Sox, the Google suite of applications has the conferencing feature, as well as real-time editing of Google Docs and Google Spreadsheet. There's another online application that does something similar to Google Docs but is a bit more developed--I'll have to remember the name. That is, if you want your docs to be edited in real-time online.

On paper it would appear that we could get more channels for less money if we switched to DirecTV from Time Warner Cable. Does anybody know of a reason not to do this?

With DirectTV, will you get local stations (e.g. ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, etc)? Or will you also need to subscribe to basic basic cable to get those channels?

Do you use TWC for Internet?

Do you have a place to put the dish, with southern exposure?

Do you watch stuff on-demand?

Is there some esoteric channel that you watch that DirecTV doesn't have?

It looks like I have to call them to find out about local channels. It says they are available based on location.

We do use TWC for internet.

We can put the dish anywhere on the roof.

I have never watched anything on demand but I wouldn't rule it out.

I don't think there's any channels they don't have that we watch but I would be sooo happy to get back BBC America and Animal Planet. We lost them when Time Warner bought out our old provider.

I am on Directv and it's a tradeoff. I definitely get more channels for less money than my local cable offers. I do get my local stations through Direct, but they are Phoenix, not my actual local town, which I could still get via antenna if I cared enough. Most major cities should have their locals available by now. When I lived in the desert, I was so far out that they gave me LA/NY locals instead, with a special waiver.

Directv's customer service is not great. It's not ridiculous, either, but I do remember some vague low grade ongoing annoyances.

Do you use Tivo? If you do, you can continue as now, with your Directv receiver and the Tivo using the IR blaster to communicate. Alternately, Direct will try to give you its own DVR, which I feel is subpar, but not from direct experience.

I have the DirecTivo, which is no longer supported, but may be again soon with Direct's new ownership. It has several advantages in that it's cheaper, has a dual tuner (so you can record two shows at once and watch a third previously recorded) and is fully integrated. But, being not supported, it has significant disadvantages like, I can't connect it to my network (the hardware is there, just disabled) and therefore it does have a phone line (which currently isn't working, it's grumpy at VOIP, which is another issue entirely, but doesn't actually affect my day to day usage other than a nag message and I have to schedule PPV over the internet instead of through the remote.)

In general, I like Directv, and have been pleased with the product. The only times I've had interference have been when the dish was literally filled with snow, or in very heavy thunderstorms. However, I am in an arid area, so this is not a frequent occurrence for me. Your weather may vary. But I've had it through three moves, and will continue with it.

I do have my internet separate through cable. I don't have any experience with satellite internet, although I probably will at the new house when it's built.

We got local channels when we had DTV. Weather was a huuuuuuuuge issue- specially here in TX.

TWC gives me BBCA and Animal Planet. Huh.

Does anyone get Trio?

No, alas, I think Trio is dead.

I think I had DirecTV in Chicago some years ago. Seemed like the picture went out any time we had weather and sometimes when we didn't (mostly in the middle of Cubs games.) Luckily in LA weather rarely happens.

My folks have had Dish and DirectTV and Comcast in the last few years, and have had the least trouble and the best customer service from DirectTV. Dish was the worst, always going out with the least provocation and terrible service. Comcast was reliable but kept taking away channels they watched and raising rates.

I would have gotten DirectTV just for the NFL Sunday Ticket when I moved into this place, but there's no place to put a dish, too many trees in the way.