OT: I took the TiVo plunge today!!!

[kingnebwsu]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

I'm not a rich man by any means, but I just spent $400 on a f'in tivo :) I will have to spend another $300 when it arrives for the subscription fee. It should be here in a week or two. It's weird spending 3.5% of my gross income on one device. Wild stuff. But hey, April has 3 paydays, plus my tax refund (several hundred) is due back this month. I've done lot of research on this and I've thought about this decision for about 3 months. I did some price research on TiVo's yesterday and saw Best Buy was doing $20 off their super large one (140-hours). So I figured "what the hell!?!?!" and today I bought it!!! :)

Anyone have any TiVo thoughts. There was a thread a while ago on Tivo/replay TV, but I will be owning a Tivo within 2 weeks (lousy slow shipping!). I can't wait! No more missing 24/law and order/simpsons due to work. Plus I can record syndicated episodes of simpsons, law and order, family guy, etc. This is gonna be sweet. I'll always have something queued up to watch. HUZZAH!

(Editor's note: this guy is f'in nuts, spending $700 on one device)

[Franklinnoble]

You just paid $700 to be an even bigger slave to your television.

[Subby]

I am assuming you didn't get this through DirecTV, because they are charging $100 bucks for the new device+installation to existing customers and charging $5 per month on top of that for the service. The drawback is that the DVR you get though them is only 40GB (not all that big) and comes with USB port disabled (meaning you can't transfer stuff to disc - you have to use a DVD-recorder).

Anyway - TiVo (and I am not exaggerating here) is the greatest invention ever. Being able to record shows and fast forward through commercials has already probably saved me 40 hours of my life over tha past 6 months or so. It is really hard to understate the importance of being able to watch television on your terms. I don't even watch all that much - 24, American Idol, Survivor, The Sopranos, World Poker Tour. That's it. The rest is sporting events or movies or stuff I watch with my kids...maybe 3-4 hours of DVD viewing in there too...

Yesterday during the Masters I was able to hit the slow-motion button right before Mickleson would go into his backswing and then follow it all the way through until the ball came off the tee - no way you could do that in the past - and it gives you a much better visual as to the quality of his swing.

Finally - the ability to pause a show for a phone call or needy kid or the call of nature or whatever - is fantastic.

Enjoy!

[rkmsuf]

Seems like a lot of dough. I'm at the point that if I miss it I miss it; whatever show or event it is.

[QuikSand]

I can't wait! No more missing 24/law and order/simpsons due to work. Plus I can record syndicated episodes of simpsons, law and order, family guy, etc. This is gonna be sweet.

I confess that I'm close to buying TiVo as well...

But this argument just puts me off. Isn't the point of TiVo the convenience factor?

Honestly -- the functions described above are all perfectly reachable with a $60 VCR from KMart. Taping a TV show and viewing it -- yup, we can already do that pretty easily.

The point is, we spend this ton of money just to make it easier and slicker to do this same function. Of course, it doesn't sound quite as sexy to say it that way.

[cuervo72]

You can also pause while it is still taping, or pause something you're not recording for later, or tape 2 programs at once, or keep 35 hours on programming on the device without having to swap in different tapes.

Can a standard VCR allow you to pause something you're watching live, go do something for up to 30 minutes, and then catch up while you go along, while the unit is still recording?

[kingnebwsu]

Yeah, but programming the VCR for multiple programs in one night...I dunno. Plus I'm a big simpsons/family guy/south park/chappelle's show fan, and it'll be great to have 15-20 episodes to choose from at any given time to watch. Have some buds over and say "hey guys, what you wanna watch?" and we can pick specific episodes from the list.

I also do most of my viewing of the TV after midnight and before 5 PM, so this will be great for me, as I'm not usually around in primetime. To me, it's (hopefully) gonna be worth the money to have it auto-record ("season pass") my favorite shows. Plus my VCR is super-cheap and I never really figured out how to program it ;)

I'm already a slave to my TV, it's just that 90% of my slavery time is devoted to utter crap. Now hopefully that can be cut down to 50% :)

[rkmsuf]

You can also pause while it is still taping, or pause something you're not recording for later, or tape 2 programs at once, or keep 35 hours on programming on the device without having to swap in different tapes.

Can a standard VCR allow you to pause something you're watching live, go do something for up to 30 minutes, and then catch up while you go along, while the unit is still recording?

No but the question is if it's worth X dollars. Seems like an isolated situation and if it's not I'm too busy to watch tv anyway.

[kingnebwsu]

Oh yeah, I think the biggest thing I'll end up doing is "buffering" my favorite shows. Some shows (24) I can't wait to watch, so I'll prob just start watching at 9:15 PM so I can fast forward through commercials. That'll be sweet money! :)

[kingnebwsu]

Oh yeah, I can now start watching CONAN again!!! I can set it to record like the first 20 mins of his show. It'll be sweet money.

You can measure my level of excitement by my triple-post :p

[rkmsuf]

can't put a price tag on that kind of excitement...;)

[Draft Dodger]

QS - there's no fastforwarding/rewinding to find your show, for one. and it's a pretty smart device - recording many shows you want to watch automatically. the ability to pause and rewind live TV is also nice.

just took the Tivo plunge a couple weeks ago (with the $100 DirecTV box). unfortunately, it's in a room that I can't easily run a second cable into, so I lose the ability to watch a 2nd channel while recording, but I still love it. My wife, who was as uninterested as it could get, loves the thing. can't imagine spending $700 for it though...

