Anyone here know people watching analog TV?

[Raphael_]

Hey, just curious if any of you will be helping someone with the analog TV switch in Feburary 2009. I won't but I have buddies who still use analog TV.

[Ecto Jedi]

Analog TV switch?

[Cure]

Analog TV?

[Ninjinister]

Mandatory HD is crap.

[GK Punk]

It's not mandatory HD. It's mandatory digital.

[Krang]

Analog TV switch?
Here (https://www.dtv2009.gov/) is more information, although it only affects the US.

[Spitfire]

Mandatory HD is crap.

"Mandatory color TV is crap!" Men and women of the 1950's.

Most people buy a new TV every 5 years or so. You paid 500 or so for your tube back when it was brand spanking new it's time to make an investment in the future. To me people who complain about getting HDTVs, even though it's not required, are like people who whined about the switch to DVDs. It's a better format why would you not want it? I understand money can be an issue but HDTVs are way cheaper now then they used to be. You can even purchase some good ones for under 500 and cheaper ones for 100-200.

[Ninjinister]

The reasoning is because there isn't enough of a difference between the TV I have now and the TVs that the dorks at Best Buy are attempting to shill to warrant me having to purchase one. Both of my televisions work perfectly, cost under $100, and one is less than three years old.

Back when the colour TV was introduced, it was not mandatory to purchase one. Hell, up until February of next year, you still can watch any channel on a black & white television. Yes, I know about the fact that it's a different signal and they have to have new cameras and so forth to broadcast, but to tell me that I have to either buy a new TV or an adapter or I cannot watch television any more is nothing more than corporate and government greed.

[Drtooth]

Most people buy a new TV every 5 years or so. You paid 500 or so for your tube back when it was brand spanking new it's time to make an investment in the future. To me people who complain about getting HDTVs, even though it's not required, are like people who whined about the switch to DVDs. It's a better format why would you not want it? I understand money can be an issue but HDTVs are way cheaper now then they used to be. You can even purchase some good ones for under 500 and cheaper ones for 100-200.

Money IS an issue. Not everyone can buy a TV every 5 years. Hell, i have to use a cheap clunker I got 8 years ago as a gift.

Now, I don't think it's crap... just no consideration for people who don't have the cash to get Digital televisions. And I have NEVER seen one go for under 300 bucks. I looked everywhere. Maybe not the price clubs, as I'm not a member.

I just think we're being rushed into this. Especially this stage of the economy. People can barely afford to feed their families, but if they want television, they have to get a government check to get a converter. And I doubt the converters that the checks cover will be any good.

And personally, if you have a TV that old, you might as well buy a new one. They don't build things to last, you know.

But I can definately see this as a bright spot IF this means the end of staticky channels that barely come in, channels that cut off when there's a slight breeze , and all that broadcast nonsense. If it's the same old crap in a different, more expensive wrapper (the cut outs, the static, etc) then what's the point?

[Roseangelo]

Oy, haven't we had this conversation before?

There are a lot of Americans whom this will affect. No, they shouldn't be required to buy a whole new TV (and they're not). Yes, buying a new TV for some people is a big deal. And frankly, some people don't care enough about TV to go through the trouble/expense of buying a new one.

I have no intention of buying a new TV until my currently one actually stops working. I just had my bedroom TV die, so eventually I will probably replace it. But it's kind of hard to justify the expense to have two TVs in an apartment as small as the one I'm in, so for now I'm learning to change some of my habits instead.

[Raphael_]

My concern is the grandmothers in one bedroom apartments and those in the inner city who cannot afford to replace them. I know they're out there.

[Roseangelo]

My concern is the grandmothers in one bedroom apartments and those in the inner city who cannot afford to replace them. I know they're out there.

That's why the government is giving out coupons so you can buy a converter box for cheap.

[Mr. Snackpants]

This is only going to beneficial, clearing the airwaves for future technology. What's to complain about?

[Jester]

And to be honest, only those who actually still use "bunny ears" will be effected. The site Krang linked, says that most pay cable or satilite users won't be effected.

[Spitfire]

The reasoning is because there isn't enough of a difference between the TV I have now and the TVs that the dorks at Best Buy are attempting to shill to warrant me having to purchase one. Both of my televisions work perfectly, cost under $100, and one is less than three years old.
You know there are HD Tube TVs that are 100 or less. Those "dorks" at Best Buy have them.

