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."

Comments

No Wonder Wiis Are Sitting Unsold On Shelves

[Anonymous Coward]

"Seems like almost everyone has bought an HDTV during the holidays"

Last thing someone with a HDTV wants is 480p content. The barren 2007 release schedule probably is playing a role too.

Re:Not a problem

[thebdj]

DiscoveryHD (which is worth it), TNT-HD, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Comcast SportsNet HD, INHD (which shows VS. NHL games), the OTA stuff (which living as far away from the transmitters as I do, it is a good thing to have cable). There is also Universal HD (I don't get it, but I know it exist.), HBO HD, Showtime HD, Starz HD, Cinemax HD (I think), and HD On-Demand.

There is tons of content, and it isn't all crap. If you watches Sports then ESPN and ESPN2 in HD are both well worth it. If you like the movie channels, then why not have HBO, Showtime, Starz, et. al. There is also a good share of content on Discovery HD that I enjoy watching.

Apparently, the satellite companies are adding tons more HD channels, which is hopefully going to start driving Cable Companies to increase the numbers as well. So, do you not like HDTV because you think "the content is still crap", you haven't watched enough of it to know, or do you not like HDTV because you do not have it or cannot afford it? (BTW, if you think Discovery HD is crap, are you sure you belong with the nerds on slashdot?)

Re:Not a problem

[aboyko]

Fortunately it's possible to receive HD cable programming without one of their HD boxes ... Oh, wait, you can't... Sure you can. Most cable companies don't encrypt the digital QAM feed for at least the local broadcast channels (and sometimes quite a few more channels), so a QAM tuner (built into many HD TVs, or available as an set top box or as a computer peripheral) will let you get HD content to do with as you will. I get something like 8 HD channels unencrypted. plus a few dozen SD digital channels, as a regular analog customer with no cable company-provided box.

Re:Not a problem

[thebdj]

You know, anyone I hear someone say they don't care for a product why does someone come along and say "you don't like [insert technology here] because you can't afford it." or roughly insinuate the same. It's a real nice backhanded argumentum ad hominem for when people really don't have much of a case to debate with the person but don't like what the person said. Cute. Because I can name a number of cases where this has been the case. You will find a number of people in this world who will berate things merely out of some degree of envy or jealousy. Are there people who do not want HD and could afford it? Yes, but he blatantly attacked a lack of content which is a terribly false assumption as I can list a fair number of HD channels.

Why do you join in on the lack of content? I know a lot of adopters who are sports fans, and maybe the fact that there is a good deal of sporting content in HD has something to do with that. Most prime time shows are now shown in HDTV. Of the top 20 rated shows from 1/17 - 1/21 of this year, I know that 14 of them are in HD. We have at least one local newcast in the DC metro in HD. If you get premium movie channels, there is an HD version available for the main channel of each. HD On-Demand is offered here. PBS has HD content and so does Discovery channel. INHD has shown movies older than me that have been converted to HD and they look GOOD. I hate using this as a source, but it will have to do.

One good channel doesn't validate dropping $100 let alone a thousand to most people -- sorry. Could I buy it? Sure. Just paid my new car off in 2 years. Would I care to waste my money on it at this point when I can wait 2 years, get a much higher quality set, and most likely 10-20x the amount of content? No thanks, I think-- you know, I'll invest some of that cash and maybe purchase a computer upgrade or two. I love your wait two years argument. You talk about spending money on computer upgrades, so you should know as well as anyone else that you can always wait for more features, for more power, or for lower prices, but at some point, you have to say it is time to invest. BTW, a lot of HDTV can be had for under $1000 if you know where to look. The price as actually gotten to the point where the difference between a regular definition set and an HD set is close enough to get some people to switch when their old TV blows up.

If someone wants to argue against HDTV, can you please come up with a better argument then a lack of content?