I'm thinking...of giving up my Tivo

[mikester]

I'm not sure...it's not an HD Tivo, it has the lifetime service and I've upgraded the Hard drive to something like 2 or 300 GB a while back.

It's mainly the HD thing, I don't want to spend $300 on a new HD model and then have to continue paying $7 a month for the service (since I don't think you can buy lifetime with it).

The Time Warner HD DVR is $10 a month, $3 difference and you can hang an external hard drive off of it.

I really do like my Tivo, I have two in fact but it just isn't cost effective to upgrade to HD via Tivo...

Thoughts? Ultimately I could keep it and put it in the back room (where I don't have a TV currently) and when I get a TV back there - hook it up there. Still, any TV I buy will be HD so then I'm right back to a non-HD DVR.

Anyone want to buy a lifetime service DVR (non-HD)?

[bell]

I had the standard tw dvr for years, worked good, but did die twice over a 6 year period (and lost all data), when that happened they replaced it with a brand new unit, which makes leasing it from them a plus......having never had a tivo I can't compare the 2.

[TerryH]

In the end, HD will considered the norm and regular Tivo's will be extinct. I was an early adopter for everything HD and paid $950 for the original HD Directv-Tivo on the day it was released. I have to say, it was a fantastic machine in every regard.

I know it's tough to say goodbye to lifetime DVR service. I paid $225 about 7 years ago for lifetime dvr service with Directv. My lifetime sub means I get it for my lifetime, not tied to any dvr, which is fantastic. The onus now is, I want to go to Verizon FIOS, but I hate the idea of surrendering my lifetime dvr service with Directv.

[Ronbo]

You're going to miss some of the features and ease of use of the Tivo when you go to the TW DVR, but I can't argue with the economics of your decision.

[jcunning]

I'm not sure if Tivo is still offering a lifetime service transfer to the new box. That is what I did. I took my 8 year old box and transferred the lifetime service to it. You might want to give them a call as this may be a hidden option to keep current customers.

I've tried the other DVR's and they are pretty much useless compared to Tivo.

The one thing to keep in mind is that you will probably have to put in a bigger hard drive to get more HD hours. Luckily, this is easier than ever now. I put in a 500Gb drive to get 24 hours of HD and a pretty much unlimited SD recording time. So I would buy the cheapest HD Tivo, transfer the lifetime service, then buy a 500GB drive for $100 or less and upgrade it.

You really can't beat sports in HD. Well worth the extra money in my book.

[12own911]

DIRECTV is working with Tivo to make a HD-DVR. Comes out end of this year or early next year. I can hardly wait... I loved my TIVO.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by 12own911

DIRECTV is working with Tivo to make a HD-DVR. Comes out end of this year or early next year. I can hardly wait... I loved my TIVO.

Yep. I has an old DirecTV Tivo DVR. Loved it, but it wasn't HD. Switched to the DirecTV HD DVR. Love the HD, not so crazy about the operating system.

Like you, I can't wait for a DirecTV TIVO HD unit.

[TerryH]

Directv and TIVO were married several years ago and produced that great pioneering HD TIVO. Sadly, they got divorced, but are now getting remarried.

And yes, the current Directv HD DVR (non-tivo) is barely tolerable. It could get good marks except it's way too slow reacting to remote input. Not too bad when controlling a show, but working the menus is frustrating as it is about 3 inputs behind. I think Directv was smart to realize that TIVO brings a much better machine to the party. And who doesn't love that peanut remote?

[mikester]

Originally Posted by 12own911

DIRECTV is working with Tivo to make a HD-DVR. Comes out end of this year or early next year. I can hardly wait... I loved my TIVO.

The problem is that since I started getting HD programming my Direct TV bill has doubled and I don't get any more channels than I used to. I just get them in HD and since my Tivo isn't HD I can only watch HD when the show is actually on.

Time warner's advertised rate for the same channel line up + some premium movie channels + and HD DVR is still $40 less than what I'm paying for my crappy Direct TV situation.

My wife used to work there, I've been looking at jobs at Direct TV but can't get even a call back. I used to work for RoadRunner and I really hate the idea of giving my former employer some of my money but it seems that they have the best product for the right price.

I'll probably be calling them to see what they have to say on the matter. I have done this before with them and they gave me the HD access for free for a year. The year is up, my bill is 2x what it was now - If they fix it and get me an HD DVR and the all the same lineup for ever for the better price I'll stay - happily. Otherwise, I'll call TWC after I get of the phone with them.

[mikester]

Well...I decided to put my Tivo back into play. Compared to the Tivo, the TWC DVR is just plain hard to use. One of the biggest problems I have with it the remote doesn't work well at all. Sometimes I have to press the button a couple of times to get it to do things. It's lame.

