Slashdot Mirror
Time Warner Cable Runs Out of HD DVRs
jalvear writes "According to TV NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse, NY, Time Warner Cable said that they have run out of HD digital video recorder (DVR) boxes. Apparently, there's a shortage of HD DVRs because the company that makes the boxes have been 'overwhelmed by requests for them.' Seems like almost everyone has bought an HDTV during the holidays and wants to watch the Super Bowl in HD format."
Fortunately it's possible to receive HD cable programming without one of their HD boxes ... Oh, wait, you can't...
It might be, but I think most of these type of stories are created for publicity or an advertising stunt. Will like to read others comments.
With Regards, V Raimond
A considerable amount of commentary concerning the format war between Blue Ray and HD-DVD is based on the notion that standard definition is "good enough," for most owners of HDTV's, thus neither format will achieve deep penetration in the short term. However, this run on HD-DVR shows a clear demand for HD content. Comcast offers rental for their HD-DVR for a modest price, and no contract, and customers are snapping these units up. ON DEMAND had HD movies that can be viewed at the customers leisure, much of this content is at no additional charge. It has been posited that the format war is irrelevant due to people downloading HD content over the intertubes; however, the cable companies may make this argument irrelevant with the ON DEMAND feature, and the growing HD content. People want HD content, but are not willing to get hosed in the process by greedy corporations trying to win an unnecessary format war.
is everyone but me ignorant? this says they are out of DVR boxes. DVR > but not = HD Box.
Just because they are out of DVR's does not mean they dont have Non-DVR HD boxes.
The problem here, is patents.
The enitre HD scene is chock loaded with patent upon patent dealing with nearly every aspect of the hardware, software and content of the Cable/PVR/TV suite. It is impossible for competitors to emerge when the big companies involved are bristling with frivolous lawsuit ready patent portfolios.
Without fear of patents, imagine the possibilities. There's probably two dozen people reading this story who could string together a company selling linux based PVRs. I've half toyed with the idea of setting up some kind of company making pimped out terabyte TiVo/PVR home servers streaming content wirelessly to Joe SixPack's TV. I'd sell it to him like a microwave oven, and I'd make it usable. Off the shelf parts, screw it together yourself. You could make 30 a month in your garage.
But its a fantasy, and not only because I'm no real entrepreneur. For a start, thanks to the cable monopoly, I could never really get the PVR to "Just Work" with the cable signal. And that's before TiVo et al come pounding on my door with cease and desist orders.
Imagine how real entrepreneurs must feel. There's honest to goodness market out there, waiting with its cash for a good product. People want it, you can make it, but you just can't sell it.
But hey! Thats what patents are all about right? Stopping those greedy garage geeks dishonestly profiting from the tireless innovations of companies like Time Warner. Without patents, Time Warners CEOs would starve!
May the Maths Be with you!
Headline the week after the Super Bowl: "Time Warner Cable runs out of storage space for returned HD DVRs".
I've been told that a surprising number of people buy a big-screen HDTV, watch the game, and return it the day after. People like them are the reason the rest of us get sacked with restocking fees.
And then, when consumers complain, Cable companies will then have to switch out all that MPEG2 hardware for MPEG4, just like the Satellite companies did, and its just going to be bloody hell on you folks.
Yes, pure hell. I'll just kill myself now. I have Comcast HD with the HD DVR. The DVR is flaky at times, but the HD channels rarely pixelate. For $10 extra per month for both the DVR and HD, I'll live with it. If this calamatous world view you predict pans out, well, I think my life will get along just fine nonetheless.
Bloody hell? Uh, not really.