Comments on: YouTube via TiVo. Available To Almost No One.

By: Tivette

Tivette — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:47:52 +0000

I agree with Rob…you cannot miss what you’ve never had and those that never purchased a “lifetime” subscription with their Tivo really cheated themselves of many years of the great Tivo experience. My first/original Tivo from 1999 is still running strong even after it’s 2nd HD replacement for greater capacity. As Marie Antoinette would have said if she were alive today, “Let them watch generic DVR!”

By: Tivette

Tivette — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:47:52 +0000

I agree with Rob…you cannot miss what you've never had and those that never purchased a “lifetime” subscription with their Tivo really cheated themselves of many years of the great Tivo experience. My first/original Tivo from 1999 is still running strong even after it's 2nd HD replacement for greater capacity. As Marie Antoinette would have said if she were alive today, “Let them watch generic DVR!”

By: Tivette

Tivette — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:47:52 +0000

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:32:34 +0000

Julia, my current Comcast provided Motorola DVRs do not provide that feature. It is a very minor inconvenience based on my usage patterns.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:32:34 +0000

Julia, my current Comcast provided Motorola DVRs do not provide that feature. It is a very minor inconvenience based on my usage patterns.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:32:34 +0000

Julia, my current Comcast provided Motorola DVRs do not provide that feature. It is a very minor inconvenience based on my usage patterns.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:19:46 +0000

I don’t know if any DVRs have this, but what I really miss on my TiVo is the ability to choose to record everything according to keyword or actor, etc. Yeah, I can get a season pass on my current DVR, but it doesn’t do everything I want it to do. In addition, the interface is often confusing, sometimes automatically sets a season pass after recording a show once, but sometimes doesn’t, and is just all around very slow, even compared to my first DirecTiVo, which was inferior to my second one.

Now, like I said, I’m not willing to spend the extra money to get these features, but I do acknowledge the superiority.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:19:46 +0000

I don't know if any DVRs have this, but what I really miss on my TiVo is the ability to choose to record everything according to keyword or actor, etc. Yeah, I can get a season pass on my current DVR, but it doesn't do everything I want it to do. In addition, the interface is often confusing, sometimes automatically sets a season pass after recording a show once, but sometimes doesn't, and is just all around very slow, even compared to my first DirecTiVo, which was inferior to my second one.

Now, like I said, I'm not willing to spend the extra money to get these features, but I do acknowledge the superiority.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:19:46 +0000

Now, like I said, I'm not willing to spend the extra money to get these features, but I do acknowledge the superiority.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:30:57 +0000

Rob, Frank, et. al., Although I used to be a ReplayTV owner, I agree with your comments re: TiVo interface superiority.

I think the problem for TiVo is that folks who have never owned a TiVo cannot make that distinction and so will never choose a TiVo over a generic.

And as we have seen with many commenters [and me personally], many folks who understand the distinction either choose not to pay for it or don’t choose TiVo for other reasons [in my case, the lack of VOD capability].

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:30:57 +0000

Rob, Frank, et. al., Although I used to be a ReplayTV owner, I agree with your comments re: TiVo interface superiority.

I think the problem for TiVo is that folks who have never owned a TiVo cannot make that distinction and so will never choose a TiVo over a generic.

And as we have seen with many commenters [and me personally], many folks who understand the distinction either choose not to pay for it or don't choose TiVo for other reasons [in my case, the lack of VOD capability].

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:30:57 +0000

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:25:25 +0000

I agree with frankj that my DVR HD picture is just as good as my TIVO HD picture. It is the TIVO interface that I love….the ability to reclaim a deleted program (especially if accidentally deleted), the ability to add minutes to a recording, either at the start or the finish, the fantastic search features. I agree though that those interfaces may not be worth $300 to everyone, but for me it is. It is the old Cadillac vs. Chevy dilemma….they both get you from Point A to Point B but the ride is more enjoyable in the Cadillac.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:25:25 +0000

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:25:25 +0000

By: frankj

frankj — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:07:06 +0000

I’d argue “superior technology” has nothing to do with it. I’d challange anyone to show me a difference in output quality between my HD DVR and a TiVo box – and imo they’re both pretty lacking compared to a good blu-ray player. The only area that I’d consider it superior is the external storage option, but I’m curious how many people take advantage of that. In any case I’m assuming the cable companies will come up with something similar before long.

However for now it’s the TiVo interface that everyone talks about. And for me that isn’t a good enough selling point at over $300. And no, I don’t skimp on the gadgets. I own a PS3, AppleTV, I’ve paid for HD service and movie channels for years, the list goes on.

