Should I get a Series 1 or Series 2 Tivo?

[MrKneecap]

In the long run, building your own HTPC should theoretically cost less than owning a TiVo. Why, you ask? TiVo's service requires a subscription fee, typically around $13 a month. An HTPC running something like BeyondTV or SageTV requires no subscription fee, but you still get the same great 2 week line-up and recording options as you get with a TiVo. Therefore, even if you can buy a TiVo for $200 and an HTPC for $400 (maybe you have some old parts lying around to make it cheaper), the HTPC will pay for itself in $200/$13 = ~15 months. So, in just over a year, you've got a fantastic DVR (with the possibility to have multiple tuners, and DVD capability, and more!) that is less expensive than a TiVo.

Of course, your time is also worth something, but since you're browsing this forum we can assume you might be capable of building an HTPC (not to mention it's fun to build it yourself). Toss in a nice case and you could be stylin' in no time! :thumbsup:

However, I suppose the power consumption of a upper-end HTPC could cost you more than a TiVo, but who is counting?

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: MrKneecap
In the long run, building your own HTPC should theoretically cost less than owning a TiVo. Why, you ask? TiVo's service requires a subscription fee, typically around $13 a month. An HTPC running something like BeyondTV or SageTV requires no subscription fee, but you still get the same great 2 week line-up and recording options as you get with a TiVo. Therefore, even if you can buy a TiVo for $200 and an HTPC for $400 (maybe you have some old parts lying around to make it cheaper), the HTPC will pay for itself in $200/$13 = ~15 months. So, in just over a year, you've got a fantastic DVR (with the possibility to have multiple tuners, and DVD capability, and more!) that is less expensive than a TiVo.

Of course, your time is also worth something, but since you're browsing this forum we can assume you might be capable of building an HTPC (not to mention it's fun to build it yourself). Toss in a nice case and you could be stylin' in no time! :thumbsup:

However, I suppose the power consumption of a upper-end HTPC could cost you more than a TiVo, but who is counting?

I've got an HTPC (which is now disconnected) but Tivo is definitely easier and more functional.

 

[MrKneecap]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I've got an HTPC (which is now disconnected) but Tivo is definitely easier and more functional.

More functional? I find that hard to believe. With BeyondTV, I get everything TiVo has without the subsciption fee.

I'll have to give you the easier part though.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: MrKneecap

Originally posted by: aircooled
I've got an HTPC (which is now disconnected) but Tivo is definitely easier and more functional.

More functional? I find that hard to believe. With BeyondTV, I get everything TiVo has without the subsciption fee.

I'll have to give you the easier part though.

That's my main reason for wanting to switch to an HTPC.

$60 TV tuner card + PC with hard drive + $40 BeyondTV = $100 out of pocket

$0 monthly fees

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: MrKneecap

Originally posted by: aircooled
I've got an HTPC (which is now disconnected) but Tivo is definitely easier and more functional.

More functional? I find that hard to believe. With BeyondTV, I get everything TiVo has without the subsciption fee.

I'll have to give you the easier part though.

I forgot to mention I have DirecTV, which makes it even more challenging to use an HTPC rather than DirectTivo. I wish someone would make a PCI card that accepts a DirecTV access card for HTPC's.

 

[dud]

DirecTV charges a whopping $4.99 per month for this service. I can afford $60 a year for all I get. Take a look at the added functionality you get with the hacks I linked.

 

[geckojohn]

The thing that i dont like about a HTPC is that my monitor is only 17". Is there a way to output Coax cable from the pc to your tv?

 

[Crucial]

I used to be a big tivo fanboy until I built my own media center pc. The picture quality on the media center pc is so much better than the tivo. It has alot more functionality as well. You can put 2 tuners in it and record 2 shows at once as well as add an hdtv tuner for over the air broadcasts. It works great and I love it. I will never go back to tivo.

To answer your last question about outputting to a tv you would need a video card that has svideo or composite outputs. A lot of cards have this and all of the MCE approved cards do IIRC.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: geckojohn
The thing that i dont like about a HTPC is that my monitor is only 17". Is there a way to output Coax cable from the pc to your tv?

Yes.

Cable TV coax ---> TV Tuner card in PC ---> video card out ---> TV

Your roommate come home yet?

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: MrMaster

Originally posted by: geckojohn
Hey Everyone, i'm thinking about getting in on the Tivo bandwagon. I've been watching a lot of tv and sometimes i miss some of my favorite shows because i get home from work late or i have other plans. Should I get a Tivo then?

