How does TIVO work? I'm thinking about getting one...

[Hooobi]

Just wanted to find out if you have to subscribe to some kind of service to actually make use of it or if you just program it like a VCR.

Also wanted to get an idea of the picture quality.

Is $170 for a 14-hr version a good deal?

Is it easy to hack?

Thanks.

H

 

[Emulex]

tivo sucks! my gf watches rosie back to back all night long HELP!!

 

[dafatha00]

OMG TIVO IS THE BEST!! i watch all my favorite episodes over and over again =oP
don't get the service though, just get the system...

 

[goog40]

You can just program it like a VCR. The service gives you a TV Guide-like service and software updates(you might wanna get a month for the upgrade as soon as version 2.0 is released to everyone)

 

[Doggiedog]

I've got a replay TV and I love it. I can record whatever I want and play it back instantly when I want to. Plus, the continuous record function is awesome. Right now, I'm going to tape Temptation Island and watch it tomorrow when I have more time because I'm going to frag now.

If you want to get a Replay TV you've got to do it fast. They stopped making the units and stock is running out. Replay TV is good in that you don't pay a monthly service charge. The Replay is also better than the Panasonic Replay because it doesn't have Macrovision copy protection built into it. Plus, there are ways to hack into it so that you can add more hard drive space.

I think the best feature of all is the TV guide. I don't have satellite so I have to either check the TV Guide or go to channel 99 and wait for all the channels to go by. With the built in TV guide you can scan out for days and see whats up.

 

[konichiwa]

EDIT

More questions.

How much is the Tivo service, and how is it different from Replay TV?

Just by a simple search I found a few sites related to Tivo hacking, they look pretty interesting. tivofaq.com, tivofaq.com/hack/ and tivocommunity.com

 

[Emulex]

heh i've been beta 2.0 for like 2 months. good stuff.

really its great. You need the service. The tivo 2.0 doesn't at all function without service for a darn. It just nags you to pay for an account.

 

[Hooobi]

errr... is Replay TV different from TIVO?

 

[Doggiedog]

Yes they are two different systems.

Replay TV used to make units but they stopped to concentrate on software. They are free. You don't have to pay monthly. The systems are a little bit different. Some say one is better than the other. I like mine free. You can hack the RPTV just as you can the Tivo. I know there are a bunch of sites but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

One thing I did notice though with the Replay is that it has no cable out only S-video and rca. The Tivo has cable out, S-video and rca. My friend bought 4 Sony's (Tivo) and had problems with the modem on all of them. Apparently, in his building they use the telephone system as the building intercom and it causes overload on the line. The Tivos are very sensitive to this overload and the modems within them blow out. He's tried line conditioners and other things but the modems still burn out. If you have that kind of setup don't get the Tivo.