Cablecard

My friend just upgraded to a 60-inch plasma HDTV....and gave me his 5-year old 37-inch Panasonic plasma. I noticed that this TV has something my current TV doesn't have....a Cablecard slot. What can buying a cablecard for the TV get me other than just replacing the need to use the big rented converter box from Comcast cable?

Thanks.

Nothing, you actaully get less. The original cable cards are only able to receive AV, so no On-Demand or any of the goodies that you have in Comcast Box. Plus you'll probably have to fight with your cable company to use it. It's been my experience that Comcast doesn't like cable cards. I was a cable card fan years ago but the tech got buried.

Thanks. I ended up just going to Comcast and asking for a smaller (newer) converter box. Those older monster ones are a pain to find a space for. Also reduced the number of boxes I have. Trying anything to cut down cost of cable service...it's out of control. My cable bill is now my largest monthly bill by far.....crazy.....

I'm, thinking about dropping cable altogther. Between Netflix, Boxee, XBMC, and OTA stations I think I could get about all my shows. THe software isn't quite ready for mainstream yet, but it's getting there.