Dish just called to offer $500 921

[dbdsac]

I received an interesting call from a Dish CSR this evening offering me a 921 for $500 with free installation. I told him I was hesitent to take him up on the deal because of all the chatter about the inevitable conversion to MPEG-4. I told him I did not want to invest $500 into something that was going to be obsolete in 6 months (but then, I guess that's exactly what I do all the time with electronics!!).
At first he tried to tell me the 921 was "easily convertable" and the conversion "would be no problem", but then when I pushed him for details on exactly how Dish would "convert" the receiver when the time came, he backed off and said he wanted to do some research on this subject and asked if he could call me back tonight or tomorrow. I said, "sure."
Since I am not an "expert" on this MPEG-4 topic, I would like to ask you, the "experts"... Would you by a 921 today for $500 with free installation, knowing there is a change in format coming next year? :confused:

[David_Levin]

Hard to say...
But, historically, when has Dish EVER done anything based on an initially announce timeline?

Does the 942 have MPEG4 decoding (or a slot for a future module)? We're gonna need some mpeg4 capable boxes in the field for such a transition to occur.

We could also dream (hope, pray), that Dish does an pci mpeg4 card for the 921 (I wouldn't hold your breath though).

[ClaudeR]

I just had one put in today, but I got it for $200 along with the $500 TV - first time sub. For an OTA HD tuner and a 250 G drive, $200 is the sweet spot. I you could somehow get a first time deal - jump on it.

[Codeman00]

I just had one put in today, but I got it for $200 along with the $500 TV - first time sub. For an OTA HD tuner and a 250 G drive, $200 is the sweet spot. I you could somehow get a first time deal - jump on it.

You had "one what" put in? A 921?

[ehren]

he did the HDTV in a box thing with the tv and a 921.

[Mike123abc]

If Dish says 2005 they probably will end up at 2006-2007, given their extensive history of being late. If Dish were to unlock the 921 when they turn it into a doorstop, it would not be a bad OTA only recorder (of course I am assuming they actually will fix the OTA recording issues).

[SimpleSimon]

"For an OTA HD tuner and a 250 G drive, $200 is the sweet spot."

Sweet spot, hell. That's a huge loss leader. E* was making big bucks at $1K, but $550 is just about breakeven for the hardware.

I exclude the R & D and software support - it's value is less than zero.

[ehren]

I'll take one for $99 :D

[mindwarp]

Me too
They are charging for the same combo here in PR $1000
And if it wasn't for my wife that would kill me I would have taken it

[jerbroni]

I got this call last night as well. I offered the guy $250 for it. ;) He replied that the receivers MSRP was $999 and he was already offering me 50% off for 'state of the art' technology. I told him no thanks.

[zboyblue]

I was offered one for $349 today but I would be getting new service. Don't know if that means anything to anyone but the woman used to words "we want to get rid of them".

Craig

[BFG]

Wow I would've probably grabbed one for $349, but anything $500 and above is a no for me

[red hazard]

I received an interesting call from a Dish CSR this evening offering me a 921 for $500 with free installation.

I would be interested in saving $49 on a 921. Since apparently most folks have not received such a call, could you tell us what programming packages you subscribed to and what receiver models you owned when the call was made?

I wonder if one could even get it cheaper if the skipped the free install. In any event I would rather install it myself.

I'm not worried about MPEG-4 implementation. If the receiver is to become obsolete then E* best provide equivalent replacements for next to nothing if they don't want mass defections to D*.

[wcswett]

Wow I would've probably grabbed one for $349, but anything $500 and above is a no for me

For $350 I'd replace one of my 6000's or my 721 with a 921, but I doubt anyone's going to call current 921 owners and get that earfull. :)

--- WCS