COMCAAAAST!!!!!

Comcast has done it again. It's like they are trying to make me hate them. Why, Comcast, why? I was finally free of the cable box and its attendant wires with the HDTV, but now they're trying to force me to get one again. I just pay $10/month for the network channels because my building has zero reception, so why do I need a box? The above article implies that I can still get channels 2-23 without a box, I will just lose random channels like Food & Travel that I don't really watch anyway. Let's hope so, or my rage against them will be mighty.

The new system also seems to be interfering with my EyeTV so I can't set it to record ahead, just while the show is on. This isn't too big a problem, because I mostly record shows when something else is on at the same time or to watch later with my sweetie. Still, it irks me. It couldn't possibly be because they want me to pay a monthly fee for their PVR, could it? Oh noooooo.

When I got an extra cable hookup to connect to my EyeTV, the salesguy tried to convince me to get a PVR. He said it's better than an AppleTV because you get upgrades for free due to the subscription. Of course, I only thought of the perfect response after I hung up: "Do I get a discount on my subscription when there's no upgrades or I don't want the upgrade?" Not to mention, what did it cost when AppleTV's software upgrade allowed me to search radio stations? That would be zero dollars.

If Comcast does try forcing me into a box by eliminating network channels, it will just throw me into the arms of one of the new alternatives. I'm not such an extreme Apple fangirl that I won't try something new if the prophesied new, improved Apple TV isn't good enough or is too expensive. Will it be a Hulu Plus device, Google TV, the Boxee box, or some as yet unnamed wonder? This is a whole new area of excitement but also confusion. I was hoping to wait a bit and see how things shake out, but Comcast may have just forced my hand. Nice job!