[sachmo71]

These people are ripping folks off...

[cuervo72]

oh, you can also decide well into a program that you can record something, there's an automatic 30 minute cache for the channel you've had on if it's been on for that long (for both receivers). Great for if you're 25 minutes into a kids program when your 4 year old asks you to tape it.

I would definitely NOT say that this is a ripoff...and ours was only the $100 through DirecTV, plus the monthly fee.

[sachmo71]

$700 for a digital video recorder just seems like highway robbery to me, commercials or no. Oh, plus a monthly fee?

[Raven Hawk]

Don't let the women in your life know how good TiVo is. Soon enough, your DVR will be filled with episodes of "Trading Spaces" and "Days of Our Lives." Make them think that it something that is only good for recording sporting events. :)

I took the TiVo plunge 2 years ago and yes, it was pricey then. I paid $300 for the 40 hour recorder and $250 for the service. Total investment = $550.

No regrets.

[Subby]

Oh yeah, I think the biggest thing I'll end up doing is "buffering" my favorite shows. Some shows (24) I can't wait to watch, so I'll prob just start watching at 9:15 PM so I can fast forward through commercials. That'll be sweet money! :) I can't watch shows un-buffered. Even the Masters, without commericals, got buffered - the better to fast forward through Enberg's treacly commentary :)

Being able to tape two shows at once is nice too...

Also - shows I never could watch because of the time they were on - SNL, Letterman, Conan - I can tape and watch at my leisure because of TiVo.

And finally - watching the 2-hour World Poker Tour episodes in just over an hour...hard to put a value on that ;)

[Subby]

$700 for a digital video recorder just seems like highway robbery to me, commercials or no. Oh, plus a monthly fee? I think he means 400 for the DVR and 300 for a lifetime subscription to TiVo...

Yes, there are cheaper deals out there.

[sachmo71]

If people feel that are getting their money's worth, then I guess they are.

[Ksyrup]

Seems like a lot of dough. I'm at the point that if I miss it I miss it; whatever show or event it is.
Same here.

My parents went through the whole "should I buy this?" thing with a DVD player. They decided they should get one because everyone had one and the rental places were renting DVDs. They went to the local Best Buy, were standing in line and looked at each other, and both had the same thought: "Why are we getting this?" They put it back and haven't regretted it since.

I'm in the same boat - it sounds like a cool thing to have, but my current TV-viewing habits are not such that I see some huge void in my life that I can fill by buying a TiVo.

I also feel the same way, but even stronger, about HDTV. MY wife's parents bought a TV with it, and got DISH Network, but they had to buy a special receiver to get HD and only get 4 channels. And, the local channels they get on cable are actually worse because of the wiring for the HD than they are in the other rooms that don't get HD. So, for a huge chunk of change, they get 4 extra pretty channels and local stations that look worse than normal. What a bargain!

[SackAttack]

This seemed appropriate, somehow:

hxxp://www.reallifecomics.com/daily.php?strip_id=1146

[Samdari]

I also feel the same way, but even stronger, about HDTV. MY wife's parents bought a TV with it, and got DISH Network, but they had to buy a special receiver to get HD and only get 4 channels. And, the local channels they get on cable are actually worse because of the wiring for the HD than they are in the other rooms that don't get HD. So, for a huge chunk of change, they get 4 extra pretty channels and local stations that look worse than normal. What a bargain!

I just went through this myself. It is not the wiring for the HD that is making the normal channels look worse. It is the fact that in order to state high numbers of available channels, both cable and DSS services compress their digital signals, and that the HDTVs have high enough resolution to display the artifacts created by this compression. Basically, no matter how the cable is wired, the SD stuff off of DISH network is going to look worse on an HDTV.

Add to this the fact that one of the reasons cable/sat was supposed to be great was that you no longer needed an antenna. Turns out the only way (for most people) to get network television in HD is by antenna. The HD stuff looks great, but it really is too early to buy.

As for TiVO being 'worth it' that's kind of in the eye of the beholder isn't it?

I guess the HD experience I had (grand total investment $4000.00, for maybe 5 hours a week of desirable HD programming) makes TiVO look like a bargain, anyway.

[Ksyrup]

I just went through this myself. It is not the wiring for the HD that is making the normal channels look worse. It is the fact that in order to state high numbers of available channels, both cable and DSS services compress their digital signals, and that the HDTVs have high enough resolution to display the artifacts created by this compression. Basically, no matter how the cable is wired, the SD stuff off of DISH network is going to look worse on an HDTV.

Add to this the fact that one of the reasons cable/sat was supposed to be great was that you no longer needed an antenna. Turns out the only way (for most people) to get network television in HD is by antenna. The HD stuff looks great, but it really is too early to buy.

As for TiVO being 'worth it' that's kind of in the eye of the beholder isn't it?

I guess the HD experience I had (grand total investment $4000.00, for maybe 5 hours a week of desirable HD programming) makes TiVO look like a bargain, anyway.
Thanks for the clarification. I guess they'll be comforted to know they aren't the only ones. They gave us the same advice - HD is great, but don't bother with it for another 3-5 years.

[Samdari]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess they'll be comforted to know they aren't the only ones. They gave us the same advice - HD is great, but don't bother with it for another 3-5 years.

Oh yeah, to quote my sources :), find any of the threads on avsforum which are titled "why does SD from DirecTV look so bad on my new HDTV?" There are several.

