The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI'm gonna take the plunge
and get rid of cable. Maybe just get a DVD player (I don't currently have one) and rent/ buy movies etc. Anyone else off the cable ?
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I cut cable years ago but still have net.
Dyedinthewoolliberal
(15,590 posts)roody
(10,849 posts)When I stay in a hotel, I can't believe there is nothing worth watching and half advertisements.
1992
demmiblue
(36,898 posts)I now use a Fire TV Stick to stream Hulu and Netflix (among other apps) to my tv.
boston bean
(36,223 posts)hunter
(38,328 posts)We don't even watch broadcast television anymore. Once you lose your tolerance for television advertising maybe you never get it back. As others have noted, turning on the television in a motel room becomes a wtf experience.
Our nearby grocery store has a Redbox. That's handy. Sometimes the DVD of a movie won't be there, but the Blu-Ray will be. My wife bought a Blu-Ray player.
I also like to look for DVDs in thrift stores.
We've had a medium speed internet connection for a long time. We got it before our local phone and cable companies even knew what high speed internet was. It's just fast enough to watch one streaming full screen video, YouTube for example, at somewhere approaching DVD quality.
That's good enough for me and it's inexpensive too. The price has actually fallen over the years and I just throw all the bizarre this-and-that-package advertising from AT&T and Comcast into the recycling bin without opening it.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,621 posts)I still have some CRT TV sets with analog tuners. (Just an aside: there were some CRTs with digital tuners.) The analog sets are connected to set top CECB (coupon-eligible converter boxes) that receive the digital signals sent over the air and convert them into digital information.
I was given a 32" flat screen TV with a digital tuner for Christmas on a day in December. It's my main TV now.
I saw another flat screen TV about a month ago in a trash pile. It had a note taped to it saying that it worked fine. I put it on the back of my bicycle, which is equipped with a rear rack and panniers. The set had a 26" screen, which is about as big as I'd want to carry on a bicycle. I put sheets of corrugated cardboard around the set and walked the bicycle back home, stopping at the library on the way. I left the set on the back of the bike. No one took it. The whole trip took maybe two miles, with only one uphill grade. The note was correct, so that is running now too. It lacks its original remote, but a universal remote works sufficiently well.
I live in northern Virginia, south of DC. I get maybe 30 or so channels, including some from Baltimore. I use rabbit ears for my antenna. I have the ability to upgrade my antenna, but it's not a priority right now.
Here's a listing including what is available to me. I don't get all these stations.
Washington, District of Columbia TV Listings - AOL.com
The people across the street have Hulu or Netflix. That's all they watch now. I don't have any information on that, but I like the concept of deciding to watch shows when you want to watch them.
For me, if I am not home when a show is on, I miss that show.
"hunter" said: "I also like to look for DVDs in thrift stores."
I do too. The local Salvation Army and Goodwill stores charge $2.99 for them. They show up at yard sales for about $2.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)our tv was fried last week and it was fine by me as long as we have internet. I even showed him how he could still watch the news using the internet. But he's not ready yet.
GermanDem
(168 posts)and never looked back. With Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and the internet I have everything I need!
womanofthehills
(8,774 posts)I spend too much time online - I don't have more time to spend on tv. I do have Amazon Prime but mostly use it for shopping.
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)a dvd player in a decade. We have satellite, but I watch everything on the 'net with streaming. Even satellite is getting overloaded with crap service these days.
Sadly my primary location doesn't have fiber yet, and an archaic wiring system that has crap speeds on the net... but it'll be fine. Someday.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,219 posts)Don't forget your local library for DVDs. Get a good antenna and you'll be surprised how many channels you can pick up.
Kire
(11,088 posts)Smart TV's of all shapes and sizes. Smart Blu Ray players. Fire sticks, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast. Each one has different apps available on it. Get a combination!