Author Topic: Home Entertainment Advice (Read 7899 times)

Cartierfor3 · « **on:** May 23, 2011, 06:42:19 PM »

Here's the deal:

I have cable, Time Warner with DVR, but I'm starting to think Netflix and Hulu are a better option. I'd be perfectly content to not watch any TV live and just use the online services. My only fear is not being able to watch live sporting events. Do any of you do this and do you like using ESPN3 etc? Also would need a plan to watch Royals games.

Advice?

jtksu · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:51:42 PM »

You could get mlb.tv for the Royals games. It's a little pricey but you can watch like any game and you can even watch them on your phone.

Cartierfor3 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:52:29 PM »

does mlb.tv blackout games?

ew2x4 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:55:02 PM »

I did this last football season. I was able to watch every game through antenna, ESPN3, or some other streaming sites that may or may not be around. I think one game wasn't online and I went to a bar.

mlb.tv is a great option for baseball fans. You can watch any game, with any home or away announcer.

If you're looking for a set top box, get the Roku box. It's the only one that will do both netflix and hulu. Best option is HTPC, though (sorry SD).

ew2x4 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:56:03 PM »

Also, if the Big XII gets its act together and streams all games, it would be amazing. And don't worry about basketball. I was able to watch almost every game online.

Cartierfor3 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:56:40 PM »

Quote from: ew2x4 on May 23, 2011, 06:55:02 PM

I did this last football season. I was able to watch every game through antenna, ESPN3, or some other streaming sites that may or may not be around. I think one game wasn't online and I went to a bar.

mlb.tv is a great option for baseball fans. You can watch any game, with any home or away announcer.

If you're looking for a set top box, get the Roku box. It's the only one that will do both netflix and hulu. Best option is HTPC, though (sorry SD).

what about the mlb.tv blackout stuff?

Paul Moscow · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2011, 06:57:22 PM »

Quote from: CartierFor3 on May 23, 2011, 06:52:29 PM

does mlb.tv blackout games?

Blacked me out in NY from all the yankees and mets games. You can set a "home" team but it has to be different than whatever market you reside in.

Also, had major issues with stream quality. It would fall in and out of HD and Standard on its own. This was 2009 though. The internets have gotten a bit better.

Stevesie60 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2011, 07:04:09 PM »

atdhe.me is the best site for watching live sports events. It's how I watch everything that's not on ESPN3.

Saulbadguy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2011, 07:55:37 PM »

Royals will be blacked out in Kansas or Missouri.

jtksu · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:00:19 PM »

Didn't realize they blacked games out. (I only watch Twins games on it.) That's pretty rough ridin' stupid.

HeinBallz · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2011, 08:53:14 PM »

has anyone messed with PlayOn HD? I've been looking at this very thing recently. I don't think it requires a service or anything, and you can even throw in a hard-drive to use it as a DVR. From what I understand - anyway.... I'm just at the beginning of researching and I haven't really looked into all of the details yet.

ew2x4 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2011, 10:56:47 PM »

Quote from: HeinBallz on May 23, 2011, 08:53:14 PM

has anyone messed with PlayOn HD? I've been looking at this very thing recently. I don't think it requires a service or anything, and you can even throw in a hard-drive to use it as a DVR. From what I understand - anyway.... I'm just at the beginning of researching and I haven't really looked into all of the details yet.

$300 for not much, IMO. What are you wanting to do with it?

HeinBallz · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2011, 11:24:29 PM »

I think you're looking at the wrong thing there - perhaps the price you saw was in euros? The most expensive one you can buy for the Americas is $179. Basically wouldn't be doing anything that a dedicated computer set up as a media station wouldn't do - it would just be more convenient. Stream HD content from Hulu / netflix & all of the natgeo/espn/cbs/whatev that the basic playOn player streams to xbox360/ps3/wii/etc but also be able to throw in TB drive & use it as a dvr. What I'm curious about is if this thing would be able to DVR over the air programming coming from an antenna? The whole using my computer as a DVR to capture on-air programming via antenna just seems like a tremendous pain in the ass.

