Last month, I wrote about cutting the cord and our choice to move forward without cable or satellite service. Surprisingly, it's been an easy transition, and I'm happy with our decision.
Originally, we purchased a Boxee Box, but I wasn't thrilled with the interface and the device was returned within a couple days. While I can see the appeal, it seemed cluttered and had a significat amount of C-rated content that I simply wasn't interested in.
I got the impression Boxee was trying to be everything to everyone.
Also, I've learned there isn't a device that can single-handily replace cable. Boxee promised to stream our favorite shows from websites of the major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox) and include content from Comedy Central and other cable channels.
Streaming from the network sites was less than user-friendly, and content from Comedy Central was more about clips than episodes. To Boxee's defense, I've learned that cable companies seem willing to put their content on your computer because it likely won't replace television, but they draw the line when a device is designed to put the content on your TV through your internet connection.
So we've settled on two devices in our living room: an Apple TV and digital antenna. The antenna allows us to get about 20 channels, including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, MyNetwork, PBS, and several others (including lots of Spanish content I've deleted). The channels are in HD and the clarity is better than anything I ever received from Time Warner, Comcast, or Dish Network.
I've learned that we download most of the content we watch on the computer, which has made Apple TV the perfect choice for us. If you download through Apple TV, you pay for the content you choose to watch, and our television watching has become more productive, which is great.
But we haven't missed "Grey's Anatomy," "Law & Order: SVU," and I've become a big fan of "Breaking Bad." Soon, I plan to add "Hell on Wheels" to our list.
Another added benefit to Apple TV is the integration we have in our home. With a MacBook, iPod Touch, Apple Time Capsule, and Apple TV, everything works together. Next on our list are two iPhones, and iPad, and iMac. The seamless integration makes all the sense in the world. All of our music and videos are streamed from our computer to Apple TV with the smallest amount of setup; it literally comes out of the box, is enabled to share, and *boom*, it works.
I have missed two things: live sports and 24-hour news, but even sports has been less problematic. The digital antenna gives us Sunday football, and we caught the World Series, as well. The Astros will be on Fox Sports Net, so we won't see them, and now that basketball season is set to return, I won't catch the ESPN/TNT games, either.
Also, I've started getting my news from the YouTube interface on Apple TV, Podcasts, CNN.com, the radio, and the TV at the restaurant during the day.
I imagine there will be a day we turn the cable or satellite back on, but there's certainly a possibility we won't. I truly don't feel like we're missing anything. As a matter of fact, if Apple TV would include Hulu or Hulu Plus, we might just be set for good.
