Microsoft makes incredibly lame attempt to replace your cable box

Dan Seitz Contributing Writer, Tech

Speaking as Guyism’s gadget guy, I’m a cord cutter. There’s no reason for me to buy cable: if I need to watch crappy sitcoms or ’80s movies, Netflix and Hulu have plenty of both, and they’re a lot cheaper. Also, they don’t make me pay for stuff I can get for free, unlike cable. And I support streaming video coming to video game consoles because it gives the consumers a lot more choice.

But Microsoft is pumping a lot of hype into their initiative to replace your cable box with the overall results being…well…really weak, actually.
Screen Shot 2011 12 06 at 11.57.21 AM 309x202 Microsoft makes incredibly lame attempt to replace your cable box
Here’s the main problem: the addition to this new, dynamic system are…ESPN, EPIX, and the Today Show. Sure, HBO Go and Xfinity On Demand will be available in early 2012, but those aren’t even worth thinking about, because you have to already have a cable subscription to get those services in the first place, so instead of this being an incredible deal, it’s a cable box you pay $300 plus a connection fee on top of the cable fee you already pay to use, instead of renting one from the cable company for $100 a year.

Stop and consider that the 360′s main rival, the PlayStation 3, has MLB.tv, NFL Direct Ticket, NHL, Vudu, CinemaNow, Netflix, and Hulu. OK, running all of those isn’t cheap (not to mention the total lack of basketball), but it’s still cheaper than running a deluxe cable package, and, again, you’re in control. Or you could run a home theater PC into your TV, which definitely has its frustrations, but would at least also give you Amazon Instant Video and Google Video access as well.

Also, the Today Show? Really, guys? Kathie Lee and Hoodia or Hoodie or whatever? Really?

In short, it’s a lot of hype for a bad deal. But it could always be worse, we guess: it could be streaming the Kardashian Channel instead.

Microsoft’s bid to rule your living room begins tomorrow [Ars Technica]

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