Vista Media Center-Tivo-Time Warner DVR

[Kristi2k]

I'm trying to decide what to go with. I would purchase a TV tuner for my computer (Windows Vista Ultimate with MC) if I can figure out my sleep issue on the computer but if I can't, should I go for Tivo ($15/month) or TW DVR ($9/month).

Looking for experience and advice, thank you.

 

[Ameesh]

tough choice, all have their pros and cons....

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
I'm trying to decide what to go with. I would purchase a TV tuner for my computer (Windows Vista Ultimate with MC) if I can figure out my sleep issue on the computer but if I can't, should I go for Tivo ($15/month) or TW DVR ($9/month).

Looking for experience and advice, thank you.

Fix for the sleep problem is coming in vista sp1, from what I gather.

 

[yuppiejr]

Depends on your High Definition and/or content choices. Even if you get a QAM tuner for your Media Center to do HD over cable you're not going to be able to "PVR" any encrypted HD content (premium channels like HBO, Cinemax and in some markets Discovery, ESPN, Food, etc..) unless someone releases a CableCard device that will work in a non packaged PC from one of the big name PC makers.

If you're just looking to pull the standard network channels plus MAYBE ESPN/Disc (again, depending on if the provider encrypts them or not) I think the Vista/MC option will work - otherwise I'd go for the cable company's HD DVR option to ensure compatibility with their content.

 

[Kristi2k]

I won't be recording HD shows, there's only 2 HD shows I watch and I am almost always home on those two nights.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
I won't be recording HD shows, there's only 2 HD shows I watch and I am almost always home on those two nights.

ummm then why are you considering any of this if you don't want to record TV?

DOH! Edit: missed the "HD" portion in that post

To answer the OP, just get the TW setup. Cheap simple and easy.

 

[KeithP]

After using a Series 2 Tivo for a couple of years I recently switched to to a SA 8300HD that I am using with Time Warner in So Cal.

The first thing I noticed is that the Tivo, even on the highest quality settings, had a noticeable impact on visual/audio quality. The 8300HD, even on standard definition broadcasts had a much nicer picture.

The Tivo GUI is better/smoother than the Passport software running on my 8300HD but for what I want to do, just record shows and faster forward through commercials, the 8300HD works fine. The Tivo does have some extra bells and whistles, but I found them nearly useless. Plus, all their software updates slowed the GUI on my Tivo to the point that I had to go with something else. It was just too frustrating. However, I don't believe the newer Tivos have the same slowness problem.

I also wanted 2 tuners, the ability to record HD programs and be able to use pay-per-view and video-on-demand services so that pretty much left Tivo out of the loop. Another problem with Tivo is I believe you have to sign up for at least 1 year of their service. With the cable box you can try it for a month and return it if you don't like. If you pick it up yourself and install it, that means you are only out $9.

I can't speak to using a TV Tuner under Vista (or XP for that matter) as I have never done it.

I would say try the TW DVR first and see how you like it then go from there.

-KeithP

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Go with the TWC solution. IMHO, media center PC's just can't beat the stability and ease of use of standalone DVR's yet. This will change in the future, but for now just save yourself some headache and get a DVR box from your cable co.

 

[BillyBatson]

i currently have a TW HD-DVR which is a Motorolla Moxi box. It has been serving us well for the last 9 months however i hate the damn thing. It is very slow, sometimes unresponsive for a short period of time after ou press a menu button, the software itself blows and doesn't compare to the TiVo software. The box itself is big and ugly, it has a built in DVD player which is HORRIBLE it always skips and freezes as if i put in a scratched disk but all my disks are new. There is no HDMI output only DVI so i use a DVI to HDMI cable and just standard RCA audio left and right out. Since it is also PC based (celeron cpu it think with 256mb ram) it used to be inside of a media cabinet and actually over heated several times and warned us it would shut itself off. However with all its faults it has never missed a recording.

I don't have experiance with the new TiVo series 3 boxes but i know i liked 2 other than the lack of HD support so based ont hat i would say TiVo is better. Price however is an issue, i was given the box for free which gives TW a HUGGGGGE advantage, we pay only $8-9 a month extra for it, there is no phoneline needed, and no contract required.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
Go with the TWC solution. IMHO, media center PC's just can't beat the stability and ease of use of standalone DVR's yet. This will change in the future, but for now just save yourself some headache and get a DVR box from your cable co.

I've had a MCE machine running for more than a year now without any issues.

 

[Shawn]

Check this out:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=2008191&enterthread=y

 

[Kristi2k]

Shawn, thank you for the links. I'm now trying to decide between VMC and TW DVR. Both have pros and cons. The benefit I see with TW DVR is that I wouldn't need to burn to a DVD first to watch it on my TV. I really like the options VMC has though.

Maybe what I'll do is try the DVR for a few weeks and then go from there, one of my friends has VMC with a tuner card, I'll check it out sometime.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
Shawn, thank you for the links. I'm now trying to decide between VMC and TW DVR. Both have pros and cons. The benefit I see with TW DVR is that I wouldn't need to burn to a DVD first to watch it on my TV. I really like the options VMC has though.

Maybe what I'll do is try the DVR for a few weeks and then go from there, one of my friends has VMC with a tuner card, I'll check it out sometime.

Do you have an Xbox 360? If so, you can just watch the shows through it. I think most people in the board were assuming you were going to use your PC as a HTPC setup where it was attached to your TV.