Well, I just have normal basic cable tv at home and have a broadband connection. Please let me know what you think. Also are there any good deals around?

Thanks!

As a non Tivo user I always wanted to do the HTPC thing. I had one for a month and then I sold it. It crashed too much. (dell w/ windows media center)

If p2p were to disappear I would pay for a Tivo because it is simple and you don't have to worry about crashing.

You suck at teh HTPC. Your problem has been bolded.

QFT.
HTPC's are wonderful.

 

[geckojohn]

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[geckojohn]

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[geckojohn]

jeez, i just checked SBC's website and it doesnt look like they offer standard cable tv. is there a way to find out who carries your cable tv?

 

[Paulson]

I don't think we could live without our DirecTV TiVo's... they're both hacked and networked so it's awesome.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: MrKneecap

Originally posted by: aircooled
I've got an HTPC (which is now disconnected) but Tivo is definitely easier and more functional.

More functional? I find that hard to believe. With BeyondTV, I get everything TiVo has without the subsciption fee.

I'll have to give you the easier part though.

More functional for those of us that actually use Tivo's special features such as wishlists, rating programs and suggestions. If you just want a VCR on crack, BeyondTV may be better, but it's not worth the effort.

 

[geckojohn]

Hmm, maybe i'll get a new tv tuner card and try the demo of beyond tv. If i dont like it then I'll get a Tivo Series 2.

Thanks

 

[imported_digitalelegance]

I've got a series 2, and I really enjoy it. My only complaint with mine is that I've got dish network, so my satellite tuner has to stay on all the time...and dish's software sucks (if the tivo tunes an invalid channel, the tuner freezes until you press select on the dish remote...the tivo can't do that).

I'd definatly go with a series 2 for the home networking features. I'm looking forward to being able to download shows!

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: SLCentral
I have a regular series 2 TiVo in one room, and a Comcast (HD) DVR in another. The TiVo is infinitesimally better then the DVR. It's more user-friendly, and has more options. The only annoyance is that you need to use an IR Blaster with Digital Cable. If you don't have digital cable, the TiVo, in my opinion, is pretty much flawless, except for the lack of dual-tuners (unless you use DirecTV). Get a TiVo, it's worth it.

Actually, you can watch one show and record another, but you would have to change the input of the TV in order to do so, and switch back and forth. Kind of annoying, but doable.

My comcast digital cable box allows me to use the serial cable to interface the tivo and the cable to gether for channel tuning. Very easy and elegant setup, IMO.

 

[geecee]

Originally posted by: digitalelegance
I've got a series 2, and I really enjoy it. My only complaint with mine is that I've got dish network, so my satellite tuner has to stay on all the time...and dish's software sucks (if the tivo tunes an invalid channel, the tuner freezes until you press select on the dish remote...the tivo can't do that).

I'd definatly go with a series 2 for the home networking features. I'm looking forward to being able to download shows!

Yes. Go with the Series2 if you can and connect it to your network. If you download and install TiVo desktop on any boxes on your network, you can pull shows from your network to any PC (slow though). You can also stream mp3s and jpegs to the tivo apparently, though I have never tried this. Maybe someone here knows more about it.

EDIT: I don't know if it's still going on, but for a while, they were running a free 40hr series2 Tivo (refurbed) with any 1yr and up gift subscription.

 

[geckojohn]

i'm might get the Humax one at Costco to see if i really like it. They have a really good return policy so, i'll check it out.

Has anyone tried the Humax?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

didn't you ask this same thing about a year ago?

 

[geckojohn]

Probably... but i've gotten into tv shows a lot more now.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: geckojohn
i'm might get the Humax one at Costco to see if i really like it. They have a really good return policy so, i'll check it out.

Has anyone tried the Humax?

Does it have dual tuners?

 

[torpid]

Well you can get a tivo for $99 or less and lifetime activation for $299. I don't see how it can be more economical to build an HTPC. $399 will get you a barebones HTPC, and as mentioned above the software is not as nice, yet.

 

[dud]

AVOID paying a lifetime activation fee for the TIVO service. TIVO has never made a profit and with DirecTV ending it's relationship with them you never know what's going to happen. There is a simplae answer: consider DirecTV (they have some great intro specials) and the TIVO service is only $4.99 per month.