Michael "Gino" Giovacchini of La Contenta was about to cancel his Comcast cable television service until he experienced the company's new digital box.

"I can't believe the clarity I have now," Giovacchini said. "It's like a person with the beginnings of glaucoma having the eyes of a teenager again. I don't need my reading glasses to watch TV."

Nearly complete with installing its new technology in parts of Calaveras County, the early response has been positive for Comcast and many of its customers.

Back in May, Comcast announced the selection of Calaveras as a trial area to launch its new all-digital technology.

So far, expanded basic and digital service customers in San Andreas and parts of Valley Springs have received a new box with the new technology. Mokelumne Hill, Wallace and the rest of Valley Springs are due for installation by the second week of September.

Out of 7,100 Comcast customers in the county, 2,000 are affected. Basic cable customers are not affected.

"We're extremely pleased," Susan Gonzales, a Comcast representative said. "Customers are very happy with the new service, particularly video on demand. … Less than five people have opted not to take the new digital box."

Comcast on Demand offers viewers 1,900 hours of programming, 80 percent of which is free. It also features PBS Sprout, a children's network, which allows parents to turn on "Bob the Builder," or "Barney and Friends" at any time of the day.

That's something customers were very excited about during a June preview of the service at the Valley Oaks Shopping Center in Valley Springs.

"It's entertainment on their terms," Gonzales said.

Dating on demand, cooking shows and newly released movies are also available on video on demand.

Other new services are high definition television (HDTV) and digital video recording (DVR), which is available for customers in the trial area for $9.95.

The video on demand also has Giovacchini hooked.

"I haven't spent any money at the video stores in two weeks," he said. "I can watch a movie, put it on hold, fast forward and reverse. That's one of the nice things about the package n I can put it on hold and I can watch tonight at 10 p.m.

"You couldn't take it away."

Once all the new technology is installed, Comcast will conduct customer surveys to rate their satisfaction. The company will then determine the best way to offer its expanded services to other customers in Calaveras. All digital customers in the county that were outside the trial area will get video on demand.

Also, once all the trial areas are up and running, the HDTV service will be turned on, Gonzales said.

For more information contact 1-800-COMCAST.