If they are offering premium cable channel shows for free might not be legit, depends on the shows or some sites like that just link to other sites or you get maleware when trying to watch a show. I noticed some networks lately make you log in with your provider info to use their app so I would think those ones are not offering the shows free online like that. I pay for Netflix and hulu plus and really like those so I can recommend those as they are safe from maleware. Mary

I had the same problem once, and eventually traced it to, of all things, the particular type of CFL light bulb I had nearby interfering with the remote-control receiver on the TV, causing it to change channels or turn on or off by itself. I noticed it only happened when the light was on, so I changed bulbs and it went away. Changed the bulb back temporarily after a month just to be sure I had it right, and the problem reoccurred. I also have a compact-fluorescent light bulb in my bedroom that sometimes sets off the smoke detector when I turn on the light. I had to move the smoke detector. I don't know what the deal is with these things, but I don't want to switch back to incandescent bulbs and use 4x the electricity, and LEDs are still too expensive. I don't have a DVR but am thinking about a Magnavox MDR515H/F7, a DVR designed for recording over-the-air/antenna programs, and can also burn DVDs of anything you want to save permanently or give to someone else. It's affordable and easy to use; too bad it's not HD. Another approach that's becoming popular is to use a computer set up specifically for TV viewing, a sort of uber-DVR. These are called home theater PCs (HTPC). Or I could just stop watching TV and do something else....

Thank you! What would I do without y'all? Yes, we decided we are not astute enough to notice the difference between 720 and 1080 on a 32" screen! LOL Thanks for explaining the Netflix to an old lady. I gather that the content is blasting away out there -- all of it -- all the time. I'm not ordering a fresh version of whatever movie be taken out of storage and sent to ME. It's already 'out there'. I'm just being permitted to 'grab it' -- I can start viewing any part I want of what I've ordered. This isn't like waiting for an AdobePub book to be available from my library, where the library has X numbers of the product to lend. Um...so what if every person in the USA asked to view "The Grapes of Wrath" right now? Could everyone get it immediately -- no limit to how many people access the same thing? Both the TV salesperson at Sears and the Blu-Ray salesperson at Costco told us the cable here (Oceanic on Maui) provides only 720 at best. We currently have a Digital cable box; it's a substiture for the HD cable box we ordered in January. The HD box was 'out of stock' -- as we learned only when the installer showed up. The HD is to be installed Monday afternoon. I hope I see a lot more difference with the HD; I saw very little improvement with the Digital over plain cable. (Diital and HD is the same price: $7/month. Makes me wonder.) Oceanic offers a landline/broadband bundle I could use if I bought my own router. However, my dealings with Oceanic over this box have not been positive. (Hours on hold. Mixed up orders. Installer shows up with wrong box. HD boxes 'out of stock' for a MONTH just between Oahu and Maui?) We have no choice of cable provider in this condo; it's Oceanic. So, I need to ask Hawiian Tel for 1.5 - 3.0 mpbs broadband? Will every router push that? I was unable to register the Blu-Ray w/Sony/Netflix, but that may be because our leased router is failing -- or we have insufficient bandwidth from Hawaiian Tel? I'm probably ahead to continue leasing (a replacement router) so that Hawaiian Tel will be responsible for maintaining the router/service for guests.

I'm biting the bullet and looking for a new receiver with at least six HDMI 'ports'. I don't think we will be 'streaming' anything unless the offerings improve for our 'demographic'. LOL Today AT&T emailed me, touting their "U-Verse" -- which sounds like it would replace the DirecTV HD-DVR they already provide us, bundled with landline and internet. The promo seems aimed at people who need 24/7 'connectivity' via hand helds...or music. I doubt they have any wider selection movies on offer than what I saw on Amazon and Netflix. Any DVD's we get from the library that are longer than a movie have two-week check-outs. We're in town a couple times a week anyway, so detouring a block to the library is easy. We still sometimes check out 'real' books, too. LOL