Thread: Just dropped E* HD Absolute pack

I switched from E* to D* in 2/08, but around 6/08 added an E* foreign pack, then before 8/1 added the HD Absolute pack to compare the HD services between the two, with no E* early cancellation charge. Once the comparisons were done, I thought the E* HD PQ was acceptable, a bit downrezzed than D* but nothing to be noticed from a normal viewing distance.

Besides the E* HD Absolute pack was a killer deal, had all the channels the family watched anyway. I was going to put my D* account on a long vacation hold and called E* to see how they might be able to compete with D* on the multiple HDDVR and single DVR fee deal.

Well E* is still living in the same HD hardware lease world they did about a year ago, no more than 4 tuners on a lease, saving only the 2nd DVR fee if you have AT100 or up.

Even though I really liked The Travel Channels HD and the HBO HD lineup, another account cost is just not worth it, so dropped E* again. That was twice in about 7 months.

I feel bad becaue E* wanted me to go back so badly they give me all free installation, $120 discount, plus $50 discount, plus free HBO, Starz for free for 6 months and agreed not to charge me any early concellation fee if I left.

They probably lost $1,500 total in hardware, discounts and labor, all because they refused to lease me four HDDVRs, and I did not even mind the 612s, I only needed one 722, so three additional 612s would have been fine for me, but no no, can't do, we'd rather you leave.

Who knows, once I am totally gone, they might call me again and offer me some new sub deal again, taking another $1,500 hit just to add another statistics on their net new sub count, yet they could have just leased me four HDDVRs and kept collecting the monthly fees from me.

This was the same reason I left Dish a year ago. I left Directv for Dish a few years ago. I then wanted to have more than their limit of 4 tuners without spending the money on buying the hardware. They would not budge on it so i returned back to Directv. This was not the only reason that I left but if they would have helped me out I would have dealt with the other issues. Seems to me that they would change this policy but so far they haven't. I guess they think that people don't have a need for more than 4 TV's in their house.

After deciding to drop E* HD, I finally proceeded to download the CE program on to one of my HR21s to be able to get the new 1080p movies from D*. The download went well, both movies were downloaded without any issue.

In comparison to the DISH 1080p VOD program, I think the D* 1080p is better managed, in that you don't test your TV's 1080p/24 compatibility each time you start a movie, but do so in the setup menu. So if your set is not fully compatible, it will just stay at 1080i, you still get to watch the 1080p movies, only the output is in 1080i not 1080p/24 and there is no dreaded test at each movie start.

Not to mention the two free 1080p movies from D* (The Buck list and The Bank Job) are much better movies than the two $2.99/ea. movies from E* (I Am Legend and 10,000BC)

Originally Posted by jacmyoung

Not to mention the two free 1080p movies from D* (The Buck list and The Bank Job) are much better movies than the two $2.99/ea. movies from E* (I Am Legend and 10,000BC)

While the content is debatable, the underlined above is what makes them better at this point!

Originally Posted by msmith198025

While the content is debatable, the underlined above is what makes them better at this point!

Ironically VODs that are free will stay for a long time, in the case of TBL and TBJ on D*, good till 12/08. Pay VODs like PPVs last only 24 hours, such as the IAL and 10KBC on E*.

And after seeing all four, to me there is no debate which two movies are better ones

Originally Posted by jacmyoung

After deciding to drop E* HD, I finally proceeded to download the CE program on to one of my HR21s to be able to get the new 1080p movies from D*. The download went well, both movies were downloaded without any issue.

In comparison to the DISH 1080p VOD program, I think the D* 1080p is better managed, in that you don't test your TV's 1080p/24 compatibility each time you start a movie, but do so in the setup menu. So if your set is not fully compatible, it will just stay at 1080i, you still get to watch the 1080p movies, only the output is in 1080i not 1080p/24 and there is no dreaded test at each movie start.

Not to mention the two free 1080p movies from D* (The Buck list and The Bank Job) are much better movies than the two $2.99/ea. movies from E* (I Am Legend and 10,000BC)

Like it was said--the free matters more so than when the testing is done. AFAIK, the Dish receiver will also convert to 1080i if the display does not seem 1080p24 compatible. Dropping to 1080i is a rather strange statement as a lot of good 1080p displays can concert 1080i60 back to 1080p24.

Originally Posted by allargon

Like it was said--the free matters more so than when the testing is done.

I agree, but for now because D* 1080p is in testing mode, we get them for free, and the free movies will stay on the harddrive long enough for everyone to get a chance to watch.

AFAIK, the Dish receiver will also convert to 1080i if the display does not seem 1080p24 compatible.

Unfortunately for a lot of displays that are not compatible, such as my Panny 1080p plasma, it does not say so, instead it played the movie as if they were compatible, but the images were on the upper left corners only. One would have to know how to go into the menu setup to reset to 1080i or 720p to correct it, but not all veiwers knew how to do that. I don't know if this is fixed now or not.

...a lot of good 1080p displays can concert 1080i60 back to 1080p24.

I am at loss of this statement, can you elaborate?

Originally Posted by allargon

Like it was said--the free matters more so than when the testing is done.

I agree, but for now because D* 1080p is in testing mode, we get them for free, and the free movies will stay on the harddrive long enough for everyone to get a chance to watch.

AFAIK, the Dish receiver will also convert to 1080i if the display does not seem 1080p24 compatible.

Unfortunately for a lot of displays that are not compatible, such as my Panny 1080p plasma, it does not say so, instead it played the movie as if they were compatible, but the images were on the upper left corners only. One would have to know how to go into the menu setup to reset to 1080i or 720p to correct it, but not all veiwers knew how to do that. I don't know if this is fixed now or not.

...a lot of good 1080p displays can concert 1080i60 back to 1080p24.

I am at a loss of this statement, can you elaborate?

Dup