Now if my DVR erased all my shows or never recorded them, or was impossible to operate, then yes, I’d be on TiVo in a flash. But it hasn’t. In fact Comcast has upgraded the DVR gui and it’s even easier to use than when I first got it.

By: frankj

frankj — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:07:06 +0000

I'd argue "superior technology" has nothing to do with it. I'd challange anyone to show me a difference in output quality between my HD DVR and a TiVo box - and imo they're both pretty lacking compared to a good blu-ray player. The only area that I'd consider it superior is the external storage option, but I'm curious how many people take advantage of that. In any case I'm assuming the cable companies will come up with something similar before long.

However for now it's the TiVo interface that everyone talks about. And for me that isn't a good enough selling point at over $300. And no, I don't skimp on the gadgets. I own a PS3, AppleTV, I've paid for HD service and movie channels for years, the list goes on.

Now if my DVR erased all my shows or never recorded them, or was impossible to operate, then yes, I'd be on TiVo in a flash. But it hasn't. In fact Comcast has upgraded the DVR gui and it's even easier to use than when I first got it.

By: frankj

frankj — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:07:06 +0000

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:39:47 +0000

Yeah, I’m cheap. That’s the sad thing. It’s like with VCR vs Beta. VCR only won out because it was cheaper. The superior technology of TiVo is going to lose because they couldn’t stay tied to at least one major cable/satellite provider, which kept them in the cheap range.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:39:47 +0000

Yeah, I'm cheap. That's the sad thing. It's like with VCR vs Beta. VCR only won out because it was cheaper. The superior technology of TiVo is going to lose because they couldn't stay tied to at least one major cable/satellite provider, which kept them in the cheap range.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:39:47 +0000

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:18:00 +0000

I am definitely willing to pay for the superior technology of TIVO over what the cable company gives me. I have had both in the past and one time I returned from vacation to find the cable company’s DVR compeletely erased (from a re-booting of the system)….I lost all my programs. But the shows recorded by TIVO were still there.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:18:00 +0000

I am definitely willing to pay for the superior technology of TIVO over what the cable company gives me. I have had both in the past and one time I returned from vacation to find the cable company's DVR compeletely erased (from a re-booting of the system)….I lost all my programs. But the shows recorded by TIVO were still there.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:18:00 +0000

I am definitely willing to pay for the superior technology of TIVO over what the cable company gives me. I have had both in the past and one time I returned from vacation to find the cable company's DVR compeletely erased (from a re-booting of the system)….I lost all my programs. But the shows recorded by TIVO were still there.

By: frankj

frankj — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:57:01 +0000

My problem with TiVo is I don’t see it as enough of an improvement over my existing HD DVR to pay for it. I spend almost nothing on the DVR every month, and it never missed recording an episode of 24 (waaaaaaaaay back when) or Terminator. The hard drive space is pretty good too, I have several movies on there from the HD movie channels.

In fact, my biggest gripe with cable isn’t my guide interface, it’s that Comcast axed TWO HD movie channels when they took over my service from Time Warner. Yet I had the privilege of paying the same price…

By: frankj

frankj — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:57:01 +0000

My problem with TiVo is I don't see it as enough of an improvement over my existing HD DVR to pay for it. I spend almost nothing on the DVR every month, and it never missed recording an episode of 24 (waaaaaaaaay back when) or Terminator. The hard drive space is pretty good too, I have several movies on there from the HD movie channels.

In fact, my biggest gripe with cable isn't my guide interface, it's that Comcast axed TWO HD movie channels when they took over my service from Time Warner. Yet I had the privilege of paying the same price…

By: frankj

frankj — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:57:01 +0000

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:35:16 +0000

Julia, so much. And yet, I'd point out that you don't miss it so much that you're willing to pay for it. I think what TiVo misses the most is having a viable business model outside of patent infrigement suits.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:35:16 +0000

Julia, so much.

And yet, I'd point out that you don't miss it so much that you're willing to pay for it. I think what TiVo misses the most is having a viable business model outside of patent infrigement suits.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:35:16 +0000

Julia, so much.

And yet, I'd point out that you don't miss it so much that you're willing to pay for it. I think what TiVo misses the most is having a viable business model outside of patent infrigement suits.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:28:55 +0000

So how much does TiVo regret losing DirecTV? Personally, I miss having a TiVo box, since the software really is superior to the two different generic DVRs that I’ve used. (Time Warner Cable and DirecTV post-TiVo.)

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:28:55 +0000

So how much does TiVo regret losing DirecTV? Personally, I miss having a TiVo box, since the software really is superior