engadget.com — Yeah, that Series3 HD recorder is great and all, but it's about time TiVo started talking about an HD DVR with even a semblance of competitive pricing -- $800 + service just isn't cutting it anymore, especially with Windows Vista's CableCARD support looking oh-so-promising.
Mar 8, 2007 View in Crawl 4
jmadiganMar 8, 2007
For me, the competition is "Not having a HD DVR" since my cable company won't give me one. I really want one, but $800 is just out of the question. I'll just stick with my SD TiVo until something more reasonable is available.
ricklerMar 8, 2007
I loved TiVo too... then I found out they charge monthly; Now I love BeyondTV.
ray901Mar 8, 2007
@kabewm "ray901 "MythTV is the answer."No way. MythTV can't get encrypted cable channels. MythTV will never have CableCARD support."You are quite correct - as I said in my original post I was not serious about mythtv being a substitute"ray901 "Who is this competitor they are talking about?"The Cable Company DVR's. Usually 15/mo for Cable DVR w/ HD vs. 800 + 13/mo for TiVo Series 3."That was the answer I was looking for - thanks - I really did not know - I have a basic cable box and mythtv - I am not familiar with other options - cheers
bigslackerMar 9, 2007
The TiVo software rules. I have two of them. The problem is it just can't beat the HD-DVR from the cable company. It costs me $9.95 a month, full digital on all channels, records two channels at the same time, and does on-demand. If it breaks, I just swap it. Even if the HD-TiVo was half the current price, the cool software just isn't enough motivation.
docnoMar 9, 2007
@rickler - let me know how your cable card support for HD works out
docnoMar 9, 2007
Well, you can get it for $600 at Costco - but that's still about twice as much as I am willing to pay - esp. with no lifetime service option :p
docnoMar 9, 2007
What I find funny is the people that rail against the (apparent) Apple iTunes/ala cart model, yet spend thousands annually as you point out - they just don't notice it because the cable co gets it from 'em one month at a time...I'd be way ahead to pick up the few shows in HD that I want from Apple (if they up their resolution on iTunes, but that's another thread) and just keep my SD tivo and basic cable to pick up my "lower priority" shows, then paying out the ass for HD fee's from the cable co and an expensive DVR - either from Tivo or from the cable co (monthly fee's add up...)
stalky14Mar 15, 2007
@ iceperson:I have the "$3.95" DVR from Cox too. It's 3.95 for the box rental plus another $10 a month for the DVR "service", IOW the ability to fully use the hardware they're already charging you 3.95 for. It's one thing for Tivo to charge for a EPG service for their boxes, since they have to maintain that (although I think the $14(?) they're currently charging is WAY overpriced. $5 would be reasonable.), but for Cox or Comcast or Dish Network or DirecTV to charge for a DVR "service" when they already provide an EPG for all their boxes is just a rip-off plain and simple.I'm canceling my Cox DVR Service now that my discount trial period is up, especially since the box lacks basic DVR functionality like 30 second skip and guide editing. I think they charge even more for HD access.I checked out a FIOS kiosk at the mall last weekend and played with their DVR. The UI on their Motorola box isn't much better than the (bottom-of-the-barrel) one on Cox's Scientific Atlanta box, but at least it seems to have a functional 30 second skip. They also charge a couple bucks less for their DVR rental fee than Cox does for their DVR fee+rental fee. I'm considering switching to FIOS, but I think you have to do a year contract to get the free install and my lease is up in August. I'll probably wait.In the meantime, my GB-PVR box is coming along nicely with the addition of a USB-UIRT, although the guide is messed up since the time change.