[opendtv] Re: Twenty comments; Re: Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay DTV Transition
- From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 17:38:40 -0800
"absence of television will be a great motivator"
I heard a fool from Consumer's Union tonight on NPR. He wants to hold the
transition in abeyance until "everyone" has the necessary equipment. Pure
folly. Some people will decide it's just too tough and will go off-grid.
To wait for everyone is to wait forever.
John Willkie
_____
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Barry Wilkins
Enviado el: Friday, January 09, 2009 5:09 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Twenty comments; Re: Re: Obama Asks Congress to Delay
DTV Transition
I agree with John. Those who have been warned in plain English on their
antiquated analogue TVs have been warned. How many people do you think would
not take notice if you advertised on their TV for 3 years that a maniac was
going to detonate a bomb in their neighbourhood on a certain day?
It is a matter of complacency and I imagine, apart from those who are
mentally infirm who cannot comprehend the significance, or cannot even
afford the small cost, the others get what they deserve for their
complacency.
Technology can not be expected to stand still for the benefit of those who
pine for the way it was and always should be. There is plenty of technology
out there to make it so but it will cost them.
Nobody complained about the increased cost of radial tyres when they first
came out. They have no doubt saved countless lives. Technology moves on
ceaselessly and so it should.
Barry
On Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 6:47 AM, Cliff Benham <flyback1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Barry Wilkins wrote:
Why, exactly, should at the very last minute, a delay be made to account for
all those who must surely have been adequately forewarned of this momentous
change?
Because the Obama administration senses that lots of ordinary people don't
understand what the transition means.
Do you really believe that most citizens who take TV for granted have paid
much attention to all the "forewarnings"?
Do you believe that they will understand when suddenly, on Feb 18th, they
don't get any pictures on the TV that has served them well and provides all
the connection they want or need to the world? Unlike the people on this
list, most of whom have workd in the TV broadcast industry and are well
versed on the transition, most people just expect the TV channels to be
there when they wake up every day, and will be abruptly surprised when they
suddenly can't get the weather.
Those coupons your government generously distributes to the needy are
something rather unique to the USA. I do not believe any other countries had
such a handout to the populace. I paid my NZ $399 for my STB and I consider
it well worth it.
Does your $399 box provide high definition video to your TV set, or just
decimate the digital signal back down to analog PAL?
The [subsidized $20] set top 'coupon' boxes over here provide ONLY analog
NTSC video and stereo analog sound outputs, not even S-Video! They only
allow your old analog TV to keep working, but do not produce an HD picture.
Your STBs are so cheap in comparison even without the subsidy, I fail to see
what the fuss is about. As I mentioned on one other occasion, the cost
surely must be no more than a good night out at a restaurant for 2.
$20 might cover dinner at 'Cheeseburger City' but not a "good night out at a
restaurant for 2" which could easily cost $399 plus
tip.
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