Your "four pretty channels" does not even begin to describe how little HD a satellite subscriber gets for his investment. Two of them are HDNet and HDNet movies. Check out the programming on those two networks. Now we are down to two pretty channels. One of them is DiscoveryHD. This has a lot of stuff which truly shows off how awesome HD is. Landscape stuff looks awesome, but there is too much "city tour" and "trading spaces" type of stuff. Call this half a pretty channel. Then there is ESPNHD. Except, its not broadcast in HD most of the time. There are maybe 3-4 events per week in HD, of the what, 20 events they are broadcasting live each week. Those, again, look simply incredible. The additional viewing space and detail make hockey and baseball so much more accessible (they just seem to make basketball prettier). 1/10 a pretty channel?

If it were not for Sunday Ticket and the promise of HDTV football in the fall, I would seriously be considering cancelling DirecTV (of which I have been an ardent supporter for years) and checking out VOOM, a new HD specific satellite service.

[Raven Hawk]

This seemed appropriate, somehow:

hxxp://www.reallifecomics.com/daily.php?strip_id=1146
Actually this is very appropriate.

There are some good things about the TiVo service, but there are also some bad things. It doesn't look like the bad things have been talked about.

1) Depending on your cable/satellite provider, TiVo can REALLY piss you off. If your cable/satellite box does not have an active serial port that TiVo can access to change channels, you are stuck with the IR Blaster. This IR Blaster is relatively primative and unreliable at changing to the correct channel. You also may need to build an "IR Tent" which is detailed on the TiVo website. Nothing is more frustrating than going to watch a show that was on channel 550 and getting instead the program that was on channel 50 or channel 55.

2) TiVo does have a problem with recording shows that suck. It won't bounce any of your shows in favor of the show that it "thinks" you will like, but it gets crazy sometimes, taping numerous shows off of PBS (not that there's anything wrong with that) or other channels that you never watch. It seems to be getting better over time.

3) TiVo personalization. Unless your Roommate/Spouse/Co-Habitant/Child likes exactly the same thing that you like, the TiVo will build a profile on you that is so general that it is ineffective. Or, you will get into fights with said people about what gets recorded (less of a problem if you have 2 antennas).

"Honey, why didn't TiVo record the ball game?"
"It takes up 3 hours of space and I deleted it instead of ER because I haven't watched it yet."

TiVo is awesome. Sharing your TiVo sucks.

[Ajaxab]

Tivo definitely has its benefits, but has anyone considered the surveillance of one's viewing habits as a potential pitfall? Should we be comfortable sending information about the shows we watch back to some info hub so that we can be marketed to ever that much more efficiently? I would love to get Tivo just to avoid the commercials, but the idea of a potential invasion of privacy gives me pause.

[Draft Dodger]

Tivo definitely has its benefits, but has anyone considered the surveillance of one's viewing habits as a potential pitfall? Should we be comfortable sending information about the shows we watch back to some info hub so that we can be marketed to ever that much more efficiently? I would love to get Tivo just to avoid the commercials, but the idea of a potential invasion of privacy gives me pause.

doesn't bother me in the slightest, but I'm not as afraid of that stuff as some people are.

[Daimyo]

1) Depending on your cable/satellite provider, TiVo can REALLY piss you off. If your cable/satellite box does not have an active serial port that TiVo can access to change channels, you are stuck with the IR Blaster. This IR Blaster is relatively primative and unreliable at changing to the correct channel. You also may need to build an "IR Tent" which is detailed on the TiVo website. Nothing is more frustrating than going to watch a show that was on channel 550 and getting instead the program that was on channel 50 or channel 55.
I have one of the cable boxes without a serial port that is apparently known for being extremely problematic with TiVo. I haven't missed a channel switch once in the 4 months I've had it. I'm guessing people aren't following the instructions exactly (with regards to mounting and then setting the timing in the software).

2) TiVo does have a problem with recording shows that suck. It won't bounce any of your shows in favor of the show that it "thinks" you will like, but it gets crazy sometimes, taping numerous shows off of PBS (not that there's anything wrong with that) or other channels that you never watch. It seems to be getting better over time.
I never understand this argument. The suggestions do not waste any resources (they just use the space that was going to be empty anyway) and they never pre-empt anything. There is no reason to even look at them if you don't care (they do find good things occasionally), but if they REALLY annoy you, you can always turn them off.

3) TiVo personalization. Unless your Roommate/Spouse/Co-Habitant/Child likes exactly the same thing that you like, the TiVo will build a profile on you that is so general that it is ineffective. Or, you will get into fights with said people about what gets recorded (less of a problem if you have 2 antennas).
I don't really consider the suggestions/profile stuff a core feature of TiVo. 99% of the stuff I watch is stuff that I set a season pass/wishlist for. Of course anyone can delete scheduled recordings, but hopefully you have respect and communication outside of TiVo with the people you share it with so those things can be minimized. :)

While i think its a relative waste of money to buy a large capacity TiVo, I consider my $250, 40-hour TiVo to be the best electronic purchase I've ever made. Even if you value your time conservatively it pays for itself in the first month.

[Easy Mac]

Tivo definitely has its benefits, but has anyone considered the surveillance of one's viewing habits as a potential pitfall? Should we be comfortable sending information about the shows we watch back to some info hub so that we can be marketed to ever that much more efficiently? I would love to get Tivo just to avoid the commercials, but the idea of a potential invasion of privacy gives me pause.
I don't really care if the TiVo people know I'm watching goat porn so long as they remember to record it.