Why would I want to DVR on-air stuff you may ask? Mrs. Heinballz and I only get a chance to watch TV after the little Heinball-ets are in bed and I don't like watching Biggest loser on Wednesday when I could be watching it at 9:00pm Tuesday.

I'm not even considering popping on this thing yet - just looking at all of the options out there. I don't even know if that thing gets ESPN3, even though PlayOn does through my wii - which is really shitty video quality for anything not Hulu or ESPN3 - but it beats paying Cox crap-tons of $$ a month when I could get nearly 95% of the stuff we watch for free by antenna or streaming.

ew2x4 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2011, 11:36:03 PM »

Quote from: HeinBallz on May 23, 2011, 11:24:29 PM

I think you're looking at the wrong thing there - perhaps the price you saw was in euros? The most expensive one you can buy for the Americas is $179. Basically wouldn't be doing anything that a dedicated computer set up as a media station wouldn't do - it would just be more convenient. Stream HD content from Hulu / netflix & all of the natgeo/espn/cbs/whatev that the basic playOn player streams to xbox360/ps3/wii/etc but also be able to throw in TB drive & use it as a dvr. What I'm curious about is if this thing would be able to DVR over the air programming coming from an antenna? The whole using my computer as a DVR to capture on-air programming via antenna just seems like a tremendous pain in the ass.

Why would I want to DVR on-air stuff you may ask? Mrs. Heinballz and I only get a chance to watch TV after the little Heinball-ets are in bed and I don't like watching Biggest loser on Wednesday when I could be watching it at 9:00pm Tuesday.

I'm not even considering popping on this thing yet - just looking at all of the options out there. I don't even know if that thing gets ESPN3, even though PlayOn does through my wii - which is really shitty video quality for anything not Hulu or ESPN3 - but it beats paying Cox crap-tons of $$ a month when I could get nearly 95% of the stuff we watch for free by antenna or streaming.

I did a google shopping search, but all of those have over priced hard drives included. I'm not really familiar with its capabilities, but that website sucks for info. Let me know what you find out about OTA DVR capabilities.

steve dave · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2011, 07:13:09 AM »

make, like, a tiny bit more money and just have both

hemmy · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2011, 08:53:28 AM »

Quote from: steve dave on May 24, 2011, 07:13:09 AM

make, like, a tiny bit more money and just have both

To me its more of the principal of supporting a worthless sack of crap company like Time Warner. Their prices (especially internet) are absurd and their service sucks.

steve dave · « **Reply #16 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:03:20 AM »

Quote from: hemmy on May 24, 2011, 08:53:28 AM

Quote from: steve dave on May 24, 2011, 07:13:09 AM
make, like, a tiny bit more money and just have both

To me its more of the principal of supporting a worthless sack of crap company like Time Warner. Their prices (especially internet) are absurd and their service sucks.

sounds like something a poor person would say

HeinBallz · « **Reply #17 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:14:24 AM »

yeah. Life would be easier if I had more money no doubt. FWIW, I would have more money if it wasn't for the wife & kids

I guess what I'm saying is, don't have kids SD

DON'T DO IT

HeinBallz · « **Reply #18 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:14:54 AM »

For real though, I would rather have my kids than expensive cable.

FOR REAL

HeinBallz · « **Reply #19 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:15:19 AM »

<--- easily my favorite emoticon

steve dave · « **Reply #20 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:19:01 AM »

Quote from: HeinBallz on May 24, 2011, 09:14:24 AM

yeah. Life would be easier if I had more money no doubt. FWIW, I would have more money if it wasn't for the wife & kids

I guess what I'm saying is, don't have kids SD

DON'T DO IT

ok

kitten_mittons · « **Reply #21 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:28:41 AM »

Yeah, Time Warner blows. Get DirecTV and Netflix.

ew2x4 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:07:03 AM »

I think you guys watch more tv than i do.

CHONGS · « **Reply #23 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:09:00 AM »

I have a Roku and its pretty good for what it is.

HeinBallz · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:58:46 PM »

Quote from: Chingon on May 24, 2011, 10:09:00 AM

I have a Roku and its pretty good for what it is.

was curious about this as well, but I want to be able to stream Hulu without paying for Hulu's premium service.

Also, do you get ESPN3 on Roku?