TiVo vs. Cable DVR

[BB Pro]

Hey all

I was all set to get TiVo ($200 box-top plus $13/month) but found out my cable operator provides DVR ($10/month). Besides cost, how does TiVo and Cable compare for DVR's?

[Guest ChgoBoy]

>Hey all

>I was all set to get TiVo ($200 box-top plus $13/month) but

>found out my cable operator provides DVR ($10/month). Besides

>cost, how does TiVo and Cable compare for DVR's?

 

BB Pro, the cable companies will fuck you everytime with tivo, from my experience. Where you get the deals, from my research is from directv. I have the big package, whatever it's called, cant remember. It's all the channels I never watch and about $105.00 a month, with 4 boxes. (you pay extra per box with directv) However, I got an offer I could not refuse. I got an 80 hour tivo dvr for $50.00 (less the $50.oo rebate)and no monthly tivo fee, which with directv would be $4.95 month. I LOVE TIVO! The only draw back is that the program guide runs a bit slower as it's software as apposed to server based and the caller ID on the TV, which is great, is not supported currently. Funny you post this today, as the neat thing is that just yesterday, I had a mail msg from directv on my monitor indicating that they had just updated (while I was sleeping) the Tivo software with upgrades that make it more user friendly. ie, you can now file recorded programs as you would a doc on your pc and the program guide is much faster. I think $10.00 a month for tivo is a rip off from your cable company. You can get deals if you shop around.

:-)

[BB Pro]

Thanks but not interested in DirectTV. My question was should I get TiVo or the cable DVR? Also don't care much about cost - more interested in the features of TiVo vs. cable.

[paulsf]

I had TIVO and got rid of it the day my cable company offered the DVR.

The cable DVR has less wiring, no phone line, less updating. Much easier to program than TIVO on the short term. Tivo lets you program by date. The cable DVR keeps scrolling by the hour. So to get a few days down, you have to sit on the button for a bit. But for me, well worth it. And a bit cheaper.

[Boston Guy]

I have Cable and DVR at home. I find it easy to use and it does everything I want it to do. I have frequent guests and they all seem to be able to use it with no problem at all. It's pretty intuitive.

 

$10 per month sounds like about what I'm paying. It's well worth that to me.

 

BG

[skins1]

it's preference. i've had tivo for like 4 years or so and i love it. you can buy a lifetime contract with them. 1 time fee and then you don't have to pay monthly ever again. it adds up. when i bought tivo it was $250 (im sure it's gone up) for a lifetime subscription. the subscription is tied to the box not the address. so if you move you still have the subscription. just think of the savings though if you are paying 10-13 a month for cable dvr. it adds up. i've had both and prefer tivo. maybe that's just cause im used to it. but i love it. either way you will love it to i think.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

>Thanks but not interested in DirectTV. My question was

>should I get TiVo or the cable DVR? Also don't care much about

>cost - more interested in the features of TiVo vs. cable.

 

OK, then I would go with your Cable's dvr, which IS Tivo. It will be more adaptable to your cable programming and will probably receive auto updates that a stand alone unit (best Buy) wouldn't accept. If you buy a tivo, for example, at best buy, it probably won't provide or support the depth of options that you'll get thru a dvr your cable provider provides. ALL dvr's currently, are Tivo, it just makes a difference if they have your cable/satellite marketing, which will make them more compatible to your operating system in your home. Also, make sure you get the newest sys from your cable co. They like to throw out old technology ie. 40 hours recording v. 80 hours and if you negotiate with them you can probably get a better deal.

[Guy Fawkes]

Been with both for extended periods of time. Both have their problems (some significant).

 

Over the long term, TIVO has come closer to addressing my needs. I have fairly specific viewing tastes, and its been easier to teach TIVO what I like and don't like. On the other hand, it seems to forget my preferences about twice a year.

 

I fought with the DVR system on almost a weekly basis, and the quality and the flexablity of the overall system was much lower. I'll either stay with DirectTV/Tivo and may over time switch to Dish Network. I've never been happy with any of the cable providers.

 

Daddy

[Guest skrubber]

I have never had TIVO but I am quite satisfied with my DVR. Can't compare the two but my DVR is quite easy to operate and you can schedule to record series. You can also copy to VHS or DVD.

[Greathands]

I have cable DVR and LOVE it.

 

My friend has had TIVO for about two years ... and he likes my DVR better.

[BB Pro]

Thanks for all the input. Think I'll give cable DVR a try.

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

Hello BB Pro,

 

I have Time Warner Cable. Unlike TiVO, TW gives you the box for free. You have to buy the TiVO box. My DVR is $.8.95 a month. I can save up to 40 hours of stuff. Now, I can't imagine my TV life without it. Get the DVR. TiVO does hold more but it all depends on your needs. I have over 30 shows on a record schedule and most I have set on "first run" only and not "repeats". Get the DVR - you will love it.

 

VDN

[shy]

i have cable and just added a dvr box about a month ago. they offer single or duel dvrs (soon to be triple), either option for 9.95 a month. it allows you to record 2 channels at the same time (storing 80 hrs vs the 40 hrs of a single dvr), or record one channel while watching another. i have no idea if tivo has this feature. i'm pleased with my dvr, but can't compare it to tivo, since i never tried it.

[Guest rampo]

I will join the amen corner for the cable DVR. It will revolutionize your television watching and is the only cable "extra" I have that I actually thought was worth the charge. It works seemlessly with the TV guide feature - you find a show you want, you click the select button, click to confirm and your show will be recorded. I've never come close to filling up the 40 hours on the hard drive, but obviously you can't keep recording things indefinitely without occasionally watching them or transferring them to tape or dvd and then deleting them.

 

While I've never used TiVo, if it was my only option I would switch to that as I am now hooked on the time-shifting habit of DVRs. But if you already subscribe to cable and DVR is offered, it seems to me that the cable DVR is the simplest way to go, at least at the outset.

[guptasa1]

I have Tivo (DirecTivo, so some differences, but Tivo nonetheless). And my mother just got a cable DVR yesterday and wanted me there to figure it out and show her (similar arrangement - low monthly fee).

 

I can honestly say they're both really nice, with pros and cons for each, but more or less they do the exact same thing (and in your case, it's quite possible the cable version is more powerful than a standalone Tivo. Standalone Tivos can't record two shows at once, though DirecTV's can, but many cable DVR's can do this...the one my mother ended up with does). Since the cable option is cheaper for you, I'd definitely go that route.

 

Just my two cents.

[raife]

Have a look at ReplayTV

 

If you're like me and want to record more than you have time to watch, take a look at [a href=http://www.replaytv.com]ReplayTV[/a] instead of TiVO. I've had one for 4 years and it's been heaven. There's an free (open source) app called [a href=http://www.dvarchive.org]DVArchive[/a] that lets you automatically copy all your unwatched shows to your big-ass computer harddrive in plain old mpeg format so you can burn them to DVD (5 hours per) and watch them whenever you get around to it.

 

TiVO is all PC unfriendly and encrypted and shit (even with the HMO), Cable DVR won't let you do anything except dump your unwatched shows to videotape (yuck!) besides the menus suck and are littered with ads.