And here's a whole page of them under 300. I see members on here that shell out*Hehe* more then that for a single comic book or action figure.
http://electronics.pricegrabber.com/plasma-lcd-televisions/p/197/form_keyword=HDTV/st=sort/sortby=priceA

Back when the colour TV was introduced, it was not mandatory to purchase one. Hell, up until February of next year, you still can watch any channel on a black & white television. Yes, I know about the fact that it's a different signal and they have to have new cameras and so forth to broadcast, but to tell me that I have to either buy a new TV or an adapter or I cannot watch television any more is nothing more than corporate and government greed.
It wasn't but everyone did it. I actually just had a discussion about this with my grandparents who were asking about HDTVs.

It has nothing to do with greed it has to do with the fact that pretty soon everything is going to be filmed in HD. In two quarters even my college is going to be all HD. HD looks horrid on SD, games especially, it's all blurry.

Now this stems from having an HDTV and what made me buy one was, sadly, working at Best Buy. Seeing it everyday and once I had one I can't watch movies on SD TVs.

[Drtooth]

It wasn't but everyone did it.

To get technical, not really. Quite a few families still had their B&W TV's and just couldn't afford color models. In fact, a lot of parents got furious at their kids for even asking (believe me, I know quite a few adults who said they had to be happy with their Black and whites, or they'd get black and blues on their backside.)

But of course, that was when people built things to last. When a TV broke down, you'd call someone in to repair it. You couldn't just go out and buy another one. They didn't.

Of course, we have a disposable consumer culture now. There are people with disposable income disposing of merchandise that's still in good working condition that some people would kill for.

So I have to meet you all half way. It is a burdon, and what good's digital TV if you don't have a digital TV? It's in between a technilogical advancement, but it's also partially a corporate funded movement as well. We will see improvements to some extent, but really, what are these "extra" channels they're talking about? News stations? Weather stations? While useful, I don't see them adding any neo-syndication type channels featuring reruns or anything to be competitive (long story).

I think it's a good thing happening, but it would be much better had they planned it out to better assist the poorest people out there.

[Spike Spiegel]

I still use analog TV, I am too young to move out, and my mom will not buy the box.

[JetsAndHeels]

I still use analog TV, I am too young to move out, and my mom will not buy the box.

Enjoy your dvd's and vhs tapes then.

[Spike Spiegel]

Precisely.

[JetsAndHeels]

Precisely.

The converter boxes range anywhere from $50 to $70 bucks. I am sure you can get that between now and February.

Not to mention there are coupons available to help cut the cost on them. You should be fine.

[Peanut]

TV is a luxury. If you can't afford it, I guess that's too bad. I personally have 3 HDTV's in my house, an HD computer monitor, and 6 (in-use) TV's in general. I have an SD flat-screen (for my Wii) and an HDTV for my main TV in my room, along with the HD computer monitor. But I've worked like a f*cking animal for everything I own, and so have the rest of my family.

I mean, I really don't know how to feel sorry for the people this will effect. If you can't afford the cheap cost of TV that can support digital cable at this point, I don't even know what to say. I know people have sh*t to deal with, but if you have choose feeding your family over a TV, the choice should be clear, and I personally don't think you should be allowed to complain about that.

[Spike Spiegel]

TV is a luxury. If you can't afford it, I guess that's too bad. I personally have 3 HDTV's in my house, an HD computer monitor, and 6 (in-use) TV's in general. I have an SD flat-screen (for my Wii) and an HDTV for my main TV in my room, along with the HD computer monitor. But I've worked like a f*cking animal for everything I own, and so have the rest of my family.

I mean, I really don't know how to feel sorry for the people this will effect. If you can't afford the cheap cost of TV that can support digital cable at this point, I don't even know what to say. I know people have sh*t to deal with, but if you have choose feeding your family over a TV, the choice should be clear, and I personally don't think you should be allowed to complain about that.

It's not that we can't afford the box, it's just that she doesn't want it, which seems contrived to me. For some irrational reason she thinks it's a part of some conspiracy and TV is evil and "why do they need to change it" and blah blah blah. I'm sure any of you have met this type of person and you know the paranoia/closemindedness I speak of.

Oh well, when I buy one on my own, it'll be funny when she will have to ask me to use it.