OK guys, how about a little help? First the background:
I was a first generation DirecTV subscriber (before DISH, and during the time that you had to subscribe to USSB to get premiums). Then I went to DISH, and was a happy camper for a number of years, until they kept "upgrading" my PVR 721 firmware, making my units buggier and less user friendly as time went along. The last straw was when E* went back on their promise to bring name based recording to the 721. I went to Comcast.
I've been on Comcast for almost 3 years now, and while the Motorola boxes are somewhat buggy, and I have a couple of HDMI/HDCP annoyances, I like the idea of having two HD DVRs without having to shell out $600. What I don't like is the fact that Comcast moves as slow as a snail when it comes to implementing bug fixes. I also don't like the fact that their "techs" know less about my HT system than I do. On top of that, I think (but I'm not sure) I can do better on price, comparing apples to apples. I'm also concerned about the limitations of bandwidth for cable TV, and what that means for my HD channels moving down the road.
My girlfriend has DirecTV at her apartment. While her boxes are not the latest and greatest HD, or even DVRs, I absolutely hate the D* interface. It's far worse than the E* interface that I remember, and even worse than Comcast, IMO. Put that on top of the fact that they've entered into an exclusivity contract with her building, and the fact that I still have a bad taste in my mouth over their monopoly pricing before DISH came onto the scene, and I really don't want to give D* any of my own money.
E* has a promo running right now that will give me up to 4 rooms of TV (I only need 2 now, and more later) and up to three of those will be HD. They have some 6 month and 3 month intro offers that I really don't factor into this much, because I could probably get similar pricing from Comcast if I called and complained. My main concern is the hardware. I want HD DVR capability in at least two rooms, and DISH won't give that to me without my purchasing a second 722 (see $600 comment above).
I can go on with more detail, but let me just start by throwing out some general questions.
How do you guys who have experience with it feel about the 722/622? Does it work nicely in two rooms? Software seem to work OK? Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
Also, wondering what you guys are hearing/feeling about the continued rollout of HD channels. I know I can get nearly 40 on DISH, and D* is promising 8,000,000 at some as yet undetermined time (sarcastic tone intended). Comcast is only broadcasting about 12 right now, and only a little over half of those are worth watching. Plus, I have to share my regional Fox sports HD broadcasts with MOJO, and I get about one out of every three Rockies games on HD. Frustrating to say the least. But who do you guys think is going to offer the best moving forward over the next 12-18 months? If I am getting the best, or near the best HD package for the money from DISH for the next 12 or so months I don't mind giving them a try, and committing for 18 months.
I was a first generation DirecTV subscriber (before DISH, and during the time that you had to subscribe to USSB to get premiums). Then I went to DISH, and was a happy camper for a number of years, until they kept "upgrading" my PVR 721 firmware, making my units buggier and less user friendly as time went along. The last straw was when E* went back on their promise to bring name based recording to the 721. I went to Comcast.
I've been on Comcast for almost 3 years now, and while the Motorola boxes are somewhat buggy, and I have a couple of HDMI/HDCP annoyances, I like the idea of having two HD DVRs without having to shell out $600. What I don't like is the fact that Comcast moves as slow as a snail when it comes to implementing bug fixes. I also don't like the fact that their "techs" know less about my HT system than I do. On top of that, I think (but I'm not sure) I can do better on price, comparing apples to apples. I'm also concerned about the limitations of bandwidth for cable TV, and what that means for my HD channels moving down the road.
My girlfriend has DirecTV at her apartment. While her boxes are not the latest and greatest HD, or even DVRs, I absolutely hate the D* interface. It's far worse than the E* interface that I remember, and even worse than Comcast, IMO. Put that on top of the fact that they've entered into an exclusivity contract with her building, and the fact that I still have a bad taste in my mouth over their monopoly pricing before DISH came onto the scene, and I really don't want to give D* any of my own money.
E* has a promo running right now that will give me up to 4 rooms of TV (I only need 2 now, and more later) and up to three of those will be HD. They have some 6 month and 3 month intro offers that I really don't factor into this much, because I could probably get similar pricing from Comcast if I called and complained. My main concern is the hardware. I want HD DVR capability in at least two rooms, and DISH won't give that to me without my purchasing a second 722 (see $600 comment above).
I can go on with more detail, but let me just start by throwing out some general questions.
How do you guys who have experience with it feel about the 722/622? Does it work nicely in two rooms? Software seem to work OK? Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
Also, wondering what you guys are hearing/feeling about the continued rollout of HD channels. I know I can get nearly 40 on DISH, and D* is promising 8,000,000 at some as yet undetermined time (sarcastic tone intended). Comcast is only broadcasting about 12 right now, and only a little over half of those are worth watching. Plus, I have to share my regional Fox sports HD broadcasts with MOJO, and I get about one out of every three Rockies games on HD. Frustrating to say the least. But who do you guys think is going to offer the best moving forward over the next 12-18 months? If I am getting the best, or near the best HD package for the money from DISH for the next 12 or so months I don't mind giving them a try, and committing for 18 months.