[Ajaxab]

I guess alongside the privacy question is the question of paying to work for the marketing companies. If I sign up for Tivo, they can discern my income level based on where I live and my demographic based on the kinds of shows I watch. That means I'm doing marketing research for the corporations so that they can more effectively sell products. Am I then paying $400 to Tivo and $10/month to do work for the corporations that I should then be compensated for? If anything, I wonder if Tivo should be paying me to use their device.

[MJ4H]

I think it will be a LONG time before I will feel a need to have something like tivo. Probably never. Maybe if it was really cheap or something. In the meantime, my VCR works fine. And I know how to program it. And there's a fast forward button for commercials.

I have never in my life wanted to do any of those weird things like pause a live event or something. If you think that it is worth several hundred dollars to pause a live event and that other stuff, then I guess knock yourself out. I've always been mystified by this tivo fad.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Our TiVo went out last week, and the wife and I reallyreally miss it. :(

[Daimyo]

I guess alongside the privacy question is the question of paying to work for the marketing companies. If I sign up for Tivo, they can discern my income level based on where I live and my demographic based on the kinds of shows I watch. That means I'm doing marketing research for the corporations so that they can more effectively sell products. Am I then paying $400 to Tivo and $10/month to do work for the corporations that I should then be compensated for? If anything, I wonder if Tivo should be paying me to use their device.
I'll take a wild guess that you've never tried the service?

[Easy Mac]

Just buy a TV tuner card for your PC and plop in another HD (like 120 gb's or something). On a good day you could set the whole thing up for under $100 (probably $200 on a bad day). I have a $55 tv card in my computer, and the TV looks just as good as my sister's TiVo. Plus I can burn to CD's (no DVD writer yet) and play it in my DVD player, so almost instant backup of all my shows (although good quality takes a few CD's for an hour show).

[Daimyo]

So you set it up to manually record shows?

[sabotai]

My TV card isn't so good (a lot of channels come in bad), but it is pretty old. I heard ATI All-In-Wonder cards are great for this sort of thing.

[Eaglesfan27]

I use my ATI All-In-Wonder card to make my spare external hard drive a TIVO like machine. It works great except occasionally for frame drops. However, I was getting the card for christmas anyway, and am really enjoying In Demand TV (I particularly like to fast forward through the commercials in sporting events.)

[Peregrine]

$700 for Tivo sounds way high to me! I got mine through DirecTV at a substantial discount and the monthly service is only $5/month, works great for me.

[kingnebwsu]

$706 then I'll get a mail-in rebate for $50. So in reality the cost is *only* $656.

I wasn't counting that since I don't have my mail-in rebate back yet ;)

[Peregrine]

Personally king, as much as I love Tivo, I wouldn't personally spring for the lifetime subscription option. There's too much of a chance that the company will at some point fold or be bought out by someone that won't honor it.

[kingnebwsu]

Personally king, as much as I love Tivo, I wouldn't personally spring for the lifetime subscription option. There's too much of a chance that the company will at some point fold or be bought out by someone that won't honor it.

Yeah, my buddy got his off of E-bay four years ago and went with the monthly for essentially the same reasons. As he told me today, "I'm still paying out the ass." (Shrug) if something happens, then it does. TiVo just hit the million subscriber mark, so it should be around for at least several more years. In theory... :rolleyes:

[wade moore]

I have had TiVO for about a year now.. I dropped about $550 for the lifetime and a 40 hour unit (no DirectTV unfortunately)...

This is the single greatest electronic purchase I have made. My life no longer revolves around TV like it used to. Instead of readdressing the points other TiVO lovers have already mentioned, I'll throw some things out there that haven't been...

TiVO vs. VCR:

VCR has MANY limits that the TiVO does not:

1) If you go on vacation for a week, can a VCR record the 3 or 4 one hour shows, a couple of sitcoms, and the sunday football game for you and have them ready for you when you get home? Nope, but TiVO can.

2) Can a VCR automatically discern if the show is a repeat and therefore not record it and waste time? Nope, but TiVO can.

3) Can a VCR know automatically that the show you normally record on Thursday at 8pm is showing on Wednesday at 8pm this week because of the NCAA Tournamant? Nope, but TiVO can.

4) A TiVO allows you to have one unit with no media. If you were to record all of the TV shows you watch, ever so that you could fast forward and watch whenever you wanted, you would have to have VHS tapes out the wazooo. Plus the deteriation on VHS tapes is pretty bad.

TiVO Creates a TV Slave:

I actually watch less TV than I used to, AND I do not watch any garbage. Before TiVO, I'd say, "oh, why don't I watch some TV". I'd turn it on, there'd be nothing on I'd want to watch, and I would just watch garbage waiting for the show I REALLY want to watch to come on. Then when "my show" came on, I would watch it even if I had other things to do. Now I sit down and watch "my show" whenever I want, plus fast forward through the commercials. So, it takes me less time to watch TV and when I only watch shows that I want to watch.

The investment is obscene:

In the longrun, it really is not. I have a 40 hour TiVo which has never been a space problem for me, even if I go a week or two without watching anything. I got a lifetime subscription. The way I figure it, it pays off against monthly after 3 years. I got a 4 year extended warranty in addition. So, this baby is planned to last me for atleast 4 years. at $550, it is a little less than $150 a year. That's not a bad investment for my money to have the convenience i have now and to not be a slave to the TV.

People who do not watch much TV have no use for TiVO:

I actually think these people have more reason to buy TiVO. Like I said above, now I do not have to schedule my life around TV for the shows that I do watch. So that what little time I do have dedicated to the TV, is quality time.

