[opendtv] Re: (No Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 10:30:37 -0400

  • From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sat, 02 Oct 2004 13:17:04 -0400

Cliff -

That bothers me also.  Zenith has always claimed the next bigger billy 
goat is just right behind, and will be just what is needed.  And 
previously we have been disappointed with each successive generation.

OTOH, the credibility of the Schubin test and the people involved has 
made me more optimistic this time.  Of course the 5th gen chip may end 
up being like the Linx and never (so far) make it to market for some 
reason.  But I did see another statement by USDTV only in the last week 
or so still claiming inclusion of gen 5 chips in their boxes by the end 
of the year.  They certainly have the incentive.  And if they also do 
$200 Walmart boxes with these chips it could single handedly drive the 
HD transition if the darn things really work.  I'm hoping the previous 
Walmart deal wasn't just a way to dump extra 4th gen boxes.

However I will go on record here that this is the LAST time I will be 
fooled by Zenith/LG if for some reason these gen 5 boxes do not appear 
and work as promised.  No more free shots.

- Tom



cbenham@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> All of this is great, but in every posting one thing is missing:
> 
> The name and address of the store that is selling 5th generation 
> ATSC receivers today. 
> 
> Where are they?
> 
> 
> 
>>Tom Barry wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Craig Birkmaier wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I suspect that the manufacturers are just going to see how far they
>>>>can push this, until the FCC decides to enforce the regulations.
>>>>Perhaps by Christmas, as Mark Aitken suggests, we will see more
>>>>models with tuners as the next generation chips begin to be available.
>>>>
>>>>Watching and waiting...
>>>>
>>>
>>>I suspect that a very large consideration by the manufacturers in this 
>>>decision is the expected rate of customer returns, and that depends upon 
>>>whether the receivers can be expected to work satisfactorily for the 
>>>average buyer.
>>>
>>>With previous generations of chips you might expect buyers to be 
>>>disappointed if they tried to them use only a set top antenna. 
>>>Supposedly with the new Zenith gen 5 chips this will not be the case, 
>>>but we don't really know yet.  And we also do not know how much 
>>>Zenith/LG will be charging for those chips.  Is it more?
>>>
>>>I think the answers to the above might determine what percentage of sets 
>>>are just monitors next year, though the push to add cable card support 
>>>should also increase the ATSC receiver percentage.
>>>
>>>BTW, if HDTV's start appearing that really do work with set top 
>>>antennas, I wonder if that will increase the return rate of those that 
>>>don't since there then will be something to compare.  It could create 
>>>some de facto receiver quality standards.
>>>
>>>- Tom
>>> 
>>>
>>
>>Personally that is what I think will happen. There will be 5th gen 
>>receivers and all the rest will be classified as inferior. All pre 5th 
>>gen receivers will be devalued to ten cents on the dollar and sold on 
>>EBAY to people in Dallas and other flat land cities where they might 
>>still find a home.
>>
>>The "de facto receiver quality standards" as in all other products is a 
>>factor of word of mouth. With the Internet word of mouth is almost 
>>instantaneous. When real customers start comparing 5th gen with their 
>>fourth gen etc it won't take long. Who will be the early adopters of 5th 
>>gen receivers after all? Those who have problems with any current 
>>receiver and those with the worst problems first.
>>
>>Bob Miller
>> 
>> 
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