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TIVO question.

Fatstrat
I'm thinking of getting the wife a Tivo for Christmas. Know NOTHING about them. Never even seen one.
Will they work on any TV? How much do they cost? Thanks.
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Comments

13 comments

Date Votes
  • Rockatansky
    I think, there are better DVR products out there. Make sure whatever you get, supports HD. TiVo is alright, nothing wrong with it, but do a research and compare the features. I've always used the DVR receiver from whatever satellite service I'd buy.

    I would look at something like Toshiba RD-XS52 as you can record stuff onto DVD's as well, but check at how usable it is and how well it integrates with your service and home theater.
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  • Fatstrat
    We just have basic cable and a non-HD Sanyo TV. Will they work w/these?
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  • Rockatansky
    They should, yes. The software that runs on it should be able to read pretty much any cable/satellite programming and so work just as a box supplied by cable/satellite provider.

    The reason I am saying HD is because we're moving towards HD and you'd just save yourself an unnecessary expense by getting one ahead of time, though who knows, maybe the prices will drop next year significantly.

    Let's see if anyone else has anything to say about it; though I know of a couple of people who got Toshiba DVR/DVD thingy and are pretty satisfied with it.
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  • Fatstrat
    Thanks.
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  • beneteau
    Check Direct TV and Dish Network. With a 12 or 18 month contract, you can get a "free" DVR. You maybe able to obtain a "free" DVR from your cable company---if you tell them that you are dropping their service and switching to satellite because they are offering you a free DVR.
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  • RUGERGUNZ
    quote:Originally posted by beneteau
    Check Direct TV and Dish Network. With a 12 or 18 month contract, you can get a "free" DVR. You maybe able to obtain a "free" DVR from your cable company---if you tell them that you are dropping their service and switching to satellite because they are offering you a free DVR.






    I know Dish Network will give you a free DVR with a contract, BUT you still have to pay 5.99/month for the service I think. Not 100% sure on the price but know that it isn't free. With a Tivo, once you buy it, the use of it is free.
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  • joker5656
    you have mail, please take the advice before spending money on something that won't work IF you don't get the right one
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  • Rockatansky
    quote:Originally posted by joker5656
    you have mail, please take the advice before spending money on something that won't work IF you don't get the right one


    I guess the masses don't deserve to know the truth...
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  • Colt Super
    "the truth is out there"
    -Mulder

    We have 2 DVR's that were provided by Direct TV for $5/month, each.

    I love skipping commercials and watching a 60 minute show in 44 minutes.

    Since we got them, a year ago, they have replaced them for problems seven times. We rent them, not buy them, and Direct TV is responsible for their repairs and maintenance, forever.

    They are a real piece of cake to operate.

    Doug
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  • Rockatansky
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    "the truth is out there"
    -Mulder


    trust no one
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  • HandLoad
    I've had one for nearly five years. It has changed the way I live, no lie. I have looked into other brands, and even thought about making one (Google MYTH TV). I Modded the one I have from the cheapest one into a monster. I bought one that had been returned from a "off market" source, IIRC it cost me around $150. It could only record about 15 hours at highest resolution. I took out the 20G drive and put in twin 250G drives. Now it can store nearly 400 hours at highest resolution. It has Cher's Farewell performance, all of Band of Brothers, all of the 24 seasons to date, two or three? seasons of NCIS, same of "The Unit", and frees us to watch other programs while those are getting recorded.

    All the competitors that I have looked into are not as easy a user interface as TiVo - they have the menu and remote and unit integrated into one wonderful package.

    You can surely look up all the features, but the coolest feature that I use often is to captrue performances of oddball shows that I want to have, or particular artist's performances - you put in the name of the show, or the artist, and it will "ride along" day and night, and whenever the show is broadcast, on whatever channel it is, it will get it for you.

    I bought into the "Lifetime" subscription way back when, and it has only cost me $150 for the unit, $250 for the lifetime subscription, and approx $400 for the drives. No monthly charges.

    I understand that the "Lifetime" subscriptions are gone now, but you can buy units off the internet that still have it.

    I LOVE being able to watch a top line hour show in 42 minutes, without the commercials. I love to be able to go and come home when I wish, and watch a whole footballgame in less than two hours. I love being able to stay at eh store or at my friend's and then come home and "catch up" with a show that was already in progress - think about the CMA awards show or suchlike! I can watch the Daytone 500 in two hours, and not miss a thing!

    I can't wait for a HD model to come out that is full-on TiVo...that is the only thing that will send the unit I have away (to my Daughter, as long as it can be maintained/revived/rebuilt.

    TiVo has really changed the pace and tempo of my life, removing the rush to get home to see a show, or the decision to miss the show.
    The TiVo gathers the little TV I do want to watch, compresses it (via commercial elimination) and allows me to watch it whenever it is convenient for ME, not the networks. I can get up, and go to sleep whenever I want, and still watch the News or shows when I want, stop them when the phone rings, and catch up with live shows after my phone conversation is over - no rush, no missed show. I can keep stuff for years after it was last broadcast, and revisit any stored program as many times as I want.

    Yes, It works with any TV. HD units of any brand are just now appearing, and they are limited in storage capacity, and are expensive.

    Keep in mind that everything is going Digital soon, and don't buy any analogue unit (like mine is). This would kill any used deal like from E-bay or suchlike.

    I would be happy to correspond further if you like - send me an E-mail if you wish.
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  • joker5656
    not all tivo's work with cable providers networks, and i sent him to this website to get an answer DSLreports.com
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  • farmplinker
    If you don't have an HD TV, and don't plan on getting one soon, you basically have two choices:

    1. Use the DVR that your cable company provides. They will rent you a DVR, probably for about $12 to $17 a month. Try to get one that has two tuners, letting you record two shows at the same time.

    Advantage: No up-front purchase. If it goes bad, you call up the cableco and they give you a replacement at no charge.

    Disadvantage: Not as easy to use as a Tivo, but does the same basic thing.


    2. Buy a TIVO Series 2 DVR. You can buy one from Tivo direct for $100, or you can buy one on ebay for less. But, you have to subscribe to Tivo service, which costs $12.95 per month, $129 per year, $249 for 2 years or $299 for 3 years.

    Advantage: Tivo's wonderful user-friendly interface.

    Disadvantage: Up-front cost. If it breaks, you have to pay to fix it, or throw it away and buy a new one.

    I actually have both a Tivo and a cableco DVR. I bought my Tivo before I got an HDTV. It's a single-tuner SD DVR. WHen I got my HDTV, I got a cableco HD DVR; it's a 2-tuner HD-DVR. Believe it or not, there are times when I record three shows at once: 2 on the cableco DVR and one on the Tivo.
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