Television on PC/ Laptop, without extra expenditure

Technological advancement has made it possible for one with PC/Laptop to view Television also over it, to have intermittent relaxation, among his tight working schedule of using the PC or Laptop, even during travelling.  Once the one time soft ware installation charges and the host of attendant benefits and the recurring satellite connection charges are compared, one may easily conclude that the additional benefits accrue at practically nil cost.  He can, therefore, have his preference towards this advancement.

When one opens the Internet explorer to-day (12.06.2009) the headline news is “As TV moves on, millions may face blank screens in US”                       

I have recently written an article on PC/Laptop as TV at no extra cost.  The above news item prompted me to publish it again (though I am not technically competent to comment that this software to view to TV on the PC/Laptop will be compatible to this digital broadcasting).

“As TV moves on, millions may face blank screens in US” without access to television on Friday, 12 June 2009, when the US switches from analog to digital broadcasting.

There are complaints that it is the poor and disadvantaged who once again are paying the price for progress as the analog signals of local and network stations are terminated - forcing people to either subscribe to costly cable or satellite service or to buy and install digital converters for their TV sets.

The impact was likely to be very much on poor families, the handicapped, the elderly and in homes where little English is spoken.

Industry trade group DTV Across America estimates that between 20 and 30 million households faced the need to transition to the new system.

Aware of these issues, the US government has spent more than $2 billion on a voucher programme, in which every household can get 2 vouchers worth $40 each to buy2 converter boxes (though the installation of them may exceed these voucher amounts).

The latest survey by the Nielsen Company indicates that as of the end of May, more than ten percent of the 114 million households that have television sets are either completely or partly unprepared.

There are plus and minus to watching TV through these converter boxes. Firstly, the boxes can be a hassle to install - especially for those not fond or adept at moving their televisions and dealing with the mass of cables in the back. Lot of companies do offer installation services for the new converter boxes but these services bump the cost of conversion far above the $40 value of the coupons.

In some areas the digital signal can be better than analog.  In some other areas, it can be worse or even nonexistent. Many digital boxes do offer a useful viewing guide - though some elderly people complain that learning how to navigate the system with a new remote control is fiendishly complicated.

When one views satellite TV, there are in fact, 3 options. Either own satellite dish system may be built to receive free-to-air broadcasts. Secondly, free equipment installation is possible provided 30days satellite TV program packages are subscribed with the service providers. The third option which is the latest one is to watch satellite TV on laptop using software application and broadband connection.

Personal Computers, PC, for brevity and Laptops are being made to serve as TV channels and radio stations, without any additional cost to the consumers. This development is sweeping the entire entertain industry.

One is enabled to watch any TV channel among the huge selection of satellite channels.  The idiot box has been converted into an intelligence box. Yes. Television slips into one’s personal computer system or even laptops (may be into palm tops, shortly!). The innovative technology has made things beyond imagination to happen practically before our very eyes. One enjoys the freedom and option to choose among innumerable Television channels (estimated to cross 12000 in numbers) around the world, listen to  numerous radio stations at all the world languages, all the 365 days x 24 hours.  Unlike satellite frequencies, there are no reset codes or things one needs to keep his connections or stay up to date with passwords, etc.

 Is it not that “Entertainments Enlarged?”

The days of sitting and relaxing, watching a TV are gone –by. The world is fast. The technology is still faster, tremendously.  The days of relaxing while travelling even are in i.e. one’s laptop will be his personal entertainer, showing you all the channels he crazes for.

Is not that “fun unfurled”? 

The advancement of technology has rendered the advent of an exclusive virus free, adware free, spyware free PC software.  This software has been developed to accommodate a number of PCs/laptops.  Even if an area is not covered by cable/satellite connection, the entertainment need not stop.

PC/Laptop with internet connection, possibly with broadband is the only basic requirement.  This any person will have owned or may afford to own, considering the enduring benefits.  Even if not owned, the monthly charges for the present cable/satellite TV connection may be taken as the installments for the investment of PC/Laptop, to be purchased under hypothecation.  Easily one will be inclined to do this.

Enlarged entertainment does not virtually require any extra investment, except the initial investment of a minimum amount of very much less than the monthly maintenance charges for a cable TV or Satellite TV connection.  This initial charges are very much affordable and highly reasonable; Further, there is no monthly recurring expenses.  Even then, life time upgradation are possible and promised by means of additional channels as and when they are introduced by the broadcasters.

Further, no hardwares like cards, equipments, TV decoder or descrambler are needed.

Is it not that the “Expenses Eliminated” or “costs curtailed”

One can enjoy with only what all he wishes to view.  The software has been professionally designed to be advertisement free, keeping himself away from the annoying advertisements.  He can confine himself onlyto the fun he wishes to view.

All these are in a totally legal way.  There is nothing illegal here in the deregulated software market.

Is it not incredibly interesting, inducing one to upgrade the existing facilities to another sophisticated one?

It may be that the scientific improvement would advance to providing such a capability into palm tops also.  Who knows? It might have already silently slipped into the markets and doing sample testing rounds.

Yes, high-tech know-how enables everything achievable.