[SackAttack]

wade, on the topic of those who don't watch much, I think it comes down to what TV, precisely, they're watching in the first place, and whether what they DO watch is of the "must-see" nature.

For example, my viewing habits are pretty mundane. I'll watch the Dodgers, if they're on the tube. I'll watch "That '70s Show," if I'm home when it's on, but it isn't something I find myself arranging my schedule to see (my Dad, on the other hand, enjoys that show at least as much as I do, and he DOES arrange his schedule accordingly). I'll watch Jeopardy, if I have absolutely nothing better to do (which is seldom), and if a movie I haven't seen yet (and more importantly, want to see) comes on the Starz! network, I'll watch that.

But that's it for me, really. As far as my Dodgers go, I can listen to them on the radio, which frees up the TV for me to work on game reviews (or just play something for leisure), allows me to use the computer instead (either to write a review, or just to futz around with FOFC, IHOF, and now RWBL), or even get in the car and go somewhere.

Jeopardy and That 70s Show are enjoyable, but it's not really a loss if I miss them, and I can't see spending a couple hundred bucks a year for the privilege.

Like I say, it all comes down to what those people watch, and if it's important enough to their weekly entertainment to justify the purchase. If they're in a situation like yours, more power to 'em. I just think that the class of "people who don't watch much TV" is going to be a little too eclectic to effectively pigeonhole them into either argument, because they're going to fall into both camps.

[wade moore]

Good point..

Perhaps I should rephrase and say, "those who only watch a few shows, but want to catch every episode of those shows"

[ice4277]

I am one of the relatively few with a ReplayTV (I got it when the prices were slashed but before they switched to a monthly payment option, so I got the best of both worlds there), and I love it, I can't imagine TV without it. I record every EPL game that is on throughout the week, and I have the convenience of watching whenever I get the chance. Also, I go to bed pretty early, 9pm, so it is a godsend to record the prime-time shows I like but am never able to watch. Also, with the 30-second skip feature, you can watch every play of a football game in less than an hour :)

[MJ4H]

TiVO vs. VCR:

VCR has MANY limits that the TiVO does not:

1) If you go on vacation for a week, can a VCR record the 3 or 4 one hour shows, a couple of sitcoms, and the sunday football game for you and have them ready for you when you get home? Nope, but TiVO can.


If I go on vacation and miss a tv show, so be it.


2) Can a VCR automatically discern if the show is a repeat and therefore not record it and waste time? Nope, but TiVO can.


My time is not wasted if the show is a repeat. It's not like I'm sitting there cranking the wheels of the VCR to record it. And I don't think I've ever had the problem of wanting to record something and then it was a repeat so I wasted my time. Another useless feature for me (YMMV).



3) Can a VCR know automatically that the show you normally record on Thursday at 8pm is showing on Wednesday at 8pm this week because of the NCAA Tournamant? Nope, but TiVO can.


Nope, but I can and I'm the one that sets the VCR.


4) A TiVO allows you to have one unit with no media. If you were to record all of the TV shows you watch, ever so that you could fast forward and watch whenever you wanted, you would have to have VHS tapes out the wazooo. Plus the deteriation on VHS tapes is pretty bad.


I don't want to record all of the TV shows I ever watch. I just record things now and then.


TiVO Creates a TV Slave:

I actually watch less TV than I used to, AND I do not watch any garbage. Before TiVO, I'd say, "oh, why don't I watch some TV". I'd turn it on, there'd be nothing on I'd want to watch, and I would just watch garbage waiting for the show I REALLY want to watch to come on. Then when "my show" came on, I would watch it even if I had other things to do. Now I sit down and watch "my show" whenever I want, plus fast forward through the commercials. So, it takes me less time to watch TV and when I only watch shows that I want to watch.


If what I want to watch isn't on, I find something constructive to do, not sit down and watch garbage. Maybe that is the difference.




The investment is obscene:

In the longrun, it really is not. I have a 40 hour TiVo which has never been a space problem for me, even if I go a week or two without watching anything. I got a lifetime subscription. The way I figure it, it pays off against monthly after 3 years. I got a 4 year extended warranty in addition. So, this baby is planned to last me for atleast 4 years. at $550, it is a little less than $150 a year. That's not a bad investment for my money to have the convenience i have now and to not be a slave to the TV.


$150 a year is a lot of money for something I don't need.



People who do not watch much TV have no use for TiVO:

I actually think these people have more reason to buy TiVO. Like I said above, now I do not have to schedule my life around TV for the shows that I do watch. So that what little time I do have dedicated to the TV, is quality time.

I still can't think of a single reason to buy tivo. If it was like $50 total I would consider it for the neato factor. As it is now, not a chance. If the features you listed are worth it to you, that's fine. I'm not saying they should be, but they are nothing special to me. In the rare cases where I want to record something and watch it later, again, my VCR does this job perfectly.

[wade moore]

FWIW, Everyone I have spoken to thought the same as you Matt (including myself) before they had/experienced TiVO. It really (as silly as it sounds) changes your life unless you watch basically NO tv.

[Subby]

MJ4H -

Don't even bother arguing against it. It will pwn you someday :)

[JasonC23]

Despite thinking it was the most useless invention ever, my wife bought TiVo for me so I would stop talking about it. Now she uses it much more than I do.

I think that says it all.

[MJ4H]

Well, I'm afraid you aren't going to convince me to spend this ridiculous amount of money on something that I can't imagine needing. If you like it, fine. I can guarantee you it's not for me. I'm just not that interested in television.

