SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Joined: Jun 10 2008 Posts: 172

So I have a bitching PC, built it myself, its great, plays everything. I am also dirt poor and I'm looking for ways to cut down on some bills and I read a bunch of articles about how people are giving up cable because literally every show you want to watch is online in hi-def video. I'm very carefully considering doing this I think and was wondering if anyone else has tried this or if anyone uses their pc's as their entertainment center. I have a large bonus coming soon so I was thinking of using it to buy a sorta large monitor 24 inches or so and a wireless mouse and keyboard and moving my pc over to where my tv is by the chair and couch and replacing that. I'd appreciate peoples thoughts and advice.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

It isn't quite ready yet.

At least that is how I feel.

* Video streamed isn't as high in quality.
* Not all videos are available wen wanted
* A mouse is not a remote control
* Electricity bill will go up a lot.

Posted: Feb 15 2009 10:17 pm

That, and the fact that it might be harder to get messages about local storm watches, like during a thunderstorm or something.

Posted: Feb 15 2009 11:07 pm

We were discussing this at work the other day. Nearly every show worth watching is available legally online, and the ones that aren't are still easy to obtain. If you're looking to cut costs, this is a fairly viable option, and the market seems to be shifting in this direction.

Personally though, I like having separate devices for computing and television. But I also like that if I miss Heroes, I have the option to watch it online.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 02:07 am

GPFontaine wrote:

...* A mouse is not a remote control

But a keyboard with a thumbpad can be. That's what one guy I know did.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

lordsathien wrote:

GPFontaine wrote:

...* A mouse is not a remote control

But a keyboard with a thumbpad can be. That's what one guy I know did.

I'm not saying it can't be used as a remote, I'm simply saying it doesn't compare well.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 09:12 am

Do you have a land line phone? If so it's not worth doing this simply because it's cheaper to get phone, cable, and internet from Comcast (or most providers I assume) than just two of them.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 10:25 am

Um, why the fuck are we even talking about remote controls? It's not like there are going to be channels to flip through...

Posted: Feb 16 2009 10:38 am

I have my VLC set so the mouse wheel controls the volume. That mouse is wireless. It's the only remote I need.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

Um, why the fuck are we even talking about remote controls? It's not like there are going to be channels to flip through...

Who flips through channels anyways? We use the onscreen guide. But a remote is nice bonus to have to control it.

I suppose that one could use their internet connection with a Magic Jack.

But lets clear something up, if you have Comcast you are fucked. Don't even try to do this plan. You will get killed by the 250GB limit.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Syd Lexia wrote:

Personally though, I like having separate devices for computing and television.

Ditto. Thing is, companies have been trying in vain to merge computers and home entertainment for decades.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 11:01 am

GPFontaine wrote:

Who flips through channels anyways? We use the onscreen guide. But a remote is nice bonus to have to control it.

I suppose that one could use their internet connection with a Magic Jack.

But lets clear something up, if you have Comcast you are fucked. Don't even try to do this plan. You will get killed by the 250GB limit.

I don't think you understand what he wants to do. He's talking about getting rid of his television and cable plan completely, and watching television shows entirely through websites like Hulu, NBC.com, FOX.com, ABC.com, etc. Ergo, your comment about not having a television remote is profoundly bizarre, because you would never need a remote control for this setup since the internet is optimized for use with a mouse and keyboard.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

GPFontaine wrote:

Who flips through channels anyways? We use the onscreen guide. But a remote is nice bonus to have to control it.

I suppose that one could use their internet connection with a Magic Jack.

But lets clear something up, if you have Comcast you are fucked. Don't even try to do this plan. You will get killed by the 250GB limit.

I don't think you understand what he wants to do. He's talking about getting rid of his television and cable plan completely, and watching television shows entirely through websites like Hulu, NBC.com, FOX.com, ABC.com, etc. Ergo, your comment about not having a television remote is profoundly bizarre, because you would never need a remote control for this setup since the internet is optimized for use with a mouse and keyboard.

Actually I completely understand it. I am saying that the lack of control from a remote is a pain in the ass. When you want to kick back and watch some TV, you don't want to fiddle, you want to kick back and watch some damn TV.

None the less, if he decides to try that route, have a look at the Adobe Media Player:
http://www.adobe.com/products/mediaplayer/

Posted: Feb 16 2009 01:16 pm

He said he's going to get a wireless mouse and keyboard.

