Your “Geeky” Guide to Internet TV

Posted by ttblogger on 12/11 at 03:39 PM Permalink
image

Your “Geeky” Guide to Internet TV Watching broadcast television on your computer? Sure it sounds absolutely nerdy but while it saves you money that could easily amount to a monthly car payment, does the nerdiness really matter? This Tech Tip is all about examining the alternatives of traditional television and movie broadcasting and how you can save money and still stay up to date with (insert your favorite TV show here)!

The Basics
First, if you just want to catch your favorite TV show(s) on your computer and save a little money by cancelling your television cable (not Internet cable), you can usually find your favorites on their respective

Read Full Article Click Here
    Posted by Adrian  on  12/11  at  05:50 AM

  1. Your last piece of advise is unbelievably idiotic, to say the least. Is Starbucks one of your sponsors? At an average price of $3/latte, if you plan on watching a little tv daily you’re looking at spending $100/month on coffee alone. If there is no Starbucks within walking distance… add gas and possibly parking costs… For this money, I can get basic HD (did I mention HD?) cable/satellite which include the channels most people watch/want, including the ones you mention + subscribe to the others (Netflix, Hulu, etc) and still have money leftover which in a year or two I can spend towards a nice espresso/cappuccino machine and have much better lattes (think fair trade organic real gourmet coffees) for much less at home. Wow!

    2. Posted by John Duchek  on  12/11  at  06:27 AM

  2. Yeah, but the latte is $5/shot

    3. Posted by allan  on  12/11  at  06:56 AM

  3. What ever happened to commericial free tv? It used to be that if you paid for your tv by purchaseing cable that there would be no commercials. So much for those days, now even on showtime and hbo they have commercials. It almost makes feel like canceling cable and just getting over air broadcast!

    4. Posted by Maurice Lampl  on  12/11  at  07:32 AM

  4. I am getting my ABC, NBC and CBS via
    USTVNow.  The basic package is free, but
    you will need to pay a monthly fee for additionsl channels.  I can use it to watch these chanels and catch some football games.  Reason I don’t pay for the premium channels is that I am DEAF and these internet TV packages do NOT offer subtitles nor closed captioning.  These US channels are no longer being broadcasted to Latin American countries due to some stupid international air rights…

    5. Posted by Leonard Kenyon  on  12/11  at  07:40 AM

  5. You forgot to mention This only saves with a VOIP.
    Where I live there are no VOIP’s available, We can onli get IP’s with a bandwidth restraint “WildBlue” “ATT mobile hotspot Elevate”,
    VIA. Sattlite or snail, dialup.
    Your welcome to advise me differant???
    Leonard

    6. Posted by Therese  on  12/11  at  08:02 AM

  6. So I have direct TV and my discount subscription is up January of 2012.  So if I cancel my TV I still have century Link which I get a 10 dollar discount with Direct TV cause I have Century Link as my internet. But when January hit all my promotions I have other than the 10 dollars discount goes away with my cable service. Can I watch TV and movie shows with Hulu. My friend uses Hulu but only for back seasons of a show she watches now to catch up on whats going on.
    Can I watch latest movies like I could with Starz, HBO, etc with Hulu.  Can I connect my TV to internet which I do for music, can I do that with movies.  Im not a very good geek with stuff like this.  Hope you can help me cause you have on Geek.com for other issues and items to buy.  Your great.  Thanks Therese

    7. Posted by faron  on  12/11  at  08:33 AM

  7. You have left the Windows Media Center from your list of devices/post pay TV services.  It is a great aggregator and many people’s no-cost competition with Google, Apple and Roku.  How can you overlook the elephant in the room that is Microsoft???!!!  Hello xBOX 360 extenders to actually share content...what a notion!

    8. Posted by Bob3  on  12/11  at  08:53 AM

  8. Mark; you left out one of the more obvious; the TV card in the computer.
    In areas with a hefty broadcast TV menu, your computer turns into a DVR, allowing you to skip through the dang commercials!

