Recommend me a DVR...

[nbarb99]

I'm looking to buy a standalone (set-top) DVR system to replace an antiquitated VCR. Tivo seemed to be the way to go for a while, but I've recently heard bad reports (forced advertising, etc).

I've been thinking that a ReplayTV box is the best option. Recommendations? Opinions?

(Before someone mentions "HTPC!!1", I've built a low-end one, and will probably be building a better one in the future. However, I don't want to be 'tech support' for a family-used recording device. I'd much rather be able to blame a standalone device )

 

[nbarb99]

Bump

 

[destrekor]

Well with all those you will either be paying a monthly fee or a set price on top of the unit for a lifetime subscription (its like $299 for TiVo's life-time subscription).
Thats about all I got. I don't use that equipment, although they are much easier than setting up a HTPC because home-built can require a lot of work to get the image quality to match a set-top box like TiVo's quality.

 

[Heinrich]

After living with a TiVO for about 3 years I recently suffered with a DVR. It's a piece of crap next to a TIVO. It's like a TRS-80 next to my x2 system. The concept is the same - hard drive to record programs, but there's so many better things about the Tivo software.

1 - it's linux based, you can with a bit of skill and practice take out the drive and load extra linux-type software in
2 - the Season Pass feature of Tivo is far easier to use, search, and program your tv shows. The DVR is more like a dumb VCR - it is going to record a particular block of time. Regardless if the show moves around, skips a week. The Tivo lets you record only NEW shows or ALL shows including reruns - no such ability in a DVR
3 - the DVR does not do indefinite pause. if you pause, then go up to the store for some beer, the DVR will at some point continue to play. Which brings up #4
4 - finding your way through a playing show is very cumbersome. There are no 'tickmarks' like on a TIVO that act like chapters on a DVD. In fact there are no time marks at all - you have no idea if you're watching a 1 hour show or a 4 hour movie with commercials.
5 - The "info" button on a DVR tells you no info when a show is playing. Such as actors, time, year, etc.


I could probably go on and on..

 

[Ike0069]

Go ith TiVo. Much better than replay TV IMO.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Heinrich

After living with a TiVO for about 3 years I recently suffered with a DVR. It's a piece of crap next to a TIVO. It's like a TRS-80 next to my x2 system. The concept is the same - hard drive to record programs, but there's so many better things about the Tivo software.

1 - it's linux based, you can with a bit of skill and practice take out the drive and load extra linux-type software in
2 - the Season Pass feature of Tivo is far easier to use, search, and program your tv shows. The DVR is more like a dumb VCR - it is going to record a particular block of time. Regardless if the show moves around, skips a week. The Tivo lets you record only NEW shows or ALL shows including reruns - no such ability in a DVR
3 - the DVR does not do indefinite pause. if you pause, then go up to the store for some beer, the DVR will at some point continue to play. Which brings up #4
4 - finding your way through a playing show is very cumbersome. There are no 'tickmarks' like on a TIVO that act like chapters on a DVD. In fact there are no time marks at all - you have no idea if you're watching a 1 hour show or a 4 hour movie with commercials.
5 - The "info" button on a DVR tells you no info when a show is playing. Such as actors, time, year, etc.


I could probably go on and on..

when you say DVR, which product do you mean? TiVo, by definition, is a DVR...

I am assuming that nbard99 knows that TiVo is rather expensive, especially after the lifetime subscription cost. I'd refuse to pay the monthly fee because after, what, 3 years, you're paying more than the lifetime subscription cost.

 

[Heinrich]

Yes Tivo=a brand of DVR

The DVR by Comcast is called "Comcast DVR" but if you look at the box it is a Scientific Atlanta. Piece of CRAP!!

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
Go ith TiVo. Much better than replay TV IMO.

And I'm going say go with replay, much better then Tivo. Replay records as an mpeg with no encryption. Using DV Archive, you can pull the shows straight onto your pc and burn them to dvd. Tivo requires alot more finesse and hacking to get your shows on your pc. Plus replay has commercial skip if you get a 5000 series, 30 second skip if you have a 5500 series.

I've been looking at the new sony dvr, since it comes with a cable card slot so you do have the option of recording highdef recording, only other option's for hd is a set top box through your cable provider or direct hd tivo.

 

[nbarb99]

Originally posted by: ND40oz
And I'm going say go with replay, much better then Tivo. Replay records as an mpeg with no encryption. Using DV Archive, you can pull the shows straight onto your pc and burn them to dvd. Tivo requires alot more finesse and hacking to get your shows on your pc. Plus replay has commercial skip if you get a 5000 series, 30 second skip if you have a 5500 series.

That was part of my reasoning for leaning towards the ReplayTV route. It seems that the Replay unit is more open and power user-friendly. I may even try to grab a 5000 series on eBay or whatnot for the full commercial skip feature - I was disappointed when I heard that Tivo had axed it completely.

 

[Todd33]

a HTPC because home-built can require a lot of work to get the image quality to match a set-top box like TiVo's quality.

You are right, it would take me some time to get the crappy IQ of a Tivo on my HTPC.

 

[nbarb99]

Originally posted by: Todd33

a HTPC because home-built can require a lot of work to get the image quality to match a set-top box like TiVo's quality.

You are right, it would take me some time to get the crappy IQ of a Tivo on my HTPC.

 

[nitromullet]

It depends on your needs. We went with the Comcast HD DVR (Motorola) set top box. Basically, HD is $10/mo through Comcast by itself and HD+DVR is also $10/mo... HD was a requirement for me to get into a DVR, and going through Comcast is the best deal. The software isn't as good as TiVo, but that will change too. From what I understand, Comcast has either licensed or commissioned TiVo's software for their future DVR's.