And is it really that inconvenient to have to move slightly every 45 minutes?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

He said he's going to get a wireless mouse and keyboard.

And is it really that inconvenient to have to move slightly every 45 minutes?

I'm not saying that the setup would fail 100%.

I'm saying that it wouldn't be as nice as a TV with a remote.

Though, if it were done correctly, perhaps a pointing remote would work...

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/3443&cl=US,EN

Posted: Feb 16 2009 02:19 pm

It depends how much TV you watch. To the best if my knowledge, Plethora has about 5-10 hours of must-watch television programming per week.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

It depends how much TV you watch. To the best if my knowledge, Plethora has about 5-10 hours of must-watch television programming per week.

Plethora?

Posted: Feb 16 2009 02:33 pm

THE GUY WHO STARTED THE THREAD????

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

THE GUY WHO STARTED THE THREAD????

LOL,

APLETHORAOFPINATAS

I never saw Plethora in there.

In my mind I always just thought the name was garbled.

Now I see it.

A-PLETHORA-OF-PINATAS

Wow I feel like a schmuck.

Joined: Jun 10 2008 Posts: 172

I watch very little TV, I watch Madmen, Heroes, BSG, sorta into Fringe and I just watched te first episode of dollhouse. So it may be even less than that Syd. The one thing I will miss though is baseball games, that may be a difficult thing to overcome. The more I think about this though the more I like it. Basically my TV is background noise for me except when those shows are on. The other thing that seems nicer and nicer the more i think about it is being free of a TV schedule. I would no longer have to watch TV at scheduled times. I could also pick up new shows to watch because I would be watching more effeciently.

lol, GP ive been on the forums for a year and you never noticed???!

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

APLETHORAOFPINATAS wrote:

I watch very little TV, I watch Madmen, Heroes, BSG, sorta into Fringe and I just watched te first episode of dollhouse. So it may be even less than that Syd. The one thing I will miss though is baseball games, that may be a difficult thing to overcome. The more I think about this though the more I like it. Basically my TV is background noise for me except when those shows are on. The other thing that seems nicer and nicer the more i think about it is being free of a TV schedule. I would no longer have to watch TV at scheduled times. I could also pick up new shows to watch because I would be watching more effeciently.

lol, GP ive been on the forums for a year and you never noticed???!

Of course I noticed!!!

I just didn't breakdown your name. I took it as a whole rather than individual words.

Perhaps you should practice for a month and see if you can live without your TV.

I personally am free from a TV schedule due to DVR.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 04:36 pm

Well when it comes to baseball, it's not like you don't have friends with cable.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 05:30 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

Well when it comes to baseball, it's not like you don't have friends with cable.

Depending on how obsessed you are, cutting back on baseball games can potentially free up hours and hours of time. I watched minimal baseball and bastketball last season, pretty much cutback on all college sports. The only thing I still watched frequently was the NFL. I had tons of free time. My only problem was I didn't know what the hell to do with it so that time still goes to waste.

Posted: Feb 16 2009 09:24 pm

DarkMaze wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

Personally though, I like having separate devices for computing and television.

Ditto. Thing is, companies have been trying in vain to merge computers and home entertainment for decades.

Apparently you've never heard of HTPCs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC

This is what he wants.

A PC based, all in one, media center.

Movies, TV, DVR, Gaming, Music... you name it. All in one box. Easy.

And for you GPFontaine, and you're obsession with remotes:

http://www.xpcgear.com/remotectrl.html?gclid=CM6auaWy4pgCFRYiagodtUjfdw

Not good enough? Then try this:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/4708&cl=us,en

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

DarkMaze wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

Personally though, I like having separate devices for computing and television.

Ditto. Thing is, companies have been trying in vain to merge computers and home entertainment for decades.

Apparently you've never heard of HTPCs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC

This is what he wants.

A PC based, all in one, media center.

Movies, TV, DVR, Gaming, Music... you name it. All in one box. Easy.

And for you GPFontaine, and you're obsession with remotes:

http://www.xpcgear.com/remotectrl.html?gclid=CM6auaWy4pgCFRYiagodtUjfdw

Not good enough? Then try this:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/4708&cl=us,en

Can you use those remotes to control things like a web browser?