Comcast Sued Again Over Forced Equipment Leases > Why?

reply to Chris 313

Re: Why?

reply to dadkins
Why would I want to buy a Tivo when I have a media PC? Tivo isn't even close to as flexible when it comes to software or storage options.

I have three(3) media PCs - I know what you are saying.
But to get the non-ClearQAM channels - you have to pay.
Now, you can choose the $3.00(?) for a cable card, or the $5.99(?) for a cable box.
*OR*...
You can a free box like I did with the triple play.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera

The problem is that I can't use a cable card in my Media PC. The cable companies have conspired with the tuner companies to prevent them from selling the tuners that accept cable cards to PC users unless they buy a new PC with limitations built in.

reply to SLD
What does being able to purchase a box and a locked down PC have to do with the same argument at hand?

The market place is already freed up.. that happened on a hot July day. However, there's no flood of box makers out there rushing to WalMart to sell them is there?

My understanding is that HP makes a cable card enabled Media Center PC.. you're still going to function no different than a Tivo.

I don't think that the law states you have to offer a box with two way services such as OnDemand and even the guide function.. it said that they had to offer a secondary access system, which is cable card.. and people have that now.

So we're not seeing a lawsuit over box purchases becuase that's possible now.. NOW people want the cable box so they can own the one that gives you the "crappy OnDemand" that "never works".. I just see this suit as nothing more than a "cash grab" for some.. Hmmm.. wonder where that came from.

And personally, I'd like to find a way to stop the idiot that's pushing this.. becuase in the end, HIS quest and desire to make 15 minutes of fame will ultimately cost the rest of us MORE money in the future when the industry figures out how to lash back.. maybe more fee's for truck rolls, higher installation costs, outlet mirror fees.. you name it..

reply to SLD
Those DAMN conspiracies!!! Yea.. I remember when Windows MediaCenter Edition was only available on new computers from authorized retailers too.. and now you can buy it anywhere you want..

.. funny how that works.

As with MCE itself, they initially launched the software the same as they are the CC tuners. They did so in order to ensure that the correct hardware was being used so that the software worked as predicted. I think MS has a right to want to ensure that their software is used according to specs so that the idiot geeks that try to run it on underpowered hardware don't bash the company for "building a POS o/s"... Well, I think that the CC tuner is the same way, for now. ATI has them but ship only with authorized partner's computers, at this time. Since they just came out in a relatively recent amount of time, I believe if you just wait a little bit, like everything else related, they will be available on the open market.

There's one mentality, today, that I just don't get.. and that's the "I'm entitled" mentality that makes people believe they're always entitled to have what they want, when they want, and HOW they want and it's some how a "god given right".. I REALLY love the radio that GM uses in their vehicles. It was well thought out.. you can have AM/FM/XM all on the same soft presets.. user interface is pretty easy to get to.. I like it! So damn it! I want to buy one and put it in my Ford truck.. maybe I should sue and make them offer it to me in my Ford as well, right? That's just one of many examples I can make.. just becuase something is made on the market doesn't mean that it's going to be available the way YOU want it.. to this date, you can't get an iPhone on any network other than ATT in the U.S., and you can't buy NFL Sunday Ticket unless you're on DirecTV.

As the song says.. "you can't always get what you want..."

reply to SLD
Neither can I... and I wouldn't expect to either.
Scrambled is scrambled.
To de-scramble, you need a device to de-scramble the programming.

No one is forcing anyone to pay for a service.
The same no ones are not forcing anyone to rent a box(or card) to de-scramble the not forced service.

Since I want to watch a service that I choose to pay for, and they have a requirement for me to use a specific device to enable the service - *I* choose to use their box.

Now, since I am on a HD Triple Play package, the box is free!
So is the HD programming.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera

reply to SLD
Mmm, 2TB of storage

Used to have a media center PC. If I wanted to do DVR stuff I'd much rather use some sort of PC for it than otherwise. Too bad the whole "rent a cable box" thing doesn't work that out too well. Funny, since DVRs are expensive and it probably takes the cable companies for-freking-ever to amortize them. Why not open it up? The added competition might bring cableco prices down on their equipment.

