Reply to: Sky or Virgin Media

[TheRightStuff]

I have a Sony Bravia 40" HD1080 with Sky HD (managed to get for £149) It is the absolute nuts, just gutted didn't get when I got the LCD as missed "Lost" in HD. Wimbledon is also in HD and got me back into watching tennis as just watch to see how good the picture is!

You also get Anytime TV with HD which is pretty good.

I personally think there is no comparison with VM.

I called Sky they said they couldn't do Sky HD for £149. He said it would be £299 for the box, £60 to install and £10 p/m.
So that's nearly £500 in the 1st yr.
Ummmm let me think.
No. I don't think so.

Sky+ is £99 + £30 installation and no monthly charge. That's better.
I'll wait a few years until the HD box is £99 and £30 to install.

[Cooperinliverp00l]

I've got the 40" Samsung LCD TV that we got just before Xmas in the sale. Got that, big heavy glass stand, and Home cinema system all for £1400, all in Black as well so looks very nice. I say go for it. As for Sky or VM my opinion is keep Sky.

I have Sky + and was looking at getting HD when we got the TV but wasn't willing to pay the extra for the extra few channels you will recieve. THe picture quality on my tv is spot on and i'm happy to keep it and not pay extra for HD. Sky have anytime coming soon where you can watch on demand programs via your set top box. Sky do the bundle for £26 if that helps with your TV, Boradband and Phone.

[OrangeHopper]

We have the LE40M87 which is the latest 40" Samsung, not the 71 quoted above.

The 40" is large and should not be viewed closer than 2m, particular when showing an SD picture. We haven't got an HD source yet, however, I would strongly advise you get it if you can afford it. Sky SD can be fine with channels like BBC 1 and Sky 1 but can look very grainy on other low bandwidth channels.

[BoredBloke]

I'm toying with going the whole hog with sky. I've just bought a 32 inch LG LCD for the bedroom and a 42 inch Sharp one (1080) for the lounge. I want to get HD and I figured I may as well take their phone package and internet at the same time. I will then use my sky+ box upstairs and go for the multiroom and sky HD box.

[ContractIn]

I have a Sony Bravia 40" HD1080 with Sky HD (managed to get for £149) It is the absolute nuts, just gutted didn't get when I got the LCD as missed "Lost" in HD. Wimbledon is also in HD and got me back into watching tennis as just watch to see how good the picture is!

You also get Anytime TV with HD which is pretty good.

I personally think there is no comparison with VM.

[TheRightStuff]

I have VM (and before that it was NTL) - no problems so far, in four years.

I don't want a satellite dish on the outside of my house, which was built in 1891. I have 20Mb broadband, V+ box (which is better than Sky+), two boxes, free landline phone calls, all the works. Sky would have to become free before I consider moving it.

So this is cable TV then. In that case I'm sticking with Sky. Our sitting room is at the back of the house so it's going to be a pain to get a cable round there. I got sky to put the satelite behind the chimey so it's out of view.

[TheFaQQer]

I have VM (and before that it was NTL) - no problems so far, in four years.

I don't want a satellite dish on the outside of my house, which was built in 1891. I have 20Mb broadband, V+ box (which is better than Sky+), two boxes, free landline phone calls, all the works. Sky would have to become free before I consider moving it.

[Moscow Mule]

No Sky+

Wrong!

There is the Virgin equivelent V+ This has one extra tuner than Sky's offering so you can record two channels at the same time and watch a third.

It is also an HD reciever although currently there is only one HD Channel, available and that is the BBC

For Approx £85 you can get TV, Phone, and Broadband. The Phone is free for Standard numbers and you get reduced calls Internationally as well. Also access to Sky Movies and Sky Sport and it is HD as well. SD transmissions are upscaled and look far better for it.

If it was not for the lack of Sky One (and to be honest, there is not much on that worth watching) and a problem they currently have with the Red Button on the movies, I would have no hesitation in saying Virgin was the better product.

I sit corrected.

But I'm a little annoyed at the lack of Sky One - 24, Lost etc. I end up buying the DVDs eventually.

[zathras]

VM gets you a cable modem, more reliable than ADSL. If you're getting it for the TV only, don't get VM - there's no Sky One and no Sky+ (although they may have some similar new thingy coming soon).

No Sky+

Wrong!

There is the Virgin equivelent V+ This has one extra tuner than Sky's offering so you can record two channels at the same time and watch a third.

It is also an HD reciever although currently there is only one HD Channel, available and that is the BBC

For Approx £85 you can get TV, Phone, and Broadband. The Phone is free for Standard numbers and you get reduced calls Internationally as well. Also access to Sky Movies and Sky Sport and it is HD as well. SD transmissions are upscaled and look far better for it.

If it was not for the lack of Sky One (and to be honest, there is not much on that worth watching) and a problem they currently have with the Red Button on the movies, I would have no hesitation in saying Virgin was the better product.

[Moscow Mule]

What about the 40" Samsung LCD? It's the latest one in Richer Sounds and Currys. They both say it's a no brainer and that's the best one to get.

This one?

Looks ok, but don't buy one until you've seen it working - with HD and SD content. Some TVs can look lovely in HD but utter sh1t in SD.

[TheRightStuff]

What about the 40" Samsung LCD? It's the latest one in Richer Sounds and Currys. They both say it's a no brainer and that's the best one to get.

[Jog On]

I have VM and want to leave them as soon as I can. I originally signed up with Telewest who recently morphed into VM.

Since then they've jacked up the prices and now charge for services that were previously free. I'm wondering which goalpost they'll move next.

I'm in a rented flat so I have to ask the landlord if it's OK to have a dish installed. Also I don't want to swap out cable broadband for ADSL but VM are the only cable provider in my area and they know it - hence the El Gordo like behaviour

Feckers

[freakydancer]

I've got VM but now that they seem to have given up getting Sky One back I reckon I'll go over to Sky.

[MrsGoof]

I use both
Phone and NET = VM
TV = Sky

I like to spread my money around Branson, Murdock and Brown

[Moscow Mule]

I've currently got Sky but was thinking of getting a 40" Samsung LCD and getting Sky+, Sky broadband and their land line call package.

I thought I'd have a quick look at Virgin Media to see what package I could get from them.

There's no comparison. Sky is far superior. Only real reason for having Sky is for the sports so why would I get Virgin Media.

Has anyone got Virgin Media out there?

Also should I just go straight in and get sky's HD box instead of sky+?
Seems a bit silly to buy a HD ready TV and not actually buy the SKY HD box.
Only thing is it's £300 + £10 p/m.

VM gets you a cable modem, more reliable than ADSL. If you're getting it for the TV only, don't get VM - there's no Sky One and no Sky+ (although they may have some similar new thingy coming soon).