Internet.) She currently pays for analog cable -- no premiums included -- $41 (covering $37 or $38 for monthly fee and franchise and miscellaneous fees for 66 individual channels, 40something of which are truly cable and not locals and accesses). If she went digital cable -- which would give her Turner Classic Movies! (can you believe it!) -- she'd have to pay $51 for digital cable basic (no premiums; this includes rental box). Cost of rental box for additional receivers is, I believe, $5 or $6 a month. I gave her info without stating what I think she do -- even though I know what she oughta do. (Currently, her cable is paid a year in advance -- so she can get the last two months free that helps to lower, in the long run, her average monthly fee.)