TiVo

[Tom McGarry.]

Ok, so I only brought this up because I just read another thread where someone said they TiVo'd it.

So what exactly is TiVo, and how does it work and compare to cable/sat?

It is relativly new here in Canada, but I am thinking about makeing the switch.

[TheSlyBear]

TiVo is a Digital Video Recorder. It's not a replacement for cable or satellite, but works with it.

 Imagine a VCR that uses a hard drive instead of a tape. And that can automatically record your favorite shows for you whenever they come on. And that let's you pause live TV so you can go pee or make a sandwich without missing anything. And that let's you rewind live TV to see the funny parts over again, or make out that dialog that you missed. And more...

I wouldn't be without one.

[tomgallagher]

Comes in handy for bathroom or snack breaks. I wouldn't be without one either.

[Antimidas]

Also has a monthly subscription fee.  If you already have a DVR with cable or satellite, or any of the other DVRs out there (I have a Sony ATSC DVR in the other room with a DVD burner), there is no need to purchase a TiVo.

[Tyler]

I have two of them and love them!  Depending which model you get, the work with both cable and satellite.  They are much better than the DVRs that the cable and satellite companies offer.

[Antimidas]

I have two of them and love them!  Depending which model you get, the work with both cable and satellite.  They are much better than the DVRs that the cable and satellite companies offer.

Do tell how they are better.  Because if I can drop some of the fees I am paying to DirecTV, I will do so gladly.  Having never used an actual TiVo, I have no point of comparison.

[BaldBear]

You can schedule a recording from your iPhone or laptop if you forget to do it while you are home.

[Antimidas]

Nice feature, but I can do that with the DirecTV.  The only problem with DirecTV is that you have to load the entire guide and it takes forever to get to the program that you are wanting to record.

I used to have a Pioneer DVR that had TVGuide biult-in.  It had one feature that I have not been able to find on any cable or satellite DVRs that I would love to have back.  The ability to schedule a recurring program across channels.  So if I want to record every episode of House regardless of the channel, it will grab it no matter what time it appears.  DirecTV only will record that program on one channel regardless of time.  If it moves networks, I lose the programming.

[BaldBear]

I believe my FIOS DVR's will follow the SHOW and not necessarily the CHANNEL when it comes to recording.

[TheSlyBear]

I also have a Time Warner DVR that I never use because it's such a pain in the ass.

Aside from missing great features that TiVo has (Season Pass, multi-room viewing, TiVo To-Go) its menu system is Byzantine to the extreme, and all too often it just plain doesn't work right.

TW DVR: "Oh you really wanted me to record that?"

Bear: "Yes, I told you to record it, you said you would record it, yet you didn't record it"

TW DVR: "Oh, sorry. I'll do better next time."

Bear: "No you won't"

TW DVR: "So sue me."

[BaldBear]

I haven't played with the DVR functions on the FIOS boxes much yet, but I know you can record something in one room, and watch it in ANY other room. Also START watching something in one room, and FINISH watching it in another. Kinda handy.

[Tyler]

TiVo is better than other DVRs in my opinion for the following reasons:

The guide is WAY better.
I rarely (like a couple of times in 4 years) have ever missed a scheduled program.
I can connect to the wireless network - thus I don't have to run wires everywhere
I can watch Netflix On-demand over my wireless network in HD
I can transfer programs to my other TiVos over the wireless network.
I can transfer programs to my computer to watch on the road - think Barney for my daughter!
There's a huge support community online that if I need help with anything I can get answers within hours, not days.
The customer service is awesome!

[Antimidas]

I have only had DirecTV since January and have not missed any programs yet.  But I can only watch them in one room of my house.  Dumb. 

I have it connected to wireless and detailed how to do it on my site.  Works great with the 802.11n but it is a hack.

If I want to watch NetFlix on the 52" TV, I need to pay Microsoft $50 per year for the xBox 360 membership. 

There is no way to transfer files from the proprietary format so that I can re-encode for AppleTV. 

Support sucks!

So about how much will TiVo cost me per year?

[Tyler]

So about how much will TiVo cost me per year?

The box will cost you about $150 and the subscription for the guide is about $15 a month.  You can buy a lifetime service.  Though, this will only be standard definition.

It looks like the HD version for DirecTV will be avail in 2010.  You can sign up here for more info - http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/directv-signup.html

If you want Netflix to your TV, you can always get a Samsung Blu-ray player.  You also get Pandora!

[Antimidas]

Awesome!  Thanks guys!  I have a Sharp Aquos Blu-ray, but that came free with the TV, so I will not be out anything to replace it.