How to quit watching cable so you can spend more quality time with your laptop

So, you want to ditch your cable box. …

Viva la 21st century! Everything is on the interwebs, right?

Before you switch, however, you need to do a little self-evaluating. You, as an average American, will spend about four hours a day watching television. How important is it in your life? Do you need to be able to talk about the latest episode of "Mad Men" around the water cooler the morning after it airs, or is waiting a few days OK? Is it important to watch in high-definition, or is standard just fine? Do you need the warm glow of a 50-inch screen, or will a laptop satisfy you? Are you a news or sports junkie?

As much as this is an entertainment decision, getting rid of cable is also a lifestyle choice that will involve rearranging a few things in your life, and maybe investing in a little bit of hardware. Here are two paths to cable independence:

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