Bargain-Priced TiVo HD Arrives
Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:33AM EDT
See Comments (53)
Looks like TiVo has followed up on its promise to deliver an HD-capable DVR that's a bit cheaper than the $800 Series3 model. Available next month, the TiVo HD will record up to 20 hours of HD programming (or 180 hours of standard def) for a much more reasonable price of $300.
The TiVo HD lacks the THX certification on the pricier Series3, and the hard drive is considerably smaller (the Series3 can record 32 hours of HD shows or 300 hours of SD programming), but otherwise most of the must-have features are here. You can record two shows at once while watching a third (provided you can get a couple of CableCARDs from your cable provider), and you get HDMI, component, S-Video and composite video outputs (along with an optical digital audio port).
Nod bad for $300, but keep in mind that monthly TiVo rate plans still apply: monthly plans range from $17 a month for a year-long contract to $14 for a three-year commitment, or you can pony up to $300 in advance for a full three years.
I have to admit that with the new low price, I'm giving the TiVo HD a serious look myself (currently, I'm suffering with the buggy Scientific Atlanta 8300HD provided by Time Warner Cable in Brooklyn), but something tells me that coaxing a pair of CableCARDs from Time Warner could be a time-consuming process. Anyone out there have any stories/advice?
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27 Posted by sportspig2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:37PM EDT Report Abuse
As a cable installer I will say this... TiVo is a rip off. It was ahead of its time when it was first introduced, but now most good cable company's offer HD DVR's for less without actualy having to buy the box for $300 or more. Think about it folks.... You could have basic cable for an entire year for around the $300 you waste on this. Add in the fact that the monthly subscribtion fee is more then renting a HD DVR monthly from your cable provider and it is a no brainer.
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28 Posted by akzwinak on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Unfortunately, I do have experience with getting CableCards from TimeWarner. I purchsed the Series 3 several months ago, and first found out that you can't just go into your local TW office and pick them up and install them yourself's. No.. you have to pay $35/card to have them installed by a technician who knows less about them than you do. Seriously.. I was coaching the tech through the install. It took no less then 2 visits, 3 technicians, and 8 cards before we got 2 that worked. Add to this that even though the cost of 2 cards is equal to the cost of a set-top box, my monthly service costs me more, because the CableCards aren't part of one of the specially priced packages. And, for this increased price, I get waaaay less channels (no two-way stuff as everyone else has noted, or switched channels) than those people who use the set-top boxes. It sure seems to me as if TW is trying to coerce us into using their boxes - they all hate the CableCards. Having said all that, the Series 3 Tivo was worth all of the expense and hassle involved. I've been a Tivo user for a long time and it was really hard to give that up when I wanted an HD DVR. Couldn't wait for Tivo to come out with one. Kinda wish I had waited now.. $300 is a lot more reasonable than $800.
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29 Posted by kevinchwalker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse
I prefer the ReplayTV, and as far as all the people complaining about other people watching TV because it's a waste of time... ummm what do you call typing messages on the computer to complete strangers?
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30 Posted by drakon1976 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse
I used to have Tivo through Directv but recently upgraded to a HD DVR from Directv. I loved Tivo but adjusting to the Directv DVR only took about a month because there isn't really much difference. You don't have the ability to switch between two different channels while recording another but you can watch 1 and record 1 at the same time. I haven't had any problems at all and the DVR was free! It also can record 50 hours of HD programming which I'll need because they are upgrading to over 100 channels of HD by the end of this year. Also it will record the channel you are watching for 90 minutes instead of Tivo's 30 so that is a nice option. I get all of this for only $69.99 A month!!! Why would anyone pay $300 and pay up to $18 a month for 20 hours of HD recording capacity, on top of paying for cable service? Tivo is out of date and out of touch with consumers.
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31 Posted by cscott_1988 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse
I have the older Series 2 Tivo and love it. I got around the small hard drive by connecting the Tivo to my home wireless network. Tivo will transfer the shows to your computer's hard drive over the network, leaving the Tivo clear to record more. It works great and I got my Series 2 for $20(Ebay). I do pay the monthly charge, but for as cheap as everything else was and how great the system is, I call it a bargain.
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32 Posted by rocketbob32505 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse
You know, my VHS VCR works just fine and best of all .... it's free!!!! Unless you are a tv junkie and are maintaining a massive video library TiVO / DVR really isn't worth the money you will spend on monthly service charges. Besides downloading a show from either style box to make room for other recordings is next to impossible anyway. The networks & studios are limiting that capability to protect their copy rights and prevent pirating. Save your money, go old school!!!!
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33 Posted by lexisray on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:50PM EDT Report Abuse
I just hooked up my cable through my pc so that I can have tv like features all through my computer(fast forward, rewind, stop, record, etc) No cable box, nothing special...forget Tivo, Im ahead of the curve
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34 Posted by cgallagher50 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
I bought a 56in 1080p Samsung 56in last year and I tried to get a couple of cable cards for my cablecard slots I was told by Samsungs customer service said the cards were to make the Government happy, they dont actually work! Thats why I was able to buy the monitor for $1400.00 a year ago!
