Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Tivo

I think the time has come for a Tivo. I don't watch all that much TV, but the shows I like, I keep missing.

I know nothing about them. What's their deal?

I'm looking at the Tivo site now, but I'd like to hear what actual users say, rather than Tivo's marketing machine.

Happy now?

Don't walk. Run. You will never watch TV the same again.

Basically, all the hype is true.

geez Craig, you couldn't even post a hyperlink eh? Think of all the people that'll have to cut & paste into their address bar now!

Anyone in Canada using Bell Express Vu using Tivo? BEV offers their own DVR but they charge an arm and a leg for old technology!

much better!

Honestly, I could live without my axioms, but never without TIVO!

Between working full time and school full time, I watch very little TV. It is truly wonderful to be able to watch all the good shows when I have a spare half hour. Just went home over my lunch and watched American Chopper from last night.

Tivo is definitely one of the BEST components for a complete home entertainment center. (not trying to start a flame war here, just go pick up a TiVo, you'll see what I mean).

And oh yeah, any specific questions, shoot me a msg.

craig,

Next week come on over and I will give you the full DirecTiVo demo.

I can not imagine TV without it now.

Okay...you've got a couple of options..either buy a standard recorder, buy a giant recorder, or buy a modded smaller recorder that is now giant. I'm sure you know these guys are the well known modders of Tivo...weaknees. Basically they've streamlined the process for the little guy. You can either buy the modded tivo from them, buy the goods from them to do it yourself, or buy the goods from somewhere else and follow their instructions. Depends on how much time you want to invest in it.

I'm sure you're thinking "heck, I just need the basic one". However from what I've read a lot of people like recording at better levels and never realize how much they'll want to save.

As with the rest of input around here I don't have one yet . I'm just serving up information that I'm hording for that magical time when the universe aligns and something else isn't draining my pockets. I'm also sure you already know all this anyway, but figured it was worth regurgitating in case someone less experienced needs beginner help.

-Nick

As a counter argument, let me throw in a plug for the standalone TiVo. Improvements:
1. More capacity in general. Peter got a 20hr DirecTiVo (right?) several months after I got my 60hr standalone. I don't know how he does it... I'm sure there are high capacity DirecTiVos, so this argument may be moot.
2. Adjustable quality. I have 4 quality levels: low (pretty much unwatchable, but ok if you're just curious about a show), medium (good in general), high (pretty damn good), and best (can't really tell the diff between high and best.) I think the DirecTiVos record at high or best. Let me tell you why this is important: my TiVo has a 120 GB drive and a 60 GB drive for a total of 222 hrs low, 130 hrs on medium, 98 hrs on high, 60 hrs on best. I certainly don't want to record everything on high or best; I'd rather have the space.


The downside to the standalone is that you can't record 2 things at the same time or record one thing and watch live at the same time--thru the TiVo. However, you can record, switch to normal TV input (or whatever) and watch that way, without the TiVo functions.

In any case, I'm like the others. I can't really imagine switching back to not having TiVo. Yes. The hype is true.

the adjustable quality is not really an advantage. Standalone TiVos have to take the analog signal and convert it to digital format...so there is a loss of quality. DirecTiVo take the the straight digital connection from the satellite and get the higest recording time without a loss of quality.

I upgraded my DirecTivo from 35 hours to 70 hours, which is plenty for me an the kids.