Battleangel | Personal

So, this neck of the woods is about to switch from analog to digital TV. Or that is to say, the analog transmissions are to be terminated in three weeks time. It’s not true to form to reject technological progress but this digital TV thing is not sitting well with me. It’s expensive (considering the slim improvements) and you end up with yet another box and yet another remote. Plus there is a good chance that the MPEG4 transition in a couple of years will force an upgrade of the current generation of settop boxes. Not to mention how every box on the market seems to be seriously crappy when put to a real test. It’s half-baked solutions all around.

Anyway, I got the basic Samsung DTB-B260V. Personally, I wont be getting a second box for my Media PC setup. There is no point. The encryption remains solid (no chance, except for card sharing, to access extra content) and besides, I don’t even watch regular public service television. Ever. You don’t need to when you have BitTorrent. The things I do watch aren’t on any of the regular channels. And if it’s on, and on time, it still isn’t available as easily as opening a file for playback. Plus, I’m paying for “broadband” and what else am I going to use it for?

About the box itself, it seems alright. Not terribly impressive. And I have nothing to compare it to of course. The main gripe so far is the remote which has a VERY limited angle IR transmitter. Range is good but the angle leaves a lot to be desired. But I have heard pretty much the same thing about many of the boxes.