This is kind of like renting telephones form AT&T. Now lok at all the awesome home phones you can get...buy, not rent.

reply to fiberguy

reply to fiberguy
Let's just nationalize the cable companies and get it over with. Maybe Big Ed would like to run those once GM is planted six feet under.

rant rant rant rant.

Cut the cable. You'll feel better and live longer.

You know what Doc,.. I actually agree with what you're saying.. believe it or not.

What I don't understand, is simple.. TV, no matter WHO provides it, remains a luxury. (Except OTA) If people are going to get THAT worked up over television that they have to sue, or nitpick over how much power a box consumes, or any other "issue" other than getting the service you pay for, then really.. get rid of TV. There are FAR better things to do with one's time than let something like television get people so worked up.

I believe if someone wants something, they should pay for it.. if it's not priced where they want it.. don't take it.. sooner or later, if enough people exercise that option, they'll get it. But, at the same time, if I pay $50 a month, or $200 a month, I DO expect it at least works as advertised and/or they make an HONEST effort to make it work correctly. ALL providers have the ability to make what they sell work correctly if they apply themselves and care.

But, if I can't get what I'm paying for.. it's going to head out the door. Believe it or not, I too have had some choice words with Comcast.. and you knowing what you do about me, trust me, it wasn't pretty in the end, but I won and they complied. I had an issue with my service as well and it ended up being "escalated to the government level".. and by all methods, a CSR actually did the escalation with out me even knowing.

But anyway.. especially in this economy, CUT THE CORD! There's better things to do with that money.. and that includes NOT buying converter boxes...

reply to cdru
Okay, you're REALLY stretching here in an attempt to invalidate my points..

iPhone first: No, they are not MADE for T-mobile and HACKING a phone doesn't count.. even hacked they still don't function correctly as intended. Enough said. MY POINT was that in CONTEXT of this discussion, people are wanting to buy THE SAME ITEM that cable has for themselves. MY point is that they don't have to allow that. Same as you can't for apple to make the iPhone for you to buy and use how ever you want.

As for the car analogy, no.. you're wrong.. it was RIGHT on point! Again, I wanted that very radio MADE BY FORD to be MADE AVAILABLE TO ME FOR PURCHASE so that I can use it in my ford as I WANTED it.. but, they don't ... the radio doesn't fit.. The POINT is proper.. it's simple.. just becuase the customer WANTS something, doesn't mean they are entitled to it.

What people are asking is that a company, Motorola here, to make the very box they sell the cable company be made available for them to purchase.. and there is no law that requires it.

The market was opened up.. I don't see a flood of action on the electronics manufactures to stock store shelves with them.

And quite trying to make your point sound better by using words like "inferior" etc.. it doesn't work for you at all. There are good products, there are INCREDIBLE products and then some that are inferior, as you are saying here.. either way, they are an item that works.. inferior is a relative term. You're comparing the box to someone else's box, such as Tivo probably which is available to you, OR your own opinion - which is irrelevant.

The boxes they provide to you work and do the job they are supposed to. They tune to a channel, they provide you the video.. that's all. If satellite provides you a better box, guess what? .. that's competition working for you.. exercise that option in a competitive market place.

Laws don't speak about "inferior" devices.. never will. And as for ATT, it's fine that you want to violate the terms of service in so many levels.. but when we're talking about right and wrong, my arguments/side will always go based on facts, not feelings and not work-arounds.

reply to fiberguy
Yep. And DirecTV does what cable TV does for half the price. Plus, I don't have the random outages (you know, 70 degrees and sunny, nothing but snow on the tee vee) that Comcast is famous for here.

OTA rulez, cable drools.

reply to fiberguy

reply to SLD

Re: Why?

reply to dadkins

reply to joebdragon