Maximum PC

Recent article says Cable TV is going south as millions are using a PC tied to an XBox the gives any channel on demand thus eliminating the need to pay for TV. I presume I need a super fast PC but what is the purpose of the XBox? Never played 'games' so I have never even seen one of them.
Thanks, Bob

where's the article? and soon all non-broadcast channels will be encrypted. Need more information to formulate a proper response.

It was on MSN Money last week. It did not mention encrypting, just linking an XBox to the PC to view any broadcast at any time. No longer needing cable TV and no longer subject to network scheduling...watch what you want when you want. Can this be possible?

No. Cable signals are encrypted.

OK but what would be the purpose of the XBox? Just trying to learn

Without seeing the article, hard to tell.

But from what it sounds, they could have been using the Xbox as a media streamer using XMBC.

My guess is they were getting the TV from websites that provide it freely. I think with XMBC you can stream Hulu, CBS, etc.

Probably because it's hookup ready with little fuss. A PC should be the same, but a lot of times ends up otherwise

I guess my ignorance lies with what an XBox is and what it does. I thought it was a game machine that plays DVD's. What does that have to do with TV signals?

You're basically watching streaming video from the internet with it, not receiving OTA broadcasts.

The PC you have paired with it, could though. Sounds like you need to go back and re-read the article

Basically there is little to no need to pay for the 4 major networks as they put most of their programing on the web within 24 hours of airing. So as long as you have a descent internet connection you can watch their programs.

Agree with that, but have to add a bit more.

People that buy cable, don't do so just for 4 channels. The xBox is also just a media extension of Windows OS's media aspect. XP doesn't have that, and only Vista/Win7 Home Premium and above have that ability. Mac users have to jump through major hoops to hook up to an Xbox or get the little POS AppleTV (which is self-admittedly not good by Jobs). And you'd still have to pay a cable company for your internet connection, so cable coms aren't hurting in any way.

And today is a very topical day for a great example of the downfall of Xbox linking: The NFL Draft. Wanna hope it's posted and watch that tomorrow? I don't! The way it is now, there's no live TV casts of any sport unless it's illegally streamed. You'll hear the score of games over the radio far before it's hosted online. And even then, those individual companies will require a fee just as they do now.

A LOT of things need to change before this even becomes a valid forecast. Instead of 3D TV's, they need to focus on smarter TV's. Networking, larger and more robust operating systems, Support both Windows and Apple (how?), browsers, user interfaces...man the list goes on! To me, an HTPC already does this, not just an Xbox or whatever. But still, that stuff comes far before becoming internet bound. And I'm not losing simple DVR ability to lean on an Xbox that could melt down at any minute. An xbox just isn't that capable.

MSN obviously just found out something we've all known since it's came out: an Xbox is an itty bitty PC. Maybe they just got their NetFlix "watch now" disc in the mail or something. Maybe in 3 years they'll inform us all about HTPC computers?