~ Official "I watch TV on my PC" thread ~

[ragejg]

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/fromcouch.jpg

As many of you know, consumers now have more options than ever before with regards to watching television-like content on their PC's. Some of us have our PC's hooked up to our living-room TV's, and furthermore, some of us have disconnected our cable TV service and now use online services for all entertainment content.

On my living room media/gaming PC, I've used the following:

Hulu Desktop Client (http://www.hulu.com/labs)
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/th_hulu.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/?action=view&current=hulu.jpg)

Boxee (http://www.boxee.tv/)
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/th_Boxee.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/?action=view&current=Boxee.jpg)

Joost (http://www.joost.com/)
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/th_joost.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/?action=view&current=joost.jpg)

YouTube XL (http://www.youtube.com/xl)
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/th_youtubeXL.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/ragejg/?action=view&current=youtubeXL.jpg)

... and of course, Windows Media Center.


I do not have a cable TV connection, and my system is not equipped with a TV tuner. So I rely on my (reasonably fast) internet connection for all content delivery.

I prefer having the content streamed from the 'net; especially with the slick interfaces that Hulu, Boxee and the like offer.

At this point (August 2009), I'd have to say that I'm 75% weaned off cable TV, with a few notable exceptions:

Discovery Channel - I'm a big fan of the Discovery Channel, and now, the only thing I can get that's close to that is clips from the website, or clips and also-rans from the National Geographic Channel and other similar sources.

Children's Programming - My kids don't watch anime, so just about the only things available to them on Hulu and Joost is He-Man, Ren & Stimpy and Sesame Street. Sure, that's better than nothing, but the real catch is that there's no easy way to arrange a playlist with some variety for them. My 5-year old doesn't know how to navigate Hulu, so this portion of Life Without Cable TV is a little more difficult than it used to be.

News - Hulu has some NBC News clips, but I'd like to get some other news sources streaming to my TV screen that give me some more diversity and choice.

I may add a new angle to my experience using Netflix or BlockBuster on demand, but that's not TV, it's movies. However, it's reasonable to assume that I may be renting some TV series content, so this may round out my experience a little bit. Plus, I believe that Boxee supports NetFlix, so IF I chose Netflix, I'd be able to use Boxee as the portal (as soon as Boxee has a release that supports x64).

Overall, I'd say that my family is pleased with the switch to a more on-demand content-delivery system. I'm sure there are some programs and resources that I have yet to use that would make things even easier. Please share your thoughts/information on this subject. More links to more content sources would be appreciated.


- John Grabski, August 16, 2009

[CaptNKILL]

I do the same thing.

TV is a waste of money for someone like me, and I'm paying the cable bill, so we're strictly using cable internet. No TV at all.

Pretty much anything I want to watch I can find online one way or another and I don't have to waste 1/3rd of my TV-time watching commercials.

The sooner we can get any TV show online (with short ads) for free, the better off we'll be.

Can you imagine if everyone, everywhere suddenly had an extra hour (or more) of free time in the evenings because their shows had minimal commercials? Most hour long shows are only 41 minutes long. Half hour shows are around 21. That's a ridiculous amount of wasted time...

[betterdan]

Can you imagine if everyone, everywhere suddenly had an extra hour (or more) of free time in the evenings because their shows had minimal commercials? Most hour long shows are only 41 minutes long. Half hour shows are around 21. That's a ridiculous amount of wasted time...

That's what they make DVRs for Capt. ;)
Step into the future http://stbpro.com/images/directv_hr20.jpg

Have any of you guys watching tv on your computer tried one of those usb digital tv tuners like Pinnacle makes? I bought one at Best Buy last year because it was on sale really cheap and it works great picking up local digital channels. The software lets you record shows like a virtual DVR. The HD looks great from it too.

[ragejg]

DVR's are great, but having $60 extra per month plus not having to deal with commercials really makes the new content delivery systems attractive to a lot of people.

If I can't find a way to get NFL games at least within a day or so after the initial broadcast, I may invest in a USB tuner so I can at least view them on an over-the air digital channel.

And yeah, that's another downfall of life with Hulu/Joost etc... no real access to live sports.

[betterdan]

If I watched tv on a smaller computer monitor all the time I probably wouldn't mind too much watching shows off the internet (I don't think my wife would go for it though). We watch tv on our 52 inch Mits HDTV and I really don't think I'd be very happy with the video quality coming from the streaming media from those sites as compared to the HD from Directv. Plus I hate how my tv does when I hook a computer up to it. It window boxes the screen by placing black bars on all 4 sides.

[nekrosoft13]

i haven't turn on the "TV" in over a year.

[ragejg]

I've found that the only thing I REALLY care about video quality is movies. TV shows... I don't care if they're SD, really. They take up 22 or 41 minutes of my time, and if they're good they're committed to my memory.

[Sazar]

I watch a lot of shows, but I have both my systems at home setup for Hulu, Joost and streaming shows from the comedy central, ABC and NBC sites, and South Park :D

[six_storm]

I download all of my TV shows and TV needs, then watch them via XBMC on my HDTV. If it weren't for the wife wanting Lifetime (random cheesy movies) and the fact that we can't get a good OTA signal, I would never have signed up for DirecTV last summer.

Just wish I could take advantage of my Digital TV Tuner card and record HD channels on my DirecTV unit.