[CentralMassHokie]

I actually use a TiVo *and* a VCR. Stupid networks putting on too many good shows Wednesdays at 9pm and Sundays from 8-11.

Chances are, once I move, I may spring for a second TiVo.

Absolutely, without a doubt, the best electronics investment I've made. Then again, I think TV is a vastly underrated entertainment/artistic medium. It's not all reality shows and crappy sitcoms (Everybody Loves Raymond, I'm looking at you).

[Franklinnoble]

I actually use a TiVo *and* a VCR. Stupid networks putting on too many good shows Wednesdays at 9pm and Sundays from 8-11.

Chances are, once I move, I may spring for a second TiVo.

Absolutely, without a doubt, the best electronics investment I've made. Then again, I think TV is a vastly underrated entertainment/artistic medium. It's not all reality shows and crappy sitcoms (Everybody Loves Raymond, I'm looking at you).
Dude, seriously, you need to get off your ass and get a life.

[Samdari]

Yeah, stop watching tv and spend more time sitting in front of your machine and play more text sims.

[Peregrine]

I actually use a TiVo *and* a VCR. Stupid networks putting on too many good shows Wednesdays at 9pm and Sundays from 8-11.

This is why I'm glad I have DirecTV, I can record two shows at once with their DVR. Of course since most of the shows I watch are on HBO, I can record them at various times using the West Coast HBO.

[Daimyo]

I don't know anyone who has used a TiVo who still thinks like MJ4H (and I know plenty who thought that way before trying it). My parents were the same way, but I got them one for Christmas and now they're hooked as much as anyone. It really is such a drastic change from pre-TiVo that you really can't even comprehend it until you try it. It is several orders of magnitude more than just a "digital VCR." There is a reason there are so many TiVo zealouts out there now...

Unless you watch absolutely no TV at all or value your time very minimally I guarantee you will love it within a week of usage.

[CentralMassHokie]

Dude, seriously, you need to get off your ass and get a life.

Says the man with 4000 posts.

I've got a life. I just like to multitask. I also don't sleep a whole lot. So it works out nicely. Plus the winter/spring we've had in the northeast hasn't made it terribly easy to get outside. Now that it's warming up, I'm ramping back up to running 5 miles a day.

The only thing that's suffered since I got a TiVo over a year ago is my fiction reading. I'm able to read non-fiction books with other stuff going on, but I can't process fiction for some reason.

[Franklinnoble]

Says the man with 4000 posts.

I've got a life. I just like to multitask. I also don't sleep a whole lot. So it works out nicely. Plus the winter/spring we've had in the northeast hasn't made it terribly easy to get outside. Now that it's warming up, I'm ramping back up to running 5 miles a day.

The only thing that's suffered since I got a TiVo over a year ago is my fiction reading. I'm able to read non-fiction books with other stuff going on, but I can't process fiction for some reason.
You read non-fiction books while you watch TV?

Whatever, man... I was just giving you $hit for being the only person I've ever heard of that couldn't stand to miss a TV show so bad he had to get TWO tivo boxes...

[rkmsuf]

You read non-fiction books while you watch TV?

Whatever, man... I was just giving you $hit for being the only person I've ever heard of that couldn't stand to miss a TV show so bad he had to get TWO tivo boxes...

I think that's funny also. He's probably got like 3 ovens, 4 microwaves and 5 computers too. Never know when you'll want to extreme multitask.

[MJ4H]

I don't know anyone who has used a TiVo who still thinks like MJ4H (and I know plenty who thought that way before trying it).

Seriously, you won't convince me to buy it :)

[CentralMassHokie]

I think that's funny also. He's probably got like 3 ovens, 4 microwaves and 5 computers too. Never know when you'll want to extreme multitask.

Exactly. I sit here typing this, making an omelete, while running on my treadmill.

And it's all thanks to Tivo.

[cincyreds]

I don't understand why you are paying $700 for TIVO??

I paid $99 for mine and pay a monthly fee of $4.99 per mo.

But $700?? I think you are getting ripped!

[tucker342]

TiVo is the single greatest invention ever!

[sabotai]

Guys, remember he bought the, at least I think it is, high-end modal of TiVo (the 140-hour one, for those who spent $99 or $199, how many hours does your TiVo hold?) ($400). Plus the lifetime subscription ($300) = $700

The life time subscript, if the service is $5 per month, is essentially a bet that he'll be using it and getting the service for 60 months, or 5 years. After 5 years, he'll end up "ahead" of those spending the monthly fee. Considering that TiVo has lasted this long and doesn't seem to have any trouble ahead, I'm not so sure that isn't a good bet to make.

[ice4277]

Guys, remember he bought the, at least I think it is, high-end modal of TiVo (the 140-hour one, for those who spent $99 or $199, how many hours does your TiVo hold?) ($400). Plus the lifetime subscription ($300) = $700

The life time subscript, if the service is $5 per month, is essentially a bet that he'll be using it and getting the service for 60 months, or 5 years. After 5 years, he'll end up "ahead" of those spending the monthly fee. Considering that TiVo has lasted this long and doesn't seem to have any trouble ahead, I'm not so sure that isn't a good bet to make.
Another thing to remember is that the TiVo service is more expensive if you just have a stand-alone version, I think its $11 or $12 a month. So that's even less time he needs to have it to pay it off.

[sabotai]

If that's the case, then he'll basically be paid off in just over 2 years. I think that's a bet I would easily take considering TiVo's success.

