As if we don’t already have enough to worry about, now they’re running ominous messages on our TV screens telling us that the entire country is converting from analog to digital TV signals on February 18, 2009..(date changed to June 12, 2009)
...
Eek! What does that mean? What will happen to us? Is this like when they told us we were going metric? Do we have to buy a new watch?
...
What are we supposed to do? Throw out our older TVs and buy new ones? Do those grand poobahs think we’re made of money? What will happen to all our junked tube televisions? Imagine all that toxic waste.
...
We can’t take any more planned obsolescence. Not to sound like an old crank but… LP. Reel to reel tape. Eight tracks. Audio cassettes. CD’s. MP3’s. Video cassettes. (Fortunately, we missed that whole Beta debacle.) DVD. Hi-Def. And now BluRay. Enough already.
...
Here at CHEAPIOSITY we don't throw out TV’s until they're dead. And even then, we dispose of them ecologically and mindfully. So what does all this digital conversion mean to the cautious consumer?
...
Even if those continuous crawls are meant to alarm you, don’t panic. If you already subscribe to a satellite, cable, dish or whatever else your phone company or local conglamerate offers, you probably have to do nothing. Check with your service provider to be sure; assume nothing. Waiting till the last minute is not a good policy.
...
If you are still using an antenna for your television reception, you are going to need a converter box.
...
These converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration have begun accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the converter boxes.
...
To request your coupons, consumers can apply online at http://www.dTV2009.gov/. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009)
...
When they ordered the transition to digital broadcasting, Congress set aside $1.5 billion for the coupon program, which will fund 33.5 million coupons and other costs. These coupons come in the form of a gift card with an expiration date of approximately 90 days. When you receive your card/coupon, check the expiration date and make sure to use it within the allotted time period to insure you get the savings. With the card/coupon comes a list of the stores in your area that will carry the converter boxes. Don't procrastinate....get your boxes now or you may be forced to pay full price. As you now, for all of us at CHEAPIOSITY, retail is a dirty word.
...
Don’t take our word for any of this stuff. Here’s the official scoop:
...
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/televisions/non-digital-tvs/digital-converter-boxes/digital-tv-converter-boxes-first-look-3-08/overview/digital-tv-converter-boxes-first-look.htm
...
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=340120
...
Bottom line: Don't throw out your old TV....it will probably last a lot longer than the new ones. Those giant plasma and LCD screens are super cool and flashy, but we all know prices are bound to go down soon. If your aging TV is still limping along, you can trade up for very little cash. Tons of non-CHEAPIOSITY readers are dumping their uncool but perfectly reliable TV’s and replacing them with the newest stuff. Our old 40” Mitsubishi tube set died last week, and before racing out to spend a couple of grand on a new set, we checked Craigslist and found a replacement for under two hundred dollars. There were literally HUNDREDS of people getting rid of their TV sets for pennies on the dollar; some were even FREE. Check around in local newspapers and on Craigslist.
...
Eek! What does that mean? What will happen to us? Is this like when they told us we were going metric? Do we have to buy a new watch?
...
What are we supposed to do? Throw out our older TVs and buy new ones? Do those grand poobahs think we’re made of money? What will happen to all our junked tube televisions? Imagine all that toxic waste.
...
We can’t take any more planned obsolescence. Not to sound like an old crank but… LP. Reel to reel tape. Eight tracks. Audio cassettes. CD’s. MP3’s. Video cassettes. (Fortunately, we missed that whole Beta debacle.) DVD. Hi-Def. And now BluRay. Enough already.
...
Here at CHEAPIOSITY we don't throw out TV’s until they're dead. And even then, we dispose of them ecologically and mindfully. So what does all this digital conversion mean to the cautious consumer?
...
Even if those continuous crawls are meant to alarm you, don’t panic. If you already subscribe to a satellite, cable, dish or whatever else your phone company or local conglamerate offers, you probably have to do nothing. Check with your service provider to be sure; assume nothing. Waiting till the last minute is not a good policy.
...
If you are still using an antenna for your television reception, you are going to need a converter box.
...
These converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration have begun accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the converter boxes.
...
To request your coupons, consumers can apply online at http://www.dTV2009.gov/. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009)
...
When they ordered the transition to digital broadcasting, Congress set aside $1.5 billion for the coupon program, which will fund 33.5 million coupons and other costs. These coupons come in the form of a gift card with an expiration date of approximately 90 days. When you receive your card/coupon, check the expiration date and make sure to use it within the allotted time period to insure you get the savings. With the card/coupon comes a list of the stores in your area that will carry the converter boxes. Don't procrastinate....get your boxes now or you may be forced to pay full price. As you now, for all of us at CHEAPIOSITY, retail is a dirty word.
...
Don’t take our word for any of this stuff. Here’s the official scoop:
...
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/televisions/non-digital-tvs/digital-converter-boxes/digital-tv-converter-boxes-first-look-3-08/overview/digital-tv-converter-boxes-first-look.htm
...
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=340120
...
Bottom line: Don't throw out your old TV....it will probably last a lot longer than the new ones. Those giant plasma and LCD screens are super cool and flashy, but we all know prices are bound to go down soon. If your aging TV is still limping along, you can trade up for very little cash. Tons of non-CHEAPIOSITY readers are dumping their uncool but perfectly reliable TV’s and replacing them with the newest stuff. Our old 40” Mitsubishi tube set died last week, and before racing out to spend a couple of grand on a new set, we checked Craigslist and found a replacement for under two hundred dollars. There were literally HUNDREDS of people getting rid of their TV sets for pennies on the dollar; some were even FREE. Check around in local newspapers and on Craigslist.
No comments:
Post a Comment