Cheap(er) Ways to Stay Entertained During the Downturn

The year of hope and change is certainly off to a grim start in the tech world. Last week alone saw layoff announcements from stalwarts like Intel (INTC) and Microsoft (MSFT), as well as Web 2.0 companies like Digg, just to name a few. If you’ve lost your job or had your salary frozen and are seriously tightening your belt, the (slightly) good news is that there are more options than ever to keep yourself entertained during these economic end times.

A few months ago, I defended the value of cable, writing that $70 a month wasn’t a bad deal for what you get. But as your wallet gets lighter, you may not want to spend $840 a year for service. Before you fire off a comment saying “Just watch Hulu!” yes, that is a good idea. Between Hulu and the network sites like ABC.com and CBS.com, you can watch just about any program you like for free. But then you’re watching on a small laptop screen while that big TV sits there, idle. You bought the big TV; you should use it.

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comments so far. Add yours.

  • Allan Golden

    All the more reason top download Boxee (currently available only to those using Ubuntu or Mac OS), but definitely the way to go!

  • Daniel Mann

    There are several living room styled platforms available for watching internet-distributed video, without a PC attached to the TV. They are discussed at the blogsite http://active-tv.blogspot.com/ The number of alternatives to PC-viewing is growing rapidly.

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