Happy To Rent?
I was always raised that it was better to own than to rent. Why pay monthly for something you don't own, and never will? Many rules have an exception, and when it comes to DVR's, I'm happy to rent.
How can this be? Well, the last DVD/VCR I bought from Wally Mart for $60 barely lasted 6 months anyway (it was a cheap unit, but nothing had a digital tuner in it yet, so I expected it to last a year, and it still fell short of expectations). My DVD Recorder before that for $100 only had a longevity of a year- barely. My previous combo deck didn't make it much past a year, and that ran me $140. When it comes down to it, my television recorder is costing me around $10 monthly.
From Optimum my Scientific Atlanta 8300HD is costing $9.95 monthly. This is the same price the rest of the gear has run me anyway. For that same price, I'm getting a box that can record in HD, has dual tuners, and a channel guide- all tricks that none of the previous boxes can match. Also, if the box goes bad without physical damage, as all my previous ones did, I just exchange it for a new one.
In the meantime, my Philips DVR cost me $289. At that rate, we're talking that it will take me two and a half years to recoup the cost of that box. Sure, it works fine, but it was a significant outlay, and the most expensive recording box I've ever had. I'm glad I got it working with the analog cable feed to maximize its use. However, compared to the $10 monthly for another DVR, it's looking even more expensive.
Cable DVR's are the one time I'd rather rent than own, and gladly pay the monthly fee.
Jonas
How can this be? Well, the last DVD/VCR I bought from Wally Mart for $60 barely lasted 6 months anyway (it was a cheap unit, but nothing had a digital tuner in it yet, so I expected it to last a year, and it still fell short of expectations). My DVD Recorder before that for $100 only had a longevity of a year- barely. My previous combo deck didn't make it much past a year, and that ran me $140. When it comes down to it, my television recorder is costing me around $10 monthly.
From Optimum my Scientific Atlanta 8300HD is costing $9.95 monthly. This is the same price the rest of the gear has run me anyway. For that same price, I'm getting a box that can record in HD, has dual tuners, and a channel guide- all tricks that none of the previous boxes can match. Also, if the box goes bad without physical damage, as all my previous ones did, I just exchange it for a new one.
In the meantime, my Philips DVR cost me $289. At that rate, we're talking that it will take me two and a half years to recoup the cost of that box. Sure, it works fine, but it was a significant outlay, and the most expensive recording box I've ever had. I'm glad I got it working with the analog cable feed to maximize its use. However, compared to the $10 monthly for another DVR, it's looking even more expensive.
Cable DVR's are the one time I'd rather rent than own, and gladly pay the monthly fee.
Jonas
Labels: Digital Television, DVR, Optimum
posted by digitaldoc at 8:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home