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Cecil Terwilliger · 06-29-2011, 06:23 PM

It has only been a few days but here are my thoughts coming over from Bell. All comparisons are to Bell.

As you can see there are more complaints than positives but I'm sure I'll see some more positives and frankly even my complaints aren't major ones. Just observations on how I preferred Bell in some areas.

The good:

I really like the menu style. Bell uses bright blue and gray and I wasn't a fan. I also like the PIP even when browsing the guide. It they can get the menu to actually respond it'll be great.

The box is smaller.

The price is far superior. Since Bell doesn't offer internet there is no way to bundle and save money.

Minor positives for programming. HistoryHD and MovietimeHD. Didn't get those with Bell.

The same:

Picture quality, sound aren't better or worse. Pretty much the same which is good.

The bad(ish):

None of the things I don't like are bad enough for me to switch but they have already caused some annoyance.

The menu is slow and unresponsive. Bell was ultra quick. Based on the post above this is a recent change and maybe will be fixed in the next update.

I can only create one guide. On Bell I could have up to 6 different guides. Movies, sports, HD etc. Not only that but it would automatically have All chan, All subs, All HD menus built in. Then I could make another 3 or 4 custom ones (and do it much quicker than with Telus because the Telus menu is so goddamn slow)

The only thing that I actually hate is the channel order. Bell was amazing. In SD and HD it went CBC, CTV, Global, City all together arranged by time zone. Maritimes was 199-208, TO was 210-215, Sask wsa 215-220 and so on (I'm guessing at the exact channels but you get the point. Made it so easy to find programming.) Forgot to set PVR for a program? No biggie I can check the Van channel. On Telus it is so much harder to do that.

Telus is one giant cluster#### when it comes to channel order. With Telus even HBO channels are not next to each other, WTF?

On that note, not enough timeshifted channels. On Bell I think I got an extra CBCHD and also got Comedy East and West, Showcase East and West.

I miss my dual tuner. I used to basically have 2 streams on my TV. I could switch instantaneously between them. Pause one, swith over and watch the second feed. Let the first one sit for half hour, switch back and not watch any commercials.

Worked great when watching sports because I could pause the game, switch to a show or movie during intermission and if when I switched back I intermission was over it was no big deal. All of this was done without actually recording any programs. Bell automatically auto-records up to an hour so I can rewind at any time.

With Telus I'm constantly using the previous channel button. This means if I turn it back from intermission too late, I've missed it and can't rewind. (if there is a way to do what I did with Bell I'm unaware.)

VOD isn't in HD. This isn't a big deal because Bell didn't even have free VOD.

VOD movie rentals can't be PVR'd. Minor annoyance but there was no such restriction with Bell. I could save a movie for months or years.

Totally unrelated but my internet is a very nice speed. Better than Shaw. But that has nothing to do with Bell.

06-29-2011, 06:23 PM	#458
Cecil Terwilliger That Crazy Guy at the Bus Stop Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Springfield Penitentiary Exp:	It has only been a few days but here are my thoughts coming over from Bell. All comparisons are to Bell. As you can see there are more complaints than positives but I'm sure I'll see some more positives and frankly even my complaints aren't major ones. Just observations on how I preferred Bell in some areas. The good: I really like the menu style. Bell uses bright blue and gray and I wasn't a fan. I also like the PIP even when browsing the guide. It they can get the menu to actually respond it'll be great. The box is smaller. The price is far superior. Since Bell doesn't offer internet there is no way to bundle and save money. Minor positives for programming. HistoryHD and MovietimeHD. Didn't get those with Bell. The same: Picture quality, sound aren't better or worse. Pretty much the same which is good. The bad(ish): None of the things I don't like are bad enough for me to switch but they have already caused some annoyance. The menu is slow and unresponsive. Bell was ultra quick. Based on the post above this is a recent change and maybe will be fixed in the next update. I can only create one guide. On Bell I could have up to 6 different guides. Movies, sports, HD etc. Not only that but it would automatically have All chan, All subs, All HD menus built in. Then I could make another 3 or 4 custom ones (and do it much quicker than with Telus because the Telus menu is so goddamn slow) The only thing that I actually hate is the channel order. Bell was amazing. In SD and HD it went CBC, CTV, Global, City all together arranged by time zone. Maritimes was 199-208, TO was 210-215, Sask wsa 215-220 and so on (I'm guessing at the exact channels but you get the point. Made it so easy to find programming.) Forgot to set PVR for a program? No biggie I can check the Van channel. On Telus it is so much harder to do that. Telus is one giant cluster#### when it comes to channel order. With Telus even HBO channels are not next to each other, WTF? On that note, not enough timeshifted channels. On Bell I think I got an extra CBCHD and also got Comedy East and West, Showcase East and West. I miss my dual tuner. I used to basically have 2 streams on my TV. I could switch instantaneously between them. Pause one, swith over and watch the second feed. Let the first one sit for half hour, switch back and not watch any commercials. Worked great when watching sports because I could pause the game, switch to a show or movie during intermission and if when I switched back I intermission was over it was no big deal. All of this was done without actually recording any programs. Bell automatically auto-records up to an hour so I can rewind at any time. With Telus I'm constantly using the previous channel button. This means if I turn it back from intermission too late, I've missed it and can't rewind. (if there is a way to do what I did with Bell I'm unaware.) VOD isn't in HD. This isn't a big deal because Bell didn't even have free VOD. VOD movie rentals can't be PVR'd. Minor annoyance but there was no such restriction with Bell. I could save a movie for months or years. Totally unrelated but my internet is a very nice speed. Better than Shaw. But that has nothing to do with Bell. Last edited by Cecil Terwilliger; 06-29-2011 at 06:26 PM.