Is there an alternative to TiVo?

[Zzzt]

I've heard that there were 2 different technologies competing. I was about to get a TiVo this weekend, and found out that there's a $9.xx per month charge to use it. I really don't like the idea of paying a monthly fee to use a prettied up VCR! Less than 10 bucks a month isn't much, but when I'm already planning on shelling out $300, any additional fees seem ridiculous.

 

[Alligator]

Try a VCR
AH

 

[Ameesh]

replaytv, i have one and love it. it doesnt have a monthly fee. and you can add bigger harddrives to it so just buy a small one.

 

[mrCide]

I just setup my Tivo with my directv.. somehow it managed to give me a lifetime subscription for free? <cough> i'd honestly pay for this if i wasn't such a cheap bastard. it's really nice, i now see what the fuss was about.

edit; oh yeah. ultimate tv and replay tv..

 

[Brian Mc]

<< I've heard that there were 2 different technologies competing. I was about to get a TiVo this weekend, and found out that there's a $9.xx per month charge to use it. I really don't like the idea of paying a monthly fee to use a prettied up VCR! Less than 10 bucks a month isn't much, but when I'm already planning on shelling out $300, any additional fees seem ridiculous. >>



You're paying the subscription fee for the guide data. At any rate, just spend the $250 on the lifetime service, don't worry about the monthly fees. You'll then have a TiVo worth an extra $250 if you ever sell it.

 

[Flashram]

<< I really don't like the idea of paying a monthly fee to use a prettied up VCR! >>


If you think Tivo is just a "prettied up VCR" then you don't need to be using it anyway. In fact, if you just want to use it as a VCR you don't have to pay for the subscription at all. Just hook it up and record manually just like yer not-so-perty vcr.

 

[Thegonagle]

I want one, a Tivo or a Replay TV. In theory, the electronics of a PVR are usable indefinitely. One could keep replacing the hard drive as more capacity is needed, of if it fails, and use the PVR forever.

How many hours can a Tivo or Replay TV record if I buy the lowest model and install a 160 GB drive in it?

Thanks.

 

[Zzzt]

<< If you think Tivo is just a "prettied up VCR" then you don't need to be using it anyway. In fact, if you just want to use it as a VCR you don't have to pay for the subscription at all. Just hook it up and record manually just like yer not-so-perty vcr. >>




I can schedule a recording of any show in the near future with my VCR. Can I do that without paying a monthly fee on a TiVo? Isn't that one of the primary reasons to use a TiVo? Yes, the the quality is "perty"-er, but we aren't talking about a feature that I am paying for now, so I don't believe that I'm being unreasonable when I say that when I pay more than what I payed for my high end VCR, I should expect to not have to pay an additional fee or lose functionality.

...Sorry - I'm ashamed to have responded to this guy.

Thanks, Ameesh - I'll look up ReplayTV.

 

[Bobomatic]

Ive got a replay and the service is free, the only thing it doesent od that TiVo does is that TiVo auto records stuff that matches stuff you recorded.

 

[Ameesh]

i believe there is a 20 hour model available there used to be 12 hour ones but it think youll have a hard time finding them.