A desktop is perfectly capable of being a "server".

This is the idea behind Plex, or MythTV, or even MCE. It can be done and it can be done reliably. If Apple can't do it then that's their problem.

Adding another slower network into the mix isn't really going to help things.

When I can actually replace DirecTV with iTunes, I will buy into that idea and not a moment sooner.

He needs to be making a better box.

He needs to be making DirecTV boxes, then envy of the industry. Geeks on tech boards should cream themselves when a new model is announced. He needs to create the same kind of buzz that Apple gets or at least have his kit regarded as comparable.

He's also got to realize that "supplmental" services accessed via the web will not harm his bottom line. So he has nothing to fear from assimilating Roku like features.

He needs to make it look like his company is not a dinosaur.

Fanboys have been trying to whip up some hype about some mythical transformative Apple Television for a number of months now. It's been hard to miss really.

You are talking about one heavily subsidized comm device versus another one.

I bet you like to whine about how "Android devices are cheap" too.

People generally do not pay full price for phones and there is no one to subsidize the cost of a TV.

DirecTV has problems with marginal increases that impact all of their legacy rivals equally. They don't have to worry about being completely shut out like Apple or having prices go up 10x or 100x like Netflix.

Also note that you have to "hack" an AppleTV box to get the most out of it. Otherwise, it can be just as frustratingly limited as a stock Tivo or a stock DTV PVR.

The original claim that triggered the "irrational response" was never adequately supported. Therefore we can reasonably ignore it.

Whining about the "irrational response" won't change that.

Then "you" don't really watch just 2 or 3 shows.

The smaller the household, the more likely you can get buy with a tiny vendor supplied PVR or iTunes.

iTunes is fine if it has what you watch.

That's a pretty big if. Same problem applies to Netflix and Amazon.

That is why the CEO of DTV is not worried. There are far too many holes in what iTunes offers. Even if you wanted to cut the cord, you might find that it simply isn't possible without making some serious compromises.