[ragejg]

I just found Sopcast and TVAnts... thru the following URL.. http://www.sportsfaction.com/2006/1128/how-to-watch-any-nfl-game-free/

I'm testing it out watching an MLB game right now. It's legal and free.

[TheBigOne]

Have any of you guys watching tv on your computer tried one of those usb digital tv tuners like Pinnacle makes? I bought one at Best Buy last year because it was on sale really cheap and it works great picking up local digital channels. The software lets you record shows like a virtual DVR. The HD looks great from it too.

Pickup up the PCI Pinnacle 800i version today at bestbuy, due to couldn't get the hauppauge 1600 to pickup any Clear QAM channel, even when the box say it clearly supports QAM. Reflash firmware on the pinnnacle tuner and now pickup every single QAM channel including Discovery and Tru-tv and so forth only channel I don't get is HBO, but I can get that tru my DVR. "I got to say that the best tuner I ever bought, beat out my ATI 650 that is now dead reason why it got it replaced" And the HD channel look better then that ATI 650 for $84 is better then that $109 dollar 1600 that didn't pickup jack, even with wintv.

If you are going to get a tuner go with the Pinnacle or saberview e1 , they pickup the most channels alot of good reviews, and cheap.

[CaptNKILL]

I just found Sopcast and TVAnts... thru the following URL.. http://www.sportsfaction.com/2006/1128/how-to-watch-any-nfl-game-free/

I'm testing it out watching an MLB game right now. It's legal and free.

It may be free but I'm pretty sure it isn't legal most of the time.

The feeds also tend to be absolutely horrible since multiple people will be streaming video from someone else's PC.

[nrdstrm]

I mostly use my DVR for my TV viewing needs. It's really getting to be a pain though due to the small HDD in the DVR (Verizon Fios). On the occasion that I can't find something on my Fios (rare, but occasionally happens), or I forget to DVR, I grab the torrent, burn to DVD or use a Flash Drive, plug it into my PS3, and watch.

[six_storm]

Wish there was a way to record TV from my DirecTV box . . . :(

[Q]

Windows Media Center - now on Windows 7! I had been running MCE 2005 for a while with two tuners, but upgraded to W7 and 4 tuners over the weekend. It's great. I can open up Recorded TV on any Windows 7 TV and it plays great!

[six_storm]

Has anyone figured out how to record SD and HD channels from a DirecTV HD Box? I'd love to record using my TV tuner but I doubt there's a way . . . :(

[CaptNKILL]

Has anyone figured out how to record SD and HD channels from a DirecTV HD Box? I'd love to record using my TV tuner but I doubt there's a way . . . :(

Maybe if you get a second box and a TV card with component inputs... but I have no idea how that would work. You wouldn't be able to do much from your PC, you'd basically be changing channels with the DTV Box and pressing record on your PC.

[AngelGraves13]

Yup, can't wait to start watching commercial free TV on my PC soon!

I need my HEROES and FRINGE.

[TheBigOne]

Has anyone figured out how to record SD and HD channels from a DirecTV HD Box? I'd love to record using my TV tuner but I doubt there's a way . . . :(Did this over a year ago first you have to remove DRM on Windows Vista there a special software that does this for x64 and x86, then reset mediacenter, then install 2008 tvpack and playready software, then make sure you have ethernet port hook to your router, on newer boxes, no hacks needed on newer boxes.

On older DirecTV has the USB ports on their DVR's inactive. With the DirecTV Tivo's there is software that can activate the USB ports. The USB ports are for connecting a USB to Ethernet Adapter which allows for connecting the Tivo to your homes wired/wireless network for transfering the shows/movies over the homes network to a networked PC to edit and burn to DVD the movies/shows. DirecTV DVR's are not so lucky at this time. When DirecTV came out with the Tivo DVR they had the USB ports not active also and said it was for future use.

You still have to removed DRM on vista or video freezes every 5 mins.

[ragejg]

I just subscribed to Netflix. The streaming feature adds a lot of available content to my experience. I'm hoping it's integrated properly into Boxee soon (full Hulu re-integration would be nice too).

Hulu desktop is crashing constantly on me. My rig is totally stable except for this app, despite the fact that I've set it to compatibility mode and run it as administrator.

So for right now I'm ok with separate open tabs for Hulu, Netflix & Joost. I'd really like to consolidate soon though.

[ragejg]

A new service just started called Epix. It offers HD movies to both regular broadband users, and also offers its channel via TV to certain cable subscribers.


http://www.epixhd.com/



The participants are MGM, Paramount and LionsGate.

I signed up for an invite for a free weekend pass. Haven't gotten my confirm email yet.

I'm guessing this is going to be a paid service. :( Well, if it's cheap enough I'll be ok with it.

[ragejg]

In other News, Netflix's streaming movie selection is about to get a whole lot bigger. A few large studios have just signed on, so if you already like your Netflix Watch it Now selection, you'll like it more soon.


And regarding Hulu Plus... well, since Hulu + Netlflix = just fine for me, I don't need anything more at this point.

Here's a chart that may help some of you:

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/597/whatyougetwithhuluplus.jpg

Credit to OCEntertainment of Autistic Disdain

[technoid]

In other News, Netflix's streaming movie selection is about to get a whole lot bigger. A few large studios have just signed on, so if you already like your Netflix Watch it Now selection, you'll like it more soon.

Do you have any idea how long it might be?

[ragejg]

Do you have any idea how long it might be?

Sept 3 I think.

[crainger]

I process words on my TV.