lee635
05-16-02, 11:26 AM
The reasons are not what you might think. We experienced no problems or errors...Just read on.
First, we've had a simple model 3000 since 1997, what an exquisitely designed piece of function. We had a brief affair with Charter digital cable a year or so ago, liked getting analog channels on all TVs, but hated the electronic program guide -- very colorful and busy, top half of the screen is advertisements, bottom half is crammed with channel info in a font so small we had to walk up to the TV to read it, and only one hour at a time. Also, the remote had way too many buttons just for TV.
Well we bought a used 7200 that arrived yesterday. Hooked up and called E* to transfer the account. During setup you can't just type in your zip code using the number keys, you have to navigate an onscreen keyboard with the arrow keys and first backspace the existing zip code away, then pick out your numbers on the keyboard, I knew this was a bad sign.
HATE the program guide -- Top half of the screen is a tiny useless box that shows what's on the channel you were watching, bottom half of the screen is once again crammed with very difficult to read program info and the worst choice of colors for fonts and backgrounds. On the 3000, you have to wait for the guide to load as you travel out into the future on the epg, but it usually loads all the programs. With the 7200 even the current programs included about 2 out of 5 that said info not available.
The thing reeks of microsoft -- press the wrong button and it does nothing but make a stupid windowslike error tone. Not an intuitive product. While watching a show with a 3000, you can press the right arrow key to see the time, time left on this program, channel and name of the program overlayed over the screen (doesn't cause the screen to get minimized), and if you press the left arrow key again you can see what's up next. And you can use the up and down arrows to see what's on other channels. Well the 7200 just gives that idiot tone. If you want to browse, you're subjected to a tiny window to watch your program and that dreadful program guide.
Also, the 7200 uses boxes like "done" and "continue" so you have to use the arrow keys on the remote to navigate the active button then press go. There is no "exit" or "cancel" key on the remote that I could find.
Also, the model 3000 always does something when you press a button on the remote. With the 7200 a button may do one thing while watching a program but will do nothing or something different when browsing the guide.
Also, I guess because we picked it up used, the record function was crippled, clearly another bow to microsoft tactics. So when you push the record button, a new screen comes up telling you to subscribe to webtv and you have to navigate to the "done" button" then press go to get back to your program. Noticed it doesn't just give you the idiot tone on that mistaken keystroke. And that webtv logo has got to go.
And what's up with the smart card slot in the front of the unit, you can't close the door with the card in????? At least they put another slot in the back, but that's got ot be a PITA if you have to slip the card out and back in at 3 in the morning.
The wife and I discussed the thing. We figured one of us could probably sweet talk a CSR into activating the record features for free till June of next year. But we decided that the guide was a deal breaker, not the lack of record features. the same thing that caused us to cancel cable after a month.
And the guide issue isnt' just anE* problem. We've looked at new D* receivers and noticed the same thing with the guides. It looks all cool in the store with lots of colors and channel logos. But we're thinkning about getting the thing home and kicking back in his and hers easy chairs after a couple of Miller High Lifes trying to deal with all that busyness and the small fonts...We're gonna miss our venerable old 3000 when they force us to decommission it.
Finally, for all you 7200 owners, I was surprised how hot the unit was after only a couple of hours. I strongly suspect that some of the vram errors, and so forth result from overheating. I'd have rigged a fan into my entertainment center if we'd kept the unit.
First, we've had a simple model 3000 since 1997, what an exquisitely designed piece of function. We had a brief affair with Charter digital cable a year or so ago, liked getting analog channels on all TVs, but hated the electronic program guide -- very colorful and busy, top half of the screen is advertisements, bottom half is crammed with channel info in a font so small we had to walk up to the TV to read it, and only one hour at a time. Also, the remote had way too many buttons just for TV.
Well we bought a used 7200 that arrived yesterday. Hooked up and called E* to transfer the account. During setup you can't just type in your zip code using the number keys, you have to navigate an onscreen keyboard with the arrow keys and first backspace the existing zip code away, then pick out your numbers on the keyboard, I knew this was a bad sign.
HATE the program guide -- Top half of the screen is a tiny useless box that shows what's on the channel you were watching, bottom half of the screen is once again crammed with very difficult to read program info and the worst choice of colors for fonts and backgrounds. On the 3000, you have to wait for the guide to load as you travel out into the future on the epg, but it usually loads all the programs. With the 7200 even the current programs included about 2 out of 5 that said info not available.
The thing reeks of microsoft -- press the wrong button and it does nothing but make a stupid windowslike error tone. Not an intuitive product. While watching a show with a 3000, you can press the right arrow key to see the time, time left on this program, channel and name of the program overlayed over the screen (doesn't cause the screen to get minimized), and if you press the left arrow key again you can see what's up next. And you can use the up and down arrows to see what's on other channels. Well the 7200 just gives that idiot tone. If you want to browse, you're subjected to a tiny window to watch your program and that dreadful program guide.
Also, the 7200 uses boxes like "done" and "continue" so you have to use the arrow keys on the remote to navigate the active button then press go. There is no "exit" or "cancel" key on the remote that I could find.
Also, the model 3000 always does something when you press a button on the remote. With the 7200 a button may do one thing while watching a program but will do nothing or something different when browsing the guide.
Also, I guess because we picked it up used, the record function was crippled, clearly another bow to microsoft tactics. So when you push the record button, a new screen comes up telling you to subscribe to webtv and you have to navigate to the "done" button" then press go to get back to your program. Noticed it doesn't just give you the idiot tone on that mistaken keystroke. And that webtv logo has got to go.
And what's up with the smart card slot in the front of the unit, you can't close the door with the card in????? At least they put another slot in the back, but that's got ot be a PITA if you have to slip the card out and back in at 3 in the morning.
The wife and I discussed the thing. We figured one of us could probably sweet talk a CSR into activating the record features for free till June of next year. But we decided that the guide was a deal breaker, not the lack of record features. the same thing that caused us to cancel cable after a month.
And the guide issue isnt' just anE* problem. We've looked at new D* receivers and noticed the same thing with the guides. It looks all cool in the store with lots of colors and channel logos. But we're thinkning about getting the thing home and kicking back in his and hers easy chairs after a couple of Miller High Lifes trying to deal with all that busyness and the small fonts...We're gonna miss our venerable old 3000 when they force us to decommission it.
Finally, for all you 7200 owners, I was surprised how hot the unit was after only a couple of hours. I strongly suspect that some of the vram errors, and so forth result from overheating. I'd have rigged a fan into my entertainment center if we'd kept the unit.