    9. Posted by grc3  on  12/11  at  09:03 AM

  9. I gave up on television years ago and have been obtaining all my entertainment over the internet with a computer attached to my old flat panel TV connected with a standard analog VGA cable using Netflix to watch older TV shows and movies. I like being able to watch what I want while eating dinner which is about the only time I have available. I have rarely been impressed with new shows so this works for me and mine. The downside is sports. You can’t watch the latest football game on Netflix but this gives me an excuse to visit with my sons on Sundays.

    10. Posted by GaryF  on  12/11  at  10:45 AM

  10. While most of the information presented is correct, it should be noted that TiVo offers various models of their digital video recording (DVR) hardware, including models which can receive over-the-air TV channels (as well as streaming video) rather than being cable-only.  However, TiVo charges a monthly subscription fee. 

    Another valid option for watching internet TV on standard televisions is offered by Blu-Ray DVD players, most of which can play all DVDs as well as online content; many of these now cost less than $100 and can be used with both new and older sets, a great option for viewers whose sets lack unused inputs or don’t have HDMI connections.

    Offering virtually the same features as the Apple TV box but at as little as half the price, Roku’s streaming adapter is probably the most economical non-computer standalone solution.

    ¯

    11. Posted by BEN  on  12/11  at  11:59 AM

  11. i have comcast internet and lowest cable.I was paying $52.00 a month. I called them and threatend to drop them because my friend was getting it for $30.00. they upgraded my internet to their fastest speed, dropped my payment to $29.00 plus $5.00 for the basic cable. so now i have the highest speed internet-20 cable channels-and my phone is majic jack for $20.00 per year. then i got roku with netflix for $8.00 per month I already had a router (witch you need for roku) oh ya… i get 5 more channels with my rabbit ears and converter box.  so..home phone (majic jack)-internet-movie channels(netflix)basci cable-over air channels 25 channels...$43.00 per month

    12. Posted by WilGeno  on  12/11  at  12:43 PM

  12. I use the Roku and I don’t have to keep my cable service. I dumped cable TV about 2 years ago. The Roku works great. Also, the Roku is compatible with a larger number of external components such as my older stereo system so I can put sound out the big speakers. Apple TV can only connect via HDMI and Optical Audio. Roku is compatible with older systems.

    13. Posted by Daniel  on  12/11  at  02:04 PM

  13. The USB port on the Roku does NO allow you to play video files.

    14. Posted by Bill H  on  12/11  at  05:23 PM

  14. Sit at your local coffee “bar” sipping a latte while watching with their “free” wifi will end up costing you more than any of the subscription services if you watch more than twice a week!

    15. Posted by BridgettDiaz  on  12/11  at  05:24 PM

  15. Have no a lot of cash to buy a car? Don’t worry, because that is possible to take the business loans to resolve such problems. Thence take a short term loan to buy all you require.

    16. Posted by johnfischer23  on  12/11  at  05:47 PM

  16. A bit less than a year ago I chose to drop my Dish subscription and get my TV over the air and via streaming… Built a SFF computer and put a tuner card in it, and hooked it up to a 50” plasma set.

    This has worked quite well, but you need to be aware of some recent wrinkles.  Specifically, TNT’s web site now blocks streaming video for people who do not have a cable or dish service that includes their programming.  Similarly, Syfy has been playing around with release dates.
    for Hulu, etc.  Apparently some folks are feeling threatened

    17. Posted by shane  on  12/11  at  09:40 PM

  17. I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

    18. Posted by shane  on  12/11  at  09:40 PM

  18. I LIKE IT!!!!!

    19. Posted by K Harmon  on  12/12  at  08:09 AM

  19. One problem that i found is -> The shows and movies are not captioned. I have a hearing impaired family member that needs captioning and this is a problem

    20. Posted by Phil  on  12/12  at  11:00 AM

  20. TiVo does not require a cable subscription to function.  It requires a TiVo subscription.  It works with broadcast TV as well as cable TV.  The extra functions like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu Plus do not require that you have broadcast or cable TV.

    21. Posted by Raff  on  12/12  at  01:08 PM

  21. 2 items you didn’t mention in the article.

