Hmm, that's funny, I just decided I'm imposing a permanent delay on any versions of Simon & Schuster releases.

@danhawk911 I worked there 5-6 years ago. Back then at my store, if the accessory numbers weren't high enough, people started getting in danger of getting fired.

So, no, it's not commission, but people trying to keep their jobs.

@pjhaas Amazon doesn't have one proprietary format, but two proprietary formats. They have a Mobipocket-based format, and the TOPAZ format, which allows for richer content.

@Jeff Kibuule That's a local thing. Comcast here doesn't allow you to pick CableCards up either.

Luckily, it was my initial install so I didn't have to pay extra for the guy to come out (and I wouldn't have paid anyway since it took 4 different trips, a different guy on the last one finally knew what he was doing).

@(Unverified) Pretty much.

@(Unverified)

I like Obama, don't get me wrong... but he doesn't exactly have much of a track record for forcing much, even the kinds of regulation that would help Americans and that a majority of Americans support (cough) healthcare, regulating the financial sector, etc. (cough) when faced with millions and millions of dollars of lobbyist money buying off half of Congress.

I'd be very concerned about CableCard going away with no alternatives, personally.

@(Unverified)

I think most of us see the point, but don't expect the FCC or CableLabs to do anything more convenient for customers. Not only that, but even IF they come up with something, the rollout won't go smooth, they'll force us to buy new hardware, it probably will only work on a new operating system, and the cable companies will fight it every step of the way.

Besides that, what seems more likely for the cable cos to do is to lobby to drop the requirement entirely, and just stick to their boxes.

I personally think that at least one of the Samsung PN50 models should've been in the budget section.

You can get a PN50B450 for $850, which gives you a 50" 720p plasma, or a PN50B530 for $900, for a 50" 1080p plasma.

It's at least on par with the P50S1.

Definitely, the cable companies will do anything in their power to make sure you get a box from them, including not training most of their techs on how to actually setup a CableCard, not carrying them unless absolutely necessary, and (at least here), forcing you to call a tech to re-pair the card, rather than just calling them to send the signal.

To everyone making comments about the original (wired) ProMedia 2.1, they aren't going to stop making them.

You can only get them from BestBuy or Klipsch.com now, but it's $149.99 for wired, $199.99 for wireless.

I highly recommend the wired set. They don't quite compare to my main system, also with Klipsch speakers, but they are a great set nonetheless.

The only issue I had (with a set bought around 6 years ago, I think) is that the speaker cable that connects the subwoofer to the satellites doesn't always have the best connection. I'd imagine that's been fixed at some point in the last 6 years though.