Internet vs. DVR
First, some monthly costs:
- Internet: $37.50 (I have residential Tier 3)
- Netflix: $8.95, I mainly stream tv/movies from this service. Rarely watch the 1 DVD a month.
- Cable: “Free”, it’s included in my rent
I only have a laptop set up at home – it’s hooked to my TV and I mainly stream video from Hulu, South Park Studios, and NetFlix.
I use the web quite a bit, but it’s almost all for work or school purposes. The office is < 5 miles away, and I have a desk and two monitors at work… so if I need to browse the web/buy something/do email I go to the office anyway.
DVR service would cost me $22.50. DVR can replace my internet service and Netflix. That’s a savings of $23.95 a month for $287.40 a year. I’m looking to my readers to let me know if there’s something I’m missing. Comment and vote!
I say go for it.
stinkypie
April 8, 2009 at 12:08
I say drop down to tier 1, then put together a real cheap DVR yourself, if possible.
belcher
April 8, 2009 at 13:59
Yeah, what about buying a TV tuner (external) for your laptop? My brother bought one for his mac and it has a great interface to it (probably has a win version). No monthly fee involved.
Stephen
April 8, 2009 at 14:04
Giganews: $25/mo
Newzbin: about $1.75/mo
Gives you basically the same or better content/convenience as your DVR/Hulu/Netflix. Assuming legality isn’t really an issue…
Dave
April 8, 2009 at 14:20
I work on computers all day and lots of nights… I just want this stuff to work.
That’s why I used Hulu/Netflix. So that rules out converting my laptop to MythTV or home rolled DVR. (or using another box to do it)
@Stephen does your brother’s set up do a DVR style functionality?
Another footnote: The laptop has 100gb storage.
@Dave That’s the other alternative. But I’d still have to have Internet service to run those two, so it’d add $26.75 a month to my bills.
bofe
April 8, 2009 at 14:46
@Dave I mean it’d add $17.80. (After subtracting netflix)
bofe
April 8, 2009 at 14:46
I voted both, but sorry, I have no money to donate lol
Ive heard of people ditching cable to watch TV shows online like you currently are, but with free cable with rent…I would have to vote with keep your internet, and make your own DVR out of your laptop. But I would say you need to splurge and be sure your keep a good quality TV tuner. Ive had some TV tuners for desktops before and end up taking them out because they just aren’t that good with the picture quality
Matt
April 8, 2009 at 14:59
go off the grid completely and play drums
adam
April 8, 2009 at 16:01
I’ve had a DVR for several years now and I loooove it. I’ve never been much on watching TV/movies on my laptop (it gets hot) but I really enjoy the Ti-Faux.
Ally
April 8, 2009 at 21:46
I never even considered this as a possibility that Bofe would consider giving up internet at home?
Wow.
Take 1 week, write down all the times you go to the computer at home after 5pm, and then decide.
Lee Coursey
April 15, 2009 at 20:39
@Lee, he just dropped it, congrats bofe! You win MSB
adam
April 15, 2009 at 21:39
Internet is gone. DVR is awesome.
bofe
April 16, 2009 at 07:45