Okay, I've Finally Said Goodbye To Cable...Need Some Advice...

[Amber Lamps]

Yep, turned in my boxes, I felt that it was a waste of money. I watched maybe 10 out of the 300 channels and paid $100/month. BTW basic cable is free in my complex. Now, I have a PS3 hooked up in the living room which I stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, Youtube, etc. I also have a laptop hooked up via HDMI/VGA in the liv/bedrooms respectively. Even though I've gotten the laptops to work remotely and they stream whatever I want (read-porno) to my bigscreens, the picture often lacks the polish and the sound is not as good from the computer either.

Solution: throw money at it! Seriously, I'm considering the Roku XDS $100, a WiFi enabled blueray player approx $200, a Boxee player $200 or a refurbed PS3 from Gamestop $250. Obviously, I'm leaning towards the PS3 since it has pretty much all of the capabilities of the other two BUT I'd thought I'd get some advice here before dropping the coin.

Pros and Cons;

Roku http://www.roku.com/

Pros, Is the cheapest route, has the smallest footprint and plays the most online content.

Cons, no storage and doesn't play user content via sd card, etc.

Boxee http://www.boxee.tv/

Pros, looks cool! Plays content and has storage capabilities. Sweet remote! Can be loaded/control from your computer.

Cons, no blueray, kind of expensive for what it does, doesn't support all of the services I am subscribed to yet.

High end blueray various

Let's just skip this one, it's not making sense.

PS3 http://us.playstation.com/

Pros, Um everything... It'll also allow me to play one player games online with my GF like Need For Speed...

Cons, Price

So what does everyone think? It's seems kinda silly to own two PS3s but the reasons I bought the first one also apply here...

[Akilldema]

I'd get another PS3. Gaming benefits for your girl/guests, can browse web etc, bluray player, etc.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Akilldema

I'd get another PS3. Gaming benefits for your girl/guests, can browse web etc, bluray player, etc.

Yea its almost a done deal really...everything else is missing some critical component.

[101lifts2]

How about don't get anything and use the free basic cable?

[Inferno]

Hell, seams like the PS3 will do it. I'm in the same boat, getting rid of cable tv(waste of damn money).

Anyways, I had that same problem with my old laptop with the picture, but they do make multi-media laptops with pertty good sound/vid drives.

Also, musta missed it, but do you have an antenna?

[EpyonXero]

Id like to get rid of cable but Id miss HD sports too much. If I could ever get something like a Google TV with a DVR and ala carte sports channels in HD I think I could do it. The rest I could torrent.

[Akilldema]

Not to mention Netflix on the PS3. I use that a lot.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Akilldema

Not to mention Netflix on the PS3. I use that a lot.

Yep, we're watching it now...

[Trip]

Could always get a 360, it can do all the streaming jazz and then you have access to the 360 only titles too.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Trip

Could always get a 360, it can do all the streaming jazz and then you have access to the 360 only titles too.

I considered that... I could trade in my old one for a new one...or towards a PS3...Geez, I never thought of that! Oh btw I will never use my old Xbox again... RROD 3 times in less than 2 months of light use. Besides, I gave away the steering wheel, controllers, games, WiFi adapter, HDD... So it would be more trouble than it's worth. Anyway, that would eliminate the possibility of us playing games together. I think Gamestop would give me about $20 for it... It's still in the box from Microsoft.

That's a good suggestion though! Thanks.