Comcast Sued (Again) For Cable Box Rentals > For what

For what

Situation A: We can buy cable boxes.

A DVR box will cost $300-400 bucks; which, over time, is of less cost than paying the $15/month (or whatever operators charge). But, if the technology changes (IE smart-card boxes, tru-2 way, maybe new whole home DVR box functions), then it will be up to the consumer to have to buy new equipment? I dont see anyone putting up that type of investment for a changing technology.

Also, lets say we can buy boxes, and a house has one box for one TV. And that box breaks down. Is it the responsibilty of the cable operator to credit the time without TV, or the manufacturer of the equipment? When the cable controls it, yes its a bit more expensive, but you can now just call your cable company with any problems; not have to slice and dice responsiblilty.

Remember, cable OPs buy their equipment in bulk. The price per box would go up if sold individually; and may lead to contracts with cable operators.

I dont think any major operator would mind losing the box expense; i cant even imagine how many boxes they rent out that never get returned, that are a direct loss for them.

Situation B: We can only rent boxes.

We will always have the most up to date, compatible equipment, supplied and troubleshot by one company.

The bad news is that this is more expensive over time. The all mighty dollar. Pay a few bucks more fot that convenience? Or just sue any major cable operator for as much money as you can.

reply to grydlok
Hah.. Motorola does not sell anything for 200 dollars.

reply to baineschile
DVR boxes cost a lot more than 300-400 bucks. More like 1200 bucks. If someone wants to buy one they should be free to. They should also be free to pay to have the thing repaired if it breaks... I went through 3 DVR boxes in as many years. Had I not been renting that box, that would have been a ton of cash.
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Does Microsoft mean small and squishy?

$1200 are you insaine? That will make the rental of one at least $33 buck a month assuming a breakeven in the hardware at 36 month. Not even the cable companies will buy something like that to lease...

Look at the average HD playback hardware *they have similar if not superior components* out there... then add 50 bucks for an 80 gigs hd or so... That is what it should be priced at retail which means it porbably cost less to make....

reply to baineschile
Situation C: Cut the cable. It is about time to move on from this dead technology.

reply to ender7074
$1200? Are you nuts? More like sub $100.

reply to chemaupr

reply to sonicmerlin

reply to baineschile
A top of the line Tivo or Moxi multi-tuner HD DVR's costs far less than $1200.

reply to baineschile
With competition, the price will come down!

reply to battleop
»cgi.ebay.com/MOTOROLA-DCH6416---···ViewItem

reply to baineschile

reply to baineschile
That's one of the worst attempts at trying to prove me wrong, ever! That is a USED cable box and it is NOT from Motorola. You might also notice that the price is $230 which is above the $200 I was joking about.

reply to baineschile
Gee, I bet that box runs kinda hot.

reply to baineschile

reply to battleop

reply to sonicmerlin

reply to baineschile
When a TON of customers buy boxes, they too are "buying in bulk" .. that is IF there is this flood of customers rushing out to buy a "consumer owned box".. which has still yet to happen even though the law changed a while back.

Seems there just isn't a market for this..

I think it's funny how we're now back to.. what was it again...? .. oh yea, "Legislating from the bench".. the Republican battle-cry from the past few years.

reply to Jack Valenti
.."dead technology.." ?! Really? What's so "dead" about it?