Then I can see it trying to bring the guide up for example then the guide goes off, I have to try a couple of times to get it working.

I set up some recordings of some shows for my Mother-in-law while she was visiting and now I can't figure out how to turn those off without deleting EACH instance of the show being recorded.

It's doing some weird thing on some of my son's recordings (Curious George) where it's like describing what is happening in the show (some woman's voice) and it's just irritating as all get out. I can't figure out even what the feature is to turn it off.

I hate it.

Hooked the Tivo back up last night.

Also, DirectTV called me for an interview and I went in last week for it. Looks like I didn't make it past the first round however.

[jyl]

I have one of the original Series 2 TiVOs. Got it in 2003, or thereabouts. Upgraded to 320GB, recently put in a 1TB drive as well. So I can record 1380 hours at Basic quality.

It is not HD. But I am too cheap to pay extra for HD service (Comcast) or even to buy a really good HD TV for that matter. Someday I will, when there isn't a big price premium.

[911boost]

I had 2 Series II Tivo's for years. I purchased an HD Samsung LCD for the bedroom, so we got the Comcast HD DVR. I absolutely hate it. I know that hate is a strong word, but it isn't nearly as intuitive as the Tivo, like others have said sometimes it takes forever for the menu to respond to the remote, etc.

I still have the Tivo hooked up downstairs to a 32 inch non HD Sony Wega. I prefer to watch tv on that, soley because of the Tivo.

[Z-man]

In January, I upgraded my old 20year old 27" tube tv to a Samsung 46-inch LCD. Upgraded my 5.1 receiver to a 7.1 in order to connect everything via HDMI across the systems. Also got a Cablevision HD-DVR.

Absolutely LOVE IT! The only downside - I can only record 24-ish hours of HD TV. Mind you - prior to this HD-DVR / Cable box, I was using a VCR.

Those of you who have not yet converted to HD tv - you are truly missing out. The picture quality will blow you away.

While not all of the channels are available in HD - but in my opinion, those channels aren't worth watching....

-Z-man.

[jyl]

Alas, I bought a new 42" TV about a year ago - lazed and cheaped out, didn't do enough research or buy a good one, but am now stuck w/ this one for a while more. Until I have a excuse to replace it.

[jbryant]

Another option-
I gave up the whole TV thing about a year ago...I thought it would kill me but I find I do a lot more things (more out of life and all that), etc and do not miss it...
Joined netflix and between their streaming video and regular DVD's I always can find something to watch if I really want to sit on the couch and veg...

[Super_Dave_D]

For me its not so much about recording shows. It’s the ability to stop, pause and rewind live shows. I can’t tell you how many times I do that.

Baby’s crying?– hit the pause button
Wife bizitchin?– hit the pause button till she’s gone
Gotta pee?– don’t hold it, hit the pause button
Watchin wipe out? Hit the rewind button lol

I cant live without it......my 7 year old asked me why she cant pause her TV - lol!!

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by mikester

Well...I decided to put my Tivo back into play. Compared to the Tivo, the TWC DVR is just plain hard to use. One of the biggest problems I have with it the remote doesn't work well at all. Sometimes I have to press the button a couple of times to get it to do things. It's lame.

Then I can see it trying to bring the guide up for example then the guide goes off, I have to try a couple of times to get it working.

I set up some recordings of some shows for my Mother-in-law while she was visiting and now I can't figure out how to turn those off without deleting EACH instance of the show being recorded.

It's doing some weird thing on some of my son's recordings (Curious George) where it's like describing what is happening in the show (some woman's voice) and it's just irritating as all get out. I can't figure out even what the feature is to turn it off.

I hate it.

Hooked the Tivo back up last night.

Also, DirectTV called me for an interview and I went in last week for it. Looks like I didn't make it past the first round however.

I can second your complaints. In 2 years I have had 3 TW HD-DVR machines die. Luckily their office is a couple miles down the road so I drive over for a replacement. My biggest complaint is that compared to the Dish Network DVR we came from the TW unit is clumsy and slow. I have similar issues with series shows, the search feature is nearly useless, many of the buttons on the remote don't do anything, and the DVR menu system locks up all the time. The only fix is a reboot.

I'd go back to satellite tomorrow if -
1. I could get local (San Diego) programming
2. I could get Padres games (and they would field a winning team...)

For SoCal folks it's also important to mount the dish in a location that's somewhat shielded from the seasonal Santa Ana winds. When they gust up to the 50mph+ range it can mess up your signal requiring a visit from the tech.