TiVo Alternative?? Edit: just went for a TiVo anyway :-)

[Kelemvor]

Just find an old computer you have laying around, put Media Center on it (or XP and then get something like SageTV). Plug in your tuner card and you're done. Not hard and not expensive.

Of course I just use TED now and let other people do the recording for me.

 

[Parrotheader]

IF you use Dish Network you can still track down some of the older PVR-501 and PVR-508 receivers for sale online. These offer the functionality you're talking about:

HD-based
Basic DVR features (pause/rewind live TV, etc.)
No monthly fee
Basic TV-Guide-like functionality (just uses the regular Dish programming guide menu) which you can use to easily schedule recordings based on day/time.

We've got two of the 508 units in our house and I love them. It doesn't have name-based-recording like Tivo and more advanced DVR services, but I don't mind since I don't have to pay the fee. I also have an HTPC based on the great freeware program GBPVR.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: RedBeard

Originally posted by: purbeast0
find a used TIVO basic box.

i got my girlfriend a Toshiba DVD player/TIVO combo that came with TIVO basic. There is no montly fee and it is the actual TIVO brand and UI. You however just cannot set season tickets or do some advanced stuff. Basically you have to manually record everything, but you can make it record every day at same time, every weekday, etc.

I paid $250 for it for xmas for her a few years ago and she couldn't be happier.

Hmmmm, I will look into this. I didn't know that a tivo would work without service.

There are some limitations; there are no suggestions, season passes, or network functions. The guide is still there but with only 3 days of recording information instead of 2 weeks.

Another recommendation for the Toshiba SD-H400 which is hard to find.

They're selling for around $250 shipped on eBay and are worth every penny.

Free TiVo Basic FTW!

 

[RedBeard]

TiVo Deal

Hmm I ordered this here. Nice and cheap. It may require a subsription but it is sooo cheap!

 

[nageov3t]

I've got the Toshiba Tivo/DVD player that others have mentioned in this thread. works well enough and comes with free basic tivo.

I really don't think you're going to find anything as dumb and slimmed down as you want it, though, if you need it to be hdd based as well. there's just not a market for it.

 

[RedBeard]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I've got the Toshiba Tivo/DVD player that others have mentioned in this thread. works well enough and comes with free basic tivo.

I really don't think you're going to find anything as dumb and slimmed down as you want it, though, if you need it to be hdd based as well. there's just not a market for it.

Thanks for the info, I edited the OP. Looks like TiVo is the way to go

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: RedBeard
TiVo Deal

Hmm I ordered this here. Nice and cheap. It may require a subsription but it is sooo cheap!

Congrats!

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: RedBeard
TiVo Deal

Hmm I ordered this here. Nice and cheap. It may require a subsription but it is sooo cheap!

Congrats and welcome to the family. This forum should prove invaluable to you. And when you want to put in a larger hard drive (and you will) there are 9th Tee and WeaKnees.
Enjoy your TiVo!