Tivo/DVR dumb question

[Unregistered]

Is Tivo or any DVR a pay service? Can I buy a box for $2-300 and just record, stop live action, etc. or must i subsribe somewhere and pay monthly, (how much?) Thanks

 

[rgriffin25]

With Tivo and Replay TV there are monthly subscription fees. They are useless with out paying monthly or buying the life time subscription.

 

[djoxygen]

And keep in mind that the "lifetime" subscription (usually around $250) is only for the lifetime of the particular box its attached to. So if you buy a current Series2 TiVo with a lifetime subscription, and then upgrade to an HD model DirecTV DVR, your lifetime subscription won't apply to the new box.

(My personal opinion, and the reason I'm holding off on DVR, is that I think we should either buy or rent, not buy *and* rent. It's almost enough to make me dump DirecTV and go with TimeWarner Digital Cable. They treat the hardware and software as a service to rent, so a SciAtl 8000HD costs $0 up front instead of the $1K Hughes wants from me for their HD DVR *before* I even get the privledge of renting their DVR service for $10/mo or whatever.)

 

[Unregistered]

I would have to agree with the above poster.

If you have cable, then stick with it and ask them about their DVR service. If you have a TV that handles High-Def, then ask about a HD-DVR. Their website should have info on it. I know in the DC area, Cox and Comcast both have HD-DVR receivers as well as standard-def DVR receivers. About 10 bucks a month for the box and 10 bucks a month for the DVR service. A TON cheaper than dishing out 300 bucks for a Tivo plus 10 bucks for access plus DirecTV service.

The technology of Tivos is still going through the roof. It still can't handle component and HD inputs and pass-thrus so I can't hook a HD cable box up to it and have it record in HD. It's just ridiculous.

 

[Unregistered]

RCA DRS7000N Scenium Digital Media Recorder with DVD

You might check into something like this product : RCA DRS7000N Scenium Digital Media Recorder with DVD


I have know idea if it's worth a crap but you might find what you are looking for without the monthly or lifetime crap. I'm a little leary of it simply because I did a internet search and this product primarly came up as "factory reconditioned" which sounds like it's crap.

 

[WmAx]

Is Tivo or any DVR a pay service? Can I buy a box for $2-300 and just record, stop live action, etc. or must i subsribe somewhere and pay monthly, (how much?) Thanks

From what I have read on forums, the ReplayTV will not do anythng without a subscription. The TIVO operates basic functions like recording/manual programming without a subscription -- according to people on forums(may or may not be accurate).

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

The price/scheme seems like a BAD deal too me, as well. But I did buy a ReplayTV the other day. It was about $27 with taxes at the local Circuit City. IT was a closeout/display model. I bought it, took it home, and in less than 5 minutes after getting in the door I ripped the hard drive out of it for use as an additional backup device.

-Chris

And keep in mind that the "lifetime" subscription (usually around $250) is only for the lifetime of the particular box its attached to. So if you buy a current Series2 TiVo with a lifetime subscription, and then upgrade to an HD model DirecTV DVR, your lifetime subscription won't apply to the new box.

(My personal opinion, and the reason I'm holding off on DVR, is that I think we should either buy or rent, not buy *and* rent. It's almost enough to make me dump DirecTV and go with TimeWarner Digital Cable. They treat the hardware and software as a service to rent, so a SciAtl 8000HD costs $0 up front instead of the $1K Hughes wants from me for their HD DVR *before* I even get the privledge of renting their DVR service for $10/mo or whatever.)

 

[rgriffin25]

After I "upgraded" to the HD DVR from my cable company, my replaytv contributed a nice back-up drive for my PC too!

I really wonder how Replay and Tivo will be able to compete with the cable companies now that they have introduced a cheaper and superior alternative??