Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Why are people buying the Series 3 TiVo?
OK, I don't get all of the people rushing out to buy a Series 3 TiVo. Sure, it does HD. Sure, it has CableCard support. However, at the end of the day, it is still a 32 hour (if you do HD) DVR for $800! My Windows Media Center PC records more HD than that.
I've been a TiVo customer (via DirecTiVo) for over 5 years and I love it. However, I don't love it enough to shell out $800 plus the $13 monthly fee. I know most cable DVRs really suck (we suffered with one for a month while we waited for our house to be finished), but come on. I've said it before, but if I didn't get a discounted TiVo fee from DirecTV ($4 per month), I would give up TiVo.
I am going to wait until DirecTV finally comes out with an affordable HD DVR ($200 range). In the meantime, I will be happy with my OTA HD recordings via Windows Media Center.
OK, I don't get all of the people rushing out to buy a Series 3 TiVo. Sure, it does HD. Sure, it has CableCard support. However, at the end of the day, it is still a 32 hour (if you do HD) DVR for $800! My Windows Media Center PC records more HD than that.
I've been a TiVo customer (via DirecTiVo) for over 5 years and I love it. However, I don't love it enough to shell out $800 plus the $13 monthly fee. I know most cable DVRs really suck (we suffered with one for a month while we waited for our house to be finished), but come on. I've said it before, but if I didn't get a discounted TiVo fee from DirecTV ($4 per month), I would give up TiVo.
I am going to wait until DirecTV finally comes out with an affordable HD DVR ($200 range). In the meantime, I will be happy with my OTA HD recordings via Windows Media Center.
¶ 11:05 AM 
Comments:
Didn't mean to criticize anyone. Was really just thinking out loud as to whether the TiVo software itself is worth $800 (since a cable company's DVR will perform the same functions and can be leased for a few bucks per month).
For me, it is only worth the $5 I pay or it now through DirecTV. Definitely a case for to each his/her own.
For me, it is only worth the $5 I pay or it now through DirecTV. Definitely a case for to each his/her own.
posted by 
sMoRTy71 : 6:45 AM
sMoRTy71 : 6:45 AM Here's one perspective about the Series3
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/technology/21pogue.html?ex=1316491200&en=13c270db423a9864&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/technology/21pogue.html?ex=1316491200&en=13c270db423a9864&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
posted by Grant : 1:55 PM
Grant : 1:55 PM Grant,
Everything "is to each his/her own"...We should shut down all blogs if we aren't allowed to vent and gather reaction from the community at large.
Personally as an owner of a Tivo (series 1), a Replay TV and a "renter" of a Cox HDDVR I think asking $800 for the new HD Tivo box is crazy. Absolutely crazy. Tivo clearly has the best GUI of the group but I will "suffer" with the Cox HD DVR until the Tivo software is available on the Cox box. I'm assuming you know that Tivo made agreements with Cox and Comcast to licence the Tivo software to work with existing HD DVR boxes.
Everything "is to each his/her own"...We should shut down all blogs if we aren't allowed to vent and gather reaction from the community at large.
Personally as an owner of a Tivo (series 1), a Replay TV and a "renter" of a Cox HDDVR I think asking $800 for the new HD Tivo box is crazy. Absolutely crazy. Tivo clearly has the best GUI of the group but I will "suffer" with the Cox HD DVR until the Tivo software is available on the Cox box. I'm assuming you know that Tivo made agreements with Cox and Comcast to licence the Tivo software to work with existing HD DVR boxes.
posted by Bob Hauseur : 4:19 PM
Bob Hauseur : 4:19 PM Yes, Bob, I do know about the deal made between TiVo and cable providers, but I wonder how crippled the TiVo software will be on those boxes.
That's fine that you think $800 is 'crazy'. The DirecTiVo was $1000 when it first came out. Being an early adopter isn't cheap, but worth it for some. This price issue has been beaten to death already, so I'll stop now.
The "we should shut down all blogs" comment was bit much though.
That's fine that you think $800 is 'crazy'. The DirecTiVo was $1000 when it first came out. Being an early adopter isn't cheap, but worth it for some. This price issue has been beaten to death already, so I'll stop now.
The "we should shut down all blogs" comment was bit much though.
posted by Grant : 8:05 PM
Grant : 8:05 PMblog comments powered by Disqus
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Personally, I wouldn't criticize people for buying it or not buying it. If you find value in it, then great. If not, then that's great too. To each his/her own.