cheaper I-net and telephone service

[dabroots]

I'm thinking about making a New Year's resolution to get rid of my cable TV, as I end up watching just way too much junk. I'm currently paying Comcast something like $145 a month for a combination of cable TV with HBO, cable modem for Internet, and my telephone service. Any suggestions for how I can get simply high-speed Internet service and

Comments

[avocado_tom]

Verizon DSL + Landline runs me about $60-65/month. It's not the cheapest/slowest plan, but not the fastest either.

Couple that with Netflix and/or Netflix w/ a new netflix streaming box and you're at <$80/month with all the movies you can handle.

I'm not saying Verizon is great or anything, and I don't know if you can even get normal DSL anymore (as oppsoed to whatever other new service that they have and keep trying to pimp to me), but it's fairly fast and I've had few problems over the last ~4 years.

[dabroots]

Good ideas.

I already have Netflix and get new movies a few times a month, but way too often I end up watching reruns of whatever on cable, or so-so movies on HBO. As it is, I also get at least as many movies through the Allegheny County Library network as I do through Netflix.

Something I'm ignorant about is the Netflix streaming box. I've heard of it, but is it hooked directly into your TV, or through a PC or laptop?

[crowheart]

it can either be wireless or wired - hooked up from your internet line to your tv. we've had one for a while now and we LOVE it.

[relena_wolf]

If you have an S-Video port on both your computer's video card and your TV, you can basically do the same thing as the box without having it. Exactly how your computer will interact with your TV depends on the video card, but I just run all of my "Instant" videos this way.

Be aware that a lot of the foreign films are really poorly translated on instant. If Showtime produced it, it will be unwatchable, which is a pity.

[acrossthewalls]

I think you have to have really basic cable (like, 23 channels) to get cable internet, but it's like, maybe $50-60 dollars for that? As for phone, you could just do a really basic land-line with the phone company, or if you already have a cell, you could try going without a landline as well. Landline plans vary as much as cell plans in my experience, so make sure you get what you need.

Anyways, I've been sans cable for about a year and a half now, and here's how you stay entertained: network websites, www.hulu.com (ligit and won't virus up your computer), and netflix. If you don't have a laptop, situate your desktop near your tv, get an s-video cable, and go. Hulu puts a lot of shows up about a week after new episodes air, so you don't have to be a year behind like for dvds, and many network sites put a decent smattering of full episodes online. That and you read more books :) Also, don't forget about your local library, many of which have decent dvd collections. And books.

[dabroots]

Hulu is completely new to me. I'll look it up. Thanks!

[mycatsellsclues]

Hulu is Teh Awesome

[dabroots]

Just by chance, a bit later I was looking for a clip of Dan Ackroyd's excellent Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute and found thisHulu-based video.

Re: Pre-tea brain.

[dabroots]

I don't especially need a landline but I'm currently using a pay-as-you-go cell. Besides, I'd miss having the landline number. Not sure what to do with that part of my wired world.

Re: Pre-tea brain.

[relena_wolf]

We use Skype for our "landline," which has the benefit of also working anywhere we're at on vacation with an internet connection. It costs about $60/year for a phone number, voicemail and unlimited calling to the US and Canada. It does require a USB phone if you want to be untethered from your computer, but that's only $30 and a one-time cost. We don't make that many phone calls and the ones we make are generally "long-distance," so the price for service can't be beat.

[allthingsnoisy]

I didn't even bother getting cable in my new house, I just signed up with Verizon for a landline and DSL.

The problem is that I've swapped the hours I used to spend watching TV with sitting on the interwebs.

[marzipan_robots]

Fios, if you can get it.

Awesome, and we only pay like $100, but that includes cable.

[dabroots]

I've been hearing about Fios. I'm out in Swissvale, and not sure if they've reached this area, just yet.

[allthingsnoisy]

Swissvale got FIOS long before many other areas did! I am in Squill and still no FIOS. Harumph.

[dabroots]

Shows you how close I haven't been paying attention. I'm surprised I haven't gotten any solicitations from them.