Dear List,

I know these things are off topic, but we've been discussing them and I have 
some comments and questions.

Firstly, I live in a senior apartment complex which provides free Standard 
cable to each apartment.  Right now, the cable is analog.  From what you 
say, analog will disappear in 2009.  That means, whether we like it or not, 
we will be switched to digital.  Comcast will probably have to provide each 
resident with a converter box.  Now, most of the people here love TV but 
their minds find new technology difficult to learn.  There are no young 
eyeballs around here to teach us anything.  I was hoping all you had to do 
was plug the box to the TV and the cable outlet and use my analog TV with 
the remote control to access the channels.  Presently, to watch cnn, I press 
29 on my remote control.  Is my understanding correct that even with the box 
it will not be possible to access channels using my remote control?

Most people here watch the news, sports channels, channels like Hallmark, 
KOFY TV 20, TVland which show all the good old programs we enjoyed way back 
when plus a&E, the History channel, PBS and Animal Planet.  One solution 
would be to buy dvd's of the old programs and watch them using a dvd player 
or a computer, both of which would turn off most people here but I'm open, 
if the adaptive folks produced an accessible dvd player or if I could read 
the menus using WindowEyes Windows Media Player and my PC.

But news and sports are another thing: people must be able to receive those 
from their TV's.  So how can seniors and the blind work with these converter 
boxes?

Another thing I can't understand:  If a person uses a cd player, they can 
skip from one track to the next by pressing the forward button on the 
remote.  Why can't a person do the same thing with a dvd player?  I know 
they're menu-driven, but isn't there a way to move forward or back on a dvd 
without having to read the menus?

If that's not possible, then can a person play dvd's using their PC's?

What about dvd decrypters--would it be feasible to rip dvd's to the hard 
drive and use the screen reader to navigate the movies or programs?

Perhaps some of you can answer my questions and comments.  Thanks in 
advance.

Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.