Tivo or Replay TV...PVR opinions??????????

[dartworth]

Who uses which one and what do you think of it?

Tivo...?

ReplayTV...?


Thinking of getting one of these just like some input on them.

Thanks in advance

 

[RossMAN]

AVSForum.com are the best PVR forums, check them out. You can spend hours just reading all the hundreds of ReplayTV vs. TIVO threads.

IMHO ReplayTV's are superior than TIVO but are harder to find and because of this may cost a little more.

 

[Thegonagle]

I don't know what RPTV does that Tivo doesn't.

Tivo is fun because it fills up otherwise unused space in its spare time with "suggestions," TV shows and movies that you might like. The thing is, you can't get crazy with the "Thumbs Down" button, otherwise it eventually thinks you don't like anything at all and so it won't have anything to suggest. If you use the "Thumbs Up" button a lot, you'll never be without something to watch. When I first got the Tivo, I started pressing thumbs down to any show I didn't like, and within a couple weeks, it wouldn't record anything other than what I asked for. So I reset all the thumbs ratings. I thumbs-upped all the shows I did like, and I only thumbs-downed "Paid Programming." I just ignored all the shows I didn't like and they deleted themselves automatically whenever it needed more space. It started recording some good suggestions for a change, and as I thumbs-upped more of the stuff I liked, it got better and better. I'm never without something to watch, even though I recently dropped almost all of my cable TV channels, relying only on the few channels I get for free as a Road Runner subscriber.

RPTV doesn't have a monthly fee though. Tivo does, but you can put a unit on a lifetime plan for some large amount of money. I might upgrade to a permanent subscription but that takes like three years to start paying off.

Overall, I think my Tivo rocks, but I don't like the $12.95 monthly service fee. The original series Tivos can be upgraded with a $99 card so you can plug it directly into a router, rather than a phone line. I think the series 2 Tivos have that functionality built in.

 

[MrBond]

I personally don't like the TiVO suggestions, but then again, I never used them like Garfang did. When I first installed my DishNet system, for some reason, it would fill up the drive nightly recording shows on the Indian channels that Dishnet carries (But I don't recieve). I got sick of it recording filling itself up (and preventing the tivo from recording other things I wanted it to record if I wasn't there) and just turned them off.

I really like the guide features though and was throughly impressed with it. Lightning took my first one from me (hit the modem) so $100 later, I had a refirb one from Phillips. Then, around Christmas of last year, the audio started failing in this one. I decided it wasn't worth it to send it in and get it fixed again, so it just sits in my entertainment center collecting dust.

 

[Thegonagle]

If it's full of suggestions, this does not prevent the recorder from saving the shows you have specifically asked for. It simply deletes the suggested shows. Furthermore, it will never delete a show that you have asked for to make room for suggestions. The only time it deletes a show you've asked for is to make room for another show that you've asked for. It's as unobtrusive as can be. The recording of suggestions always takes last priority, happening only when it is otherwise idle, and only on otherwise unused space.

I don't know why it would be recording Indian channels unless it is somehow improperly setup. You can knock entire channels out of the Tivo's list of available channels. Say you never want to see Univision. You can make the Tivo pretend it doesn't even exist, so it will never suggest a show on that channel.

 

[tallest1]

I'd tell you what I use but then everyone reading this thread would see how cool it is and use it eventually catching the eye of the RIAA and causing the world to end. Sorry buddy, but my answer is *classified*

 

[dolph]

i had an old replay (20 hour upgraded to 80 hour upgraded to 160 hour), and now i have a replay4000 (same as the new 4500 but without modem use). the replay is beautiful. pm me if you have any questions, i'd be happy to answer.

 

[RossMAN]

Sears B&M have some Panasonic Showstopper (ReplayTV) 30 hour models on clearance for $199.

Pretty nice considering there's NO MONTHLY FEE (unlike TIVO), better interface and that handy dandy 30 second quick skip button.

As always with Hot Deals, YMMV

 

[Muadib]

I can get an open box 60 hr directivo for $339, but there's no remote or directions. Would you go for it? Can you order remotes for this thing?

 

[Kadarin]

I have a 60hr Tivo, and it works great.. I thumbs-upped a bunch of stuff from the History Channel and the Sci-Fi channel, so now I get to actually watch interesting tv, rather than reruns of "Friends". I work graveyard shift, and without Tivo, I probably wouldn't watch tv at all (is this a bad thing?!)

 

[Muadib]

Just want to bump this, and to say either I read the sign wrong, or they gave me bad info. There doesn't seem to be a 60hr directivo model, not yet anyway. Does anyone know if the new model has a drive that big? Not that it matters though as I think I'll wait for the new model. It's only $200, and the rate is cheaper.