"No one ever said that OpenCable means that every CE would have a permission to use whatever software they want to use."
The big difference between your examples and congress's goals (yes my interpretation) is that the cable modem has nothing to do with a end users experience online. They are free to choose any web browser or OS that they want. If the cable company controls the software the UI will be bad like it does now.
You are right we do have a choice, and that is why I was with Satellite for many years, but they too have moved away from giving the consumers a choice in what STB they want to use. (which is why I switched to cable to use the Series3) It has only been in the past few years that DirecTV has forced their crappy boxes on their customers instead of letting them choose.
The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service.
I love to tell the story about when I bought my first HD TiVo for $1000, after spending a month with a SA 8300HD. I told my wife it was the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV.
In the end I wouldn't care who controlled the software, if cable didn't make such poor choices in what software they deploy, but it's very obvious to me, that they don't have my best interest in mind.
Ben you said: "The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service."
Cable companies are smart. They have tens of millions of DVR customers who fork over $10-20 per month for a cable company's DVR product. They don't need Tivo. Tivo needs them. Why do you think Tivo partnered with Comcast to port their UI on Comcast's DVR set-tops. And Comcast's Tivo product will have access to VOD.
For every Tivo3 there are 6-7 "crappy" SA Explorer 8300 or Motorola 6412's. Millions of customers use them everyday without issues and like their interfaces on their DVR product so much that some cable systems have trouble stocking enough DVR for their customers. Tivo is a marginal product for people with discretionary $500-800 to burn. If you think it's "the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV" then go ahead get Tivo or Media Center or whatever you want. Its a free country. Vote with your wallet. Comcast or Verizon will still make money. Comcast has 24 million customers. For evey one that cancels their DVR service because they don't like the guide there will 10 new ones that don't care for the guide as long as it works. Cable companies are in business to make money and like any public company their answer only to shareholders, not customers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben @ Jun 19th 2007 12:12PM
"No one ever said that OpenCable means that every CE would have a permission to use whatever software they want to use."
The big difference between your examples and congress's goals (yes my interpretation) is that the cable modem has nothing to do with a end users experience online. They are free to choose any web browser or OS that they want. If the cable company controls the software the UI will be bad like it does now.
You are right we do have a choice, and that is why I was with Satellite for many years, but they too have moved away from giving the consumers a choice in what STB they want to use. (which is why I switched to cable to use the Series3) It has only been in the past few years that DirecTV has forced their crappy boxes on their customers instead of letting them choose.
The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service.
I love to tell the story about when I bought my first HD TiVo for $1000, after spending a month with a SA 8300HD. I told my wife it was the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV.
In the end I wouldn't care who controlled the software, if cable didn't make such poor choices in what software they deploy, but it's very obvious to me, that they don't have my best interest in mind.
Alex D. @ Jun 19th 2007 1:33PM
Ben you said: "The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service."
Cable companies are smart. They have tens of millions of DVR customers who fork over $10-20 per month for a cable company's DVR product. They don't need Tivo. Tivo needs them. Why do you think Tivo partnered with Comcast to port their UI on Comcast's DVR set-tops. And Comcast's Tivo product will have access to VOD.
For every Tivo3 there are 6-7 "crappy" SA Explorer 8300 or Motorola 6412's. Millions of customers use them everyday without issues and like their interfaces on their DVR product so much that some cable systems have trouble stocking enough DVR for their customers. Tivo is a marginal product for people with discretionary $500-800 to burn. If you think it's "the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV" then go ahead get Tivo or Media Center or whatever you want. Its a free country. Vote with your wallet. Comcast or Verizon will still make money. Comcast has 24 million customers. For evey one that cancels their DVR service because they don't like the guide there will 10 new ones that don't care for the guide as long as it works. Cable companies are in business to make money and like any public company their answer only to shareholders, not customers.