| If you're in the market for satellite television, | | | | DirecTV's lowest package (the Family package) |
| there are two main players that you are probably | | | | runs $29.99 a month for 40 channels (price at the |
| looking at: DirecTV, and Dish Network. Both are | | | | time of writing). At this price, which is pretty low |
| completely viable, well-thought-out solutions that | | | | considering the quality of the audio/video and the |
| deliver the product that they promise. Both offer | | | | fact that the channels included are good channels, |
| competitive home television solutions, good picture | | | | the customer is also given the option of having up |
| quality, and good customer support. In essence, | | | | to four receivers installed for free- how's that for |
| both are services that are deserving of your | | | | value? |
| consideration (and money). | | | | Dish Network satellite service |
| However, we are blessed with a free market | | | | Dish Network is not as well known as DirecTV, |
| economy, where one product will always trump | | | | but that doesn't mean that it isn't making a big |
| the other one. Superiority of design, engineering | | | | splash in the market. In fact, since Dish Network |
| prowess, and the actual company behind it | | | | launched a few years ago, customers have been |
| generally outdo the competition, and it is by this | | | | flocking to the service, credit cards in hand, |
| formula that many products have come and gone | | | | literally begging Dish to take their money. Why? |
| from the market. This is the very concept that | | | | Dish Network has everything going for them: |
| has shaped our economy, and by now you're | | | | high-quality broadcasting, capable hardware, |
| probably wondering why this is relevant. We've | | | | desirable packages, great rates, and plenty of |
| prepared a bit of a death match between the | | | | customization. Their HD DVR units are second to |
| two main satellite providers in America - DirecTV | | | | none, offering the whole experience and enough |
| and Dish Network - and have begrudgingly set | | | | technical features that they blend in perfectly to |
| them at each other in an epic battle to the end. | | | | any home theater setup. |
| Who will remain? | | | | So who's Better than Who? |
| DirecTV satellite service | | | | Pitting DirecTV against Dish Network was a |
| DirecTV is a name that is synonymous with | | | | difficult task, as it was hard for our testers to |
| satellite television. When satellite television service | | | | focus on the task at hand. Both providers have |
| was in its infancy, DirecTV was there. As the | | | | excellent services, and on that level we are able |
| service expanded and grew, DirecTV was there. | | | | to say that we liked them both. However, in the |
| And, as the industry transformed into a complete | | | | interest of Darwinian science we're going to find |
| multimedia solution, DirecTV was there. You could | | | | just one contender that does the job better than |
| say that DirecTV is in it for the long haul. | | | | the other. |
| DirecTV has gained a good reputation for being a | | | | That contender is Dish Network, and here's why: |
| quality satellite provider that offers value, | | | | throughout the duration of our testing we couldn't |
| customized packages, and ease of use for the | | | | help but feel more at home with the software |
| customer. One of the main attractions to DirecTV | | | | provided by the Dish Network. It flowed better, |
| is the fact that it is seemingly plug and play- once | | | | looked better, and was a lot faster too. Scrolling |
| the technicians leave your home, your TV just | | | | through various options menu's was simple and |
| works. There are no games to play, no hassles to | | | | easy to accomplish, and though that could be |
| experience, no hoops to jump through- just a | | | | done on DirecTV as well, we found it easier and |
| working television set (err, up to four of them | | | | faster on Dish Network. |
| actually). | | | | |