TiVo: Should I purchase the service?

[Wingate1217]

I am looking into buying A TiVo recorder and the service. There are several types of TiVo devices I could buy and I am having a tough time making up my mind. There are Series 2 recorders that give the individual from 40 to 300 hours of record time. There are also Humax DVD recorders that include a series 2 recorder as well as a DVR. There are also other DVR's out there and I don't know if there is a difference between those and TiVo. Please help me with any experiences you may have had with TiVo and/or DVr's. Thanks!

 

[Oh8ch]

If your cable company offers the service look there first. I have a DVR through Warner and it works fine. You also save the cost of the box and aren't sinking money into HW that will continue to change as HD comes forward.

 

[NorthShoreBuck]

I think TIVO also lost their deal with Direct TV. They may not be on strong financial ground.

 

[Wingate1217]

If your cable company offers the service look there first. I have a DVR through Warner and it works fine. You also save the cost of the box and aren't sinking money into HW that will continue to change as HD comes forward.

Thanks! I didn't think of that angle. I have Warner here in Charlotte so I guess that they probably offer it down here. By the way what is the monthly charge for the service from TW?

 

[Oh8ch]

I think it is $7 - plus you have to pay monthly for the box, but you most likely already have a cable box and it just swaps out for that one at no extra charge.

 

[sandgk]

Thanks! I didn't think of that angle. I have Warner here in Charlotte so I guess that they probably offer it down here. By the way what is the monthly charge for the service from TW?

Only three warnings about Cable TVRs -- they are pretty inflexible about

-- Exporting Movies so you can later record to DVR
-- Increasing HD Space / Capacity by either "Compressing" Disc Space or putting in anew or external drive
-- Doing Commercial Skips (it is easier with some TiVO's / Replay TV etc.)

One warning about TiVO's
-- They now have Pop-up ads to overcome the "skip" ad feature that made them so popular in the first place.

We wanted one with a Direct TV subscription (it would have been free, basic model, 40 Hour duration), but building placement / location meant no Southerly exposure - -so I never got to see my new TiVO in use. We do have DVR, but, like I said can't get movies out onto Tape or Disc without making them analog -- which kind of defeats the purpose of going digital in the first place.

Thank god for my Hauppage TVR.

I think TIVO also lost their deal with Direct TV. They may not be on strong financial ground.

That TiVO DirectTV deal was good as of eaxctly 6 weeks ago - when did this shit hit the fan?