[Daimyo]

The lifetime subscription is based on the unit's life, not the owner's. I believe if you get the unit replaced under warranty they'll transfer the subscription to the new unit, but otherwise if you get a new unit you have to buy a new subscription (or pay the monthly fee).

[wade moore]

On the money issue..

The $99 + $5 a month is only for the DirectTV version as DirectTV has a special deal with TiVO. But at the same time it is a TiVO series1, so you don't have some of the features that you get with the TiVO series2 that you get if you have cable.


So, for cable you pay for the unit (from $150-$300 [possibly more?|]) and then for the service ($12.50/month or $300 for lifetime). And Daimyo is right, the lifetime subscription is for the lifetime of the unit. Lifetime is not an option for DirectTV users.

[Peregrine]

The $99 + $5 a month is only for the DirectTV version as DirectTV has a special deal with TiVO. But at the same time it is a TiVO series1, so you don't have some of the features that you get with the TiVO series2 that you get if you have cable.


I didn't get the $99 deal, but I did get my DirecTivo at a reduced price through DirecTV, and it is definitely a series 2 Tivo.

[Ramzavail]

You won't realize how great it is until you have it.

I have replay TV, the low end model (40 hours, plenty for me and my gf). I spent 250 on the membership and paid 175 for the machine about a year ago.

Between commercial skipping and watching the shows I like to watch whenever I want - it is priceless and well worth the money.

[Subby]

I didn't get the $99 deal, but I did get my DirecTivo at a reduced price through DirecTV, and it is definitely a series 2 Tivo. Maybe William & Mary alums are just smarter than everyone else - I think all 3 of us on the board are in this thread praising TiVo ;)

What is the difference between a Series 2 and a Series 1 TiVo? I paid $99 for mine and the montly $5 service fee...

As an aside - there is no shame in having two TiVo boxes. I would love to do that - sometimes you want to watch tv on the big box in the basement - sometimes you want to watch it while you are laying in bed...as has been pointed out previously, TiVo is much more than a video recorder.

[MacroGuru]

Freevo!! http://freevo.sourceforge.net/about.html

The OpenSource solution or rather version of Tivo.

Turn a computer into your own DVR.

I have a spare box around, and i am in the process of converting it over. Love the fact, I have the 80 GB HD in it too.

[Daimyo]

I think the DirecTivo's are series 2 but they have a lot of the functionality turned off (ie USB ports, support for an external NIC, Home Media Option, etc).

[kingnebwsu]

TIVO IS HERE!!! I ordered it Monday afternoon and it arrives Wed. afternoon from bestbuy.com on free shipping! WOW!!!

It's setting up right now. I'll post some impressions once I get over the shock of actually owning a kickass device. This is the biggest purchase I've made in my whole life :) Gotta get ready before it's done phoning stuff in. GO TIVO!!! :D

[j51]

I just ordered one from Directv for $39, comes on Friday :D

Trying to furiously switch between Bush's speech, NBA, NHL playoffs & baseball last night was the killer

[kingnebwsu]

Quick question: with only one cable line going into TiVo, will it be able to record AND allow me to watch TV simultaneously? I was thinking the answer was yes, but reading the books and setup stuff I'm not so sure. If it is possible, this post is unnecessary :)

Interesting stuff. It's finishing the setup stuff now. It'll be able to record in 4-8 hours. So we'll see.

I'm having issues getting my setup configured. I'm using the book and my noggin to think of a good way to set up my living room.

I have:
Cable Splitter
TiVo
VCR
3 Game Systems
An A/V splitter box (one A/V goes in and three more A/V things plug into it. It has a knob)

I want to hook all of these things up and I'm getting close to a solution. The thing I want most right now, is to be able to have two separate cable signals going on so I can watch one thing and record another (so my roomy can watch anything he wants while I record). I thought of a way to do this, but it involves using the A/V splitter, and that would be a pain to use each time one wanted to switch from TiVo to surfing via VCR.

We'll see what happens. I'm gonna check out TiVo's website.

[Ramzavail]

With replay TV, you cannot watch one channel and let it record another channel - you must watch what you are recording. Im not sure if Tivo is different or any newer versions are different.

[Poli]

of which I have been an ardent supporter for years


/adds Samdari to buddy list. :)

[kingnebwsu]

Okay, I have my TiVo, VCR, and 2 game systems hooked up (I can rotate the third in as needed). The TiVo will be taking 4-8 hours to setup the program list and stuff. But it seems pretty sweet already. I can't access the "season pass" thing yet, but I already set it up to manually record 5 shows for today :) Later tonight I will fiddle with the season pass stuff. I wrote down a list of the twelve shows I want to put on it.

Pausing live TV is so so cool. I just need to get myself on a one-day delay on the syndicated simpsons/family guy shows. That will help immensely. Then I won't be trying to watch it live.

[rufusjonz]

From what i hear, this device and others of its type is similar to cell phones were a few years ago... you don't see the point in paying for it, til you have it, then it becomes ESSENTIAL.

[MJ4H]

coincidentally, i use my cell phone next to NEVER. :) contrary to what people are saying here, i am 100% i would find tivo nearly useless aside from the neato factor.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Yeah! I don't need oxygen! All the rest of you can have it! I'll stick with what I've got! HUZZAH!

