Like a lot of other people, Les Jones realized that he was paying a lot of money for a lot of cable channels that the family just wasn't using. As part of an austerity program at Casa Jones, the cable got the axe. (Er, metaphorically. They just had a guy come out and unhook it; they didn't actually take a Gränsfors Bruks to the set top box.)
In comments, Les reveals that:
Originally we were going to get rid of the Internet for a while, too...
Okay, yeah, see, that’s just crazy talk right there. The internet isn't a luxury, it's a
utility.
Keep your priorities straight: I mean, you can order bottled water from the internet, but you can’t get books out of your faucet.
.
Much as I want to argue with you over that, I just can't. We're addicted to the internet the same way we're addicted to air...
ReplyDeleteFunny...I just now finished buying a Roku XS from Amazon myself before I pulled your blog up.
ReplyDeleteGoing to see how it performs before I cut the cable. Which may not be an option given that wifey has a vote, too. But we'll see.
I'd get lynched.
ReplyDeleteJust came back from Costco where they're selling Roku boxes with two free months of Hulu...and some kind of bird-game thing. Never had cable so I don't miss it - all the Teevee delivers here is free over-air broadcast, I'll never *pay* for that.
ReplyDeleteGot the Roku 2 XS with the ethernet port so I could plug it into the gigabit network I had equipped by house with years earlier. (Gotta save the wifi spectrum for things that can't have ethernet.)
ReplyDeleteWithin 2 months, DirectTV got the axe.
The kids were sucking up with bandwidth with the Roku, so I had to upgrade the internet service. Upgraded from 1.5mbps to 12mpbs, and what with one thing or another, I ended up paying less per month.
The new VDSL modem had more firewall and network functions built in, so I could retire the FreeBSD system I was running for that purpose. Saved 130 Watts of continuous electricity usage and I could fit it all in the electronics closet with the household switch and wireless access point.
We don't have a Hulu account at this time, but we've saved enough from eliminating the previous expenses that we'd still be well ahead to do that as well.
So, spending less money, getting better entertainment, on our terms, using less electricity and have more total bandwidth... all started with the Roku.
Netflix and network tv sites. That's all the movie/show access I need. Haven't had cable or sat in years.
ReplyDeleteI should check with Comcast and see if it's still actually cheaper to get TV+Internet than Internet alone.
ReplyDeleteI've never actually connected the TV to the cable.
i have a cable modem and get all my electronic stuff bundled through the local company. the internet is way faster than DSL and cheaper. what is this TV you speak of?
ReplyDeleteWell, actually since I quit blogging I've found I don't waste near as much time on the 'puter like I used to.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I still need it for 'business' (the one career I have left, that is), but in terms of entertainment I still use Direct TV and various DVD's.
Being a 'rural' person 'cable' and all that other 'high-speed' stuff could only be myth as far as we are concerned because unless Netflix comes in the snail mail box, it ain't possible...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
In many markets, you can get bare bones basic cable for less than $10 added to your cable modem service.
ReplyDeleteLocal channels, community access garbage, cspan, and maybe the news channels.
Just enough TV to get to the news when the weather decides your neighbors' double-wides need flying lessons.
And thanks to you I now want a Gränsfors Bruks Bearded axe for the paltry price of $375 roughly.
ReplyDeleteI own several Gransfors Bruks implements top quality do yourself a favor spend the money
ReplyDelete