Do you have any experience with the mythtv box? I have looked over their website and it looks interesting however from a brief look at it I don't understand how (of if I could) get my satellite signal into the computer and/or how I would channel the audio into my home theater system.

Scott,

In another few years that will not be a problem. Several TV stations in the UK are now putting the majority of their programming on the internet. You can download it directly to your computer server, then shuttle it to your video display, be it a computer monitor or television anywhere in the house.

I have had direct tv for going on 3 years with the RCA Direct TV tivo 40gig box.

Planing an upgrade to HD Direct TV and more recording space. What is the best HD tivo box to get with that upgrade? Someting that will allow me to transfer files to my computer for burning on dvd or other storag media.

Thanks for the help.

Bert,

The new Tivo desktop allows you to download videos to your computer, either using WiFi or an adapter using Cat5 internet cable.

My Series 2 was an old 40 gig box until upgraded. Weaknees.com has loads of upgrades for these boxes.

SERIOUSLY!!!

Where do they get off charging $800 for an HD DVR?!!?! Are people really buying these things?!!!

I LOVE my Tivos (yes, I have more than one) but I would never - EVER spend more than what I did spend on them to begin with. I would rather just build my own in Linux and spend the time figuring out all the crap.

Seriously.

Mike,

Problem with recording HD is that it takes MASSIVE amounts of hard drive space. Then couple that with the fact that the hard drives in the Tivo units are not normal computer style hard drives, but very fast access time versions, and you are looking at a lot of money very fast.

The hard drive in our computers is pretty generic, with millions of them being made every day. Not as many made of the Tivo style video drive, so price per unit is higher, as well as the size driving the price up as well.

Look on your Tivo and see how much it soaks up room by recording in the best quality, then imagine multiplying it several times for HD.

It all adds up to mean that if you want to record HD, you are going to pay. Right now that is. Look at how memory and hard drive prices have fallen. It will come down but not soon...

Where are you shopping? They are all over eBay for $200 new, ie HD DVR, not necessarily TIVO. Call Directv if you're a subscriber and get one with a few hundred dollars of free HD programming.

Apparently the HD DVR Dishnetwork offers is far, far superior to tivo/directv's. My buddy just ordered it--here's a convincing review; http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6474_7-6487656.html

My experience is with only one, so I can't compare, but I recently activated my DirectTV DVR (with the latest & greatest firmware), and I've been very pleased. Mine is the newest model (HR20 I think it is), that just came out a few months ago. Initially (from what I've read), this model had plenty of bugs when launched, but they appear to have been worked out from my perspective. Just as an FYI, I don't receive HD via satellite (yet), but the firmware upgrade that I patched in has a VERY good OTA HD tuner that was not available until very recently. I really like it...

edited: ps: I just read HoltJV's link, and it's from early 2006...thus obsolete...

I was looking mainly through the Tivo and Weekknees site. They sell the direct TV and Tivo HD DVRs; The Direct TV HD DVRs are extremely expensive through weekknees (I have actually been to their place of business as it is just down the street from my office and I bought my second DVR from them).

I may consider an ebay HD DVR this year as I hadn't considered looking there before...I may try to break Direct TV into giving me one of theirs via customer retention. I prefer the Tivo though because then it would be "mine" where as the Direct TV model I am not sure I would be able to remove content from it.

I purchased my HR20 from Bestbuy ($300), as I prefer to buy my equipment rather than leased through a 'plan'. However, from what I've read, DirectTV will bend over backwards and offer all kinds of 'free' incentives, etc. if you simply ask them...

I posted the "express" number for Directv. Ask for a deal on the HD-DVR and get the new dish that supports MPEG-4 installed for free. Don't settle to easily with the rep with just free HD programming. Their job is to make you a happy custiomer.

And if you have ever paid a lifetime sub on Tivo service, it should still be in effect and free for your lifetime. That includes the programming subscription, not the montly receiver charge.


Dish's DVR was so good a judge awarded TIVO 90 million in damages and an injunction to stop Dish Network from using its HD DVR. Case is still open pending appeals.

With the proliferation of Plasmas and LCD sets, I am amazed that people still balk at HD programming/recorders.

WTH did you buy your HD set in the first place?

I don't know how to explain it - we needed a new TV (needed?). I suppose it was a true luxury purchase, we were prepared to live with the lower quality on regular programming due to the non HD interface and still are to be honest. We honestly don't watch a lot of regular television but we do watch a lot of movies on DVD which look freakin fantastic on the TV. I also play a few video games with was a major contributor to the purchase of the large TV.

All in all, the price of HD DVRs is the only part of the equation that doesn't work for me. We'll see if that changes once I get some honest HD programming coming into it.

JUST wait until you see tru HD programming........simply amazing.
108 inches of HD on the widescreen is awe inspiring.