    1) Many TV’s come with an analog monitor input. With a simple monitor cable you can connect your pc and laptop directly to your TV. For sound there is an input from your sound card to the TV. Now you can stream your pc directly to your TV.

    2) Cancelling your packages with the Cable company can increase your bill due to package deals but if you want to cancel with the cable company but still want their service, check out the ISP’s. Earthlink an other carriers have contracts with the cable companies. This allows you to sign up with the ISP and get better rates with the same cable company you are currently doing business with. 

    Just thought I’d share some additional information.

    22. Posted by Mark T  on  12/12  at  02:28 PM

  22. Just to clarify everyone, I wrote this tech tip to answer a customer’s question who was inquiring how to watch TV on his computer instead of having to deal with Cox, Dish Network, DVR, etc. That being said, this article focuses on SIMPLICITY and the basics as I am not assuming the customer is tech-savvy.  Regarding “watching TV at Starbucks”, I meant that was an absolute last resort for the people who want to pay absolutely zero for any type of TV monthly subscription as the customer asked. (because canceling your TV cable might raise your monthly Internet subscription rate assuming they’re bundled)

    @ Adrian - LOL, no, Starbucks is not a sponsor but why are you assuming you have to visit SBUX multiple times in 1 week to catch your shows?  Just like DVR will record and playback at your convenience, you can catch all your shows at the end of the week on Hulu in one sitting.  You don’t have to buy lattes, I just get standard-issue $1.50 coffee!

    @ Faron - Well the idea behind this tech tip article was to watch TV WITHOUT dealing with Cox, Time Warner, Dish Network, etc. Doesn’t Windows Media Center require a cable TV subscription?

    @ Bob3 - Sure a TV tuner card works but it’s a bit complex for a non-tech user looking to simply watch TV on a browser. 

    @ GaryF - Yes, I did mention TiVo but unfortunately this tech tip focuses more on subscription-free TV viewing.

    @ Bill H - You’re more than welcome to catch your TV shows in one sitting instead of multiple visits to Starbucks. 

    @ Raff - I didn’t get too technical because many non-tech users might not know what you’re talking about regarding analog monitor inputs. And thank you for the reminder of canceling cable packages but I did mention something similar at the end of the tech tip article.

    23. Posted by Adrian  on  12/12  at  02:58 PM

  23. @ttblogger

    Consider me impressed, you actually took the time to respond… makes more sense now, however, does anyone really watch TV at Starbucks?

    24. Posted by Bryan  on  12/12  at  03:10 PM

  24. @ faron
    Windows Media Center Tech Tip from last year:
    http://www.techtipsblog.com/index.php/weblog/comments/windows-media-center-making-the-pc-cool-again/

    @raff
    Hooking your PC up to a TV Tech Tip
    http://www.techtipsblog.com/index.php/weblog/comments/how-to-watch-your-pc-on-a-tv/

    @Therese
    Hulu Tech Tip (reaching back a ways - so some info is outdated)
    http://www.techtipsblog.com/index.php/weblog/comments/hulu_the_future_of_online_video/

    @Mark
    EXCELLANT ARTICLE!!!!  Love the point you made about how the internet alone will go up if you cancel your package (my Internet Only cable service jumped to $54 a month when I cancelled the rest of the stuff - but it would be over $100 if I got the “package deal” - so I still win overall). 

    The only dark clouds on the horizon is that many ISPs are now wanting to “limit” the palns to max caps, some say because of people cancelling their regular TV cable.  Gotta love that Starbucks - and with my Starbucks Gold Card, I get a Venti coffee and can sit there all day with my free refills!

    25. Posted by interieris dizaini  on  01/14  at  03:15 PM

  25. I’ve observed in the world these days, video games would be the latest rage with kids of all ages. There are times when it may be impossible to drag your children away from the games. If you want the best of both worlds, there are plenty of educational gaming activities for kids. Interesting post.

    26. Page 1 of 1 pages

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Smileys

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Submit the word you see below:


Next entry: 2011 Tech Tips Year In Review

Previous entry: Cyber Monday Shopping “Tech Tips”

<< Back to main