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The risk of getting TIVO

S

Staples

Diamond Member
I have about had it with recording stuff with my VCR. I am constantly taping over stuff and always have to spend a long time to find the begining of the shows on tape. Through a lot of research, it looks like my best bet is to go with TIVO or a similar product. I have come to the conclusion that I *will* have to pay a monthly fee (unless there are still models in stock that include free basic service, the BB one is long gone). So at $13 a month, I am just thinking of buying a lifetime subscription. After all, two years will cost you $300.

As of now, I have TWC analong. Digital has been around for 6-10 years and it looks like I may upgrade to it one day. I doubt the TIVO tuners can tune in digital channels but it is my understanding that they can send a signal to the digital box and hopefully the box will send the video from that channel to the TIVO (thus the TIVO can record it). Is this correct?

My other question is about upgrading these things. I am not really interested in doing it because I need more time, 40 hours is just fine, however I am worried about the factory drive breaking after a year or two and the machine being rendered worthless. I have read numerous threads about upgrading the drive in these forums but none mentioned if it would affect the lifetime sub in any way. In fact, it does not even seem like anyone has bought the lifetime sub.
 
i would suggest getting a replay tv instead, there are much better upgrade paths and a lot more users for the "hacks" so they are very well supported along with constant innovation

and yes your replaytv unit can communicate with your cable box and change the channel to tune to the right one to record your show.

i have been using replay tvs for 4 years now, its gonna blow your mind how easy this is.

 
And the all improtant question. If it were to buy the $300 lifetime sub for the Replay TV, would hacking it including putting a new HD in effect it functionality at all?

TIVO and RTV seem mostly the same down to the price so I have no problem going with replay TV.
 
I got one of the Toshiba TIVO/DVD players. Comes with lifetime BASIC service and an 80GB drive. More than enough to record the shows we watch every week. I love not having to use a VCR.
 
Replay- More geared to geeks. More features, not as nice interface I also am suspect about Replay's survivability since TiVo is outselling them at like 4:1 and they're having money problems. Subscription fees are now similar to TiVo's.

TiVo- Nicer interface, Version 2 now adds most of the features that Replay has (as add ons). More market share means they'll be around longer. Bad side is the $12.95 price, but it's not too bad. Also has a built in media server that allows you to play MP3's and view JPG's from your tv/receiver. They're adding the ability to stream shows to your computer and burn recordings to DVD's some time towards the end of the year.

Also, my experiences with DirectTV have been a disaster. They said they would be cheaper than cable, but after the $4.99 added fee for each TV (I got 3 receivers free), and the add on channels that made it equivelent to my cable company, I ended up paying $15 more a month. Then my TV would go out everytime it rained (which happens 3-4 times a week during this season here). Bleah......I went back to cable.
 
My other question is about upgrading these things. I am not really interested in doing it because I need more time, 40 hours is just fine, however I am worried about the factory drive breaking after a year or two and the machine being rendered worthless. I have read numerous threads about upgrading the drive in these forums but none mentioned if it would affect the lifetime sub in any way. In fact, it does not even seem like anyone has bought the lifetime sub.
Click to expand...
Replacing your drive or adding another drive doesn't affect your lifetime sub.

BTW, once Tivo To Go comes out at the end of the year, ReplayTV users really have nothing to hold onto as a feature over Tivo.
 
Ok, do you guys think TivoToGo will be implemented in the Series2 models so if I were to buy one, I'd be able to take advantage of it when it came out?

And Fritzo, I am worried about that too. It looks as if ReplayTV might fold one day and then I might be out of luck. Replay might be better in the short run but it may be riskier than TIVO. One thing I have seen about it is that their grid is 90 minutes. I don't know what TIVO's is, may be the same. I am getting tired of these small grids all the time.

Thanks Werk, I won't have to worry about upgrading the drive then.
 
I would suggest purchasing a WingCorp Custom Computers PVR unit.

PM me. SRP on the prototype TOTL model is $1300, but they get quite a bit cheaper depending on your desired capabilities.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
I would suggest purchasing a WingCorp Custom Computers PVR unit.

PM me. SRP on the prototype TOTL model is $1300, but they get quite a bit cheaper depending on your desired capabilities.
Click to expand...

Yeah! Why buy a $99 TiVo and have to pay $12.95 a month! In 92 months, it will pay for itself!!!


😀
 
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Then my TV would go out everytime it rained (which happens 3-4 times a week during this season here). Bleah......I went back to cable.
Click to expand...
Your dish was probably installed by a dumbass. My Dad installed ours and it goes out only when we get NASTY thunderstorms (Chicago). When you install the dish properly it should rarely if ever go out because of weather.

EDIT: Anyone know if TiVoToGo will work on a DirecTiVo? I've got a newer Philips model.
 
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
I would suggest purchasing a WingCorp Custom Computers PVR unit.

PM me. SRP on the prototype TOTL model is $1300, but they get quite a bit cheaper depending on your desired capabilities.
Click to expand...

Yeah! Why buy a $99 TiVo and have to pay $12.95 a month! In 92 months, it will pay for itself!!!


😀
Click to expand...

Yes, but can you also surf porn on a TiVo? And carry out tier-1 piracy (if you were into that kind of stuff)? And post on ATOT? And play Doom3 at 1080i natively at high detail and playable FPS?

The "normal" model (Which sacrafices very little, really, just the innately awesome gaming and one of the two DVD burners) costs about half that. Pays for itself a lot quicker, and you still get a lot more out of it.

Both of them also have native satellite decoding.
 
Eye, the main reason I don't make a HTPC is because although in theory your can do just about anything with a PC, who wants to browse the web or play a game while they are recording a show? Recording practically renders the computer useless as everything else will be slow. I want a dedicated machine and TIVO definitely beats a dedicated HTPC in price. Also there is no hassle at all. I am sure software will change and a HTPC will give problems once in a while.
 
Originally posted by: MDE
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Then my TV would go out everytime it rained (which happens 3-4 times a week during this season here). Bleah......I went back to cable.
Click to expand...
Your dish was probably installed by a dumbass. My Dad installed ours and it goes out only when we get NASTY thunderstorms (Chicago). When you install the dish properly it should rarely if ever go out because of weather.

EDIT: Anyone know if TiVoToGo will work on a DirecTiVo? I've got a newer Philips model.
Click to expand...

No, it's something to do with being on the edge of signal or something. All I know is it stunk.
 
Originally posted by: Staples
Eye, the main reason I don't make a HTPC is because although in theory your can do just about anything with a PC, who wants to browse the web or play a game while they are recording a show? Recording practically renders the computer useless as everything else will be slow. I want a dedicated machine and TIVO definitely beats a dedicated HTPC in price. Also there is no hassle at all. I am sure software will change and a HTPC will give problems once in a while.
Click to expand...

You could build a basic PVR on your own that is dedicated to recording a show/watching live tv. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, and wouldn't cost much more than a tivo with lifetime subscription. Plus, it's easier to upgrade in the future. Throw in a dvdrom you can watch DVD's, etc.

What if your tivo stops working after the warranty expires? You'll have a useless box with a subscription that can't be transfered.

I've been thinking about building one to replace my replaytv (bought it last year at radio shack when they were selling units with lifetime subscription for $150). I also have a 14hour series one tivo with lifetime subscription, so whatever you go with, you're gonna absolutely love it.
 
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