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35 Posted by amymiyukijones on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:53PM EDT Report Abuse
We have the series 2 tivo as well as the pricier series 3 HD TiVo. It's awesome. We paid the $300 in advance for the 3 year pre-pay, so it's not to bad. We were able to get our cable cards from Comcast without a problem. The series 3 is worth it.
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36 Posted by ramonv.rm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse
Why not just get Dish? That's what I have. I think it's $5 a month for the box, and no extra fees. Might even be completely free (aside from the monthly satellite fees).
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37 Posted by ramonv.rm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse
No bugs with my Dish HD DVR.
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38 Posted by ramonv.rm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse
With Dish, I pay $6 a month for my HD DVR receiver, and no monthly service fee, other than the package fee for programming.
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39 Posted by danielmvacajr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse
Before you buy any TiVo this year, hang in there for a little longer. Starting In January, you will be able to buy HD-DVRs in retail stores and then just rent the cable cards from your local cable provider. These boxes are called OCAP Boxes(Open Cable Aplication Platform). I believe these boxes will definitely kill TiVo's series 3. You'll own your own HD-DVR but won't have to pay Tivo's $17 monthly fee plus the monthly charge to rent the cable cards. Our time warner office will start rolling these out in early september but it won't be until Jan that you can purchase in retail locations. For more information on this, just search OCAP in yahoo and you will see how exciting it will get as we near 2007
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40 Posted by babygur1_2457 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse
i have the dish network dvr and haven't had any problems with it in the 2 years i have owned it. it records shows pauses and all that just fine. the only problem i had was we had a storm and it messed the unit up but i called dish network and they had a new unit to me in 2 days.
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41 Posted by cecil940@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:20PM EDT Report Abuse
If you don't have HI DEF TIVO you have to get it. We have 4 of them in the house including my 5 and 9 yrs. girl's bedrooms. It is so worth the money. Forget cable go Directv and rent them. Don't pay the buy price. They are replaced if they should ever go out for free. Don't buy them because you can't use them if you cancel your subscription anyway. Renting them through Directv is a lot cheaper and you will always have a unit as long as you stay with the company.
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42 Posted by phisigman17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse
Directv offers HD DVRs that have 50 hours HD recording(or 200 hours standard digital) for like $199. I have a TiVo too which I keep on my tv in the basement, but for going with HD recording, the HDDVR from Directv was cheaper and the monthly cost is included in the monthly price. I'd give them a call first before you sheck out the money for a TiVo HD DVR. I used 1-800-431-1221 and the sales people will go over all the details and specs of the equipment so you can match it against what the new TiVo offers. good luck either way.
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43 Posted by wieglenda on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't understand the fools on this comment area... Let's see ----- VCR - Give me a break... things like season passes, recording two shows at once, browsing the entire show listing, not to mention the most important thing HD RECORDING. VCR's don't allow for HD recording, so that option is not valid. Comcrap DVR - One word, BROKEN... The three different boxes I had all had issues within the first 2 month of rentership. Lost recordings, horrible pixelation, and complete video/audio signal drop out... If you like watching HALF of the recorded show, then go ahead and use one of these monolithic beasts. PC hook-up - Well, that works great for STANDARD DEFINITION recordings, but for HIGH DEFINITION recordings you have to buy the $2,000 Alienware/Dell DVR Super-Mega computer that has specifically been approved by the powers-that-be. HDMI - Neither component NOR HDMI makes any difference to a HD TV. This is because all broadcast HD is either 720p or 1080i, both of which can be run through either HDMI or component video cables. Please stop telling people you NEED HDMI to watch HDTV. DirecTV - They have been saying that they are "rolling out 100s of HD channels" for the past THREE YEARS. I had their service for years, but dumped it because I got tired of waiting... Nonetheless, even HDTV channels that they do send out are horribly compressed and looks barely better then SDTV. Quality - I've owned... 3 TIVO boxes over the past 5 years. Never ONCE had any issues, unlike the DVRs from TWC and Comcrap. They have an EXCELLENT product and I have NEVER, EVER, EVER had any issues, nor has any of my friends ever had problems either. This new TIVO box is a steal for $300 ($250 at Circuit City). The one thing I don't like is that they have such a high subscription fee. $17/month is far too expensive for what you are actually getting. If they lowered their price to say, $10/month or $5/month w/ 3 yr committment, I think alot more people would go to TIVO. Oh ya, for all you people who are trolling this and saying that people shouldn't watch TV.... Go take a hike, I mean literally... Get off of your computer because obviously that is going to cause you to get fat and lazy...
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44 Posted by wavingredwhiteblue on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:41PM EDT Report Abuse
If the cable companies were smart they'd let you use TiVo along with their On Demand and At Home Movies services. Otherwise, some big company will replace them by providing what people want: Customisable service.
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45 Posted by bookerann on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse
Run Componant video to your TV from whatever HD receiver/dvr you use. Some copyprotected materials do not play well with HDMI. As for the VHS throwbacks, watching a VHS tape on a 60" TV is just painfull.
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26 Posted by cfipp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
How about a good ol' VCR - no fees, tapes can be reused and brand new box can be found for around 50 bucks. It may be Flintstones, but if your 401k and IRA aren't maxed, when do you want to retire anyway? VCR is by far the best bang for the buck.