[kingnebwsu]

Yeah, TiVo is quite possibly the coolest thing ever. I was semi-confused on some of their lingo (repeats vs duplicate episodes), but now I have it together. And skipping through commercials is SWEET!!! I mean, Chappelle's show is awesome, but 10-12 minutes of commercials. Zipped through them in 3 seconds. And law and order...one of my fav shows...has FOUR minutes of commercials at each break. Not anymore :)

Seriously, I have 17 "season passes" and my roomy has 4. The TiVo will be recording something 10-12 hours a day. I don't watch near that much TV (usually ;)), but something will always be there if I wanna watch it. I even put baseball tonight and PTI on my TiVo. I tried SportsCenter, but that made the schedule crazy. Plus, there's a 50% chance that SC is on when I'm TV'ing anyway.

If you're thinking of getting TiVo AND can afford it, I'd highly recommend it. And I've only had it for ten hours :D

[wade moore]

Maybe William & Mary alums are just smarter than everyone else - I think all 3 of us on the board are in this thread praising TiVo ;)

What is the difference between a Series 2 and a Series 1 TiVo? I paid $99 for mine and the montly $5 service fee...

As an aside - there is no shame in having two TiVo boxes. I would love to do that - sometimes you want to watch tv on the big box in the basement - sometimes you want to watch it while you are laying in bed...as has been pointed out previously, TiVo is much more than a video recorder.

I think you hit the nail on the head, we're just smarter :D

Series1 vs Series2 is features. The main things I can think of are that you have a USB jack for a NIC, Home Media Options is available, and a small but CRUCIAL thing to me is that I can put my shows in seperate folders by show.. so when I look at my now playing list I see one instance for each show and then I can arrow right to see each episode.. I look at my brother's TiVO (DirecTivo) and it is horrid to see so many things cluttering the now playing list..

But Daimyo could be right, that it is a Series2 with many features disabled.. but that still kind of stinks..

On that note.. anyone had any experience with the Home Media Option? I've been considering it but have not takent he plunge.

[Samdari]

I want to hook all of these things up and I'm getting close to a solution. The thing I want most right now, is to be able to have two separate cable signals going on so I can watch one thing and record another (so my roomy can watch anything he wants while I record). I thought of a way to do this, but it involves using the A/V splitter, and that would be a pain to use each time one wanted to switch from TiVo to surfing via VCR.

I am assuming the TiVO unit has two inputs?

With regular analog cable, you should be able to split the raw cable input using a normal splitter and then feed both splitter outputs to the two TiVO inputs. If you have digital cable, requiring a decoder before the TiVO, the decoder is only capable of putting out one analog signal at a time, so there is no way of getting two signal to your DVR (except getting another cable box).

[Philliesfan980]

Freevo!! http://freevo.sourceforge.net/about.html

The OpenSource solution or rather version of Tivo.

Turn a computer into your own DVR.

I have a spare box around, and i am in the process of converting it over. Love the fact, I have the 80 GB HD in it too.

Actually, I have a similar feature with my ATI All in Wonder video card. It has great software that works just like TIVO. However, I find myself never really using it. The whole process is just too cumbersome.

1. Who really wants to watch TV on their computer?

2. Sure, you could burn the show to CD-RW and play it on a DVD player, but again, the whole process isn't seamless, and more of a chore.

Its very much similar to the MLB.TV situation. MTV.TV is much better than MLB Extra Innings on paper, but until broadband starts going directly to TV's, its not going to be very useful.

[Samdari]

Actually, I have a similar feature with my ATI All in Wonder video card. It has great software that works just like TIVO. However, I find myself never really using it. The whole process is just too cumbersome.

1. Who really wants to watch TV on their computer?

2. Sure, you could burn the show to CD-RW and play it on a DVD player, but again, the whole process isn't seamless, and more of a chore.

Its very much similar to the MLB.TV situation. MTV.TV is much better than MLB Extra Innings on paper, but until broadband starts going directly to TV's, its not going to be very useful.

You don't have to watch the stuff on your computer. The AIW card has at least S-Video and component outputs - you should be able to record to your computer and watch on your tv.

[Philliesfan980]

You don't have to watch the stuff on your computer. The AIW card has at least S-Video and component outputs - you should be able to record to your computer and watch on your tv.


True, but still you're connected to that mouse and keyboard. What do you do if the computer and TV aren't in the same room? You could watch the show fine, but what about fast forwarding through commercials?

I've also heard through a few sources that the video isn't the same quality when exporting from Media Player or whatever you use to watch mpg's/avi's

[BigPitt]

I just got PVR through cable and I am not up on all the technical stuff involved but when the installer came I asked if I could watch a program and record something else.

His answer of NO set me back but upon further discussion he checked my TV and said being a newer TV (actually 3 years old) he could use a splitter and fix it so I could do the above.The only restriction was that I could not watch a channel over 90 while recording another channel.Suits me.I only watch the golf channel in that category anyway.

Now with only 50 hours capacity this may not be as large as some but it costs me only $8.95 a month.No install fee.No unit to buy.

[kingnebwsu]

I would have done cable's DVR, except around here you have to have the super-expensive cable package. And no way in hell I was gonna do that.

I have season passes to so many shows, and it's recording all the time...why I just watched Price is Right after I woke up...at 2:30 PM!!! Words cannot express how cool that is. I love TPIR, but I'm never awake for it.

I HEART TIVO!!! ;)

[finkenst]

TiVo2 has The main things I can think of are that you have a USB jack for a NIC,
FWIW, you can crack your TiVo series 1 open and install a nic.

[wade moore]

FWIW, you can crack your TiVo series 1 open and install a nic.


I know.. the USB thing is just about ease of use.