Is there an alternative to TiVo?

Zzzt

Member
Sep 8, 2000
164
0
0
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.
 

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
0
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

Diamond Member
Nov 27, 1999
6,187
0
76
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

Member
Oct 12, 1999
128
0
0


<< 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

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2000
3,968
0
76


<< 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

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
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

Member
Sep 8, 2000
164
0
0


<< 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

Senior member
Dec 31, 2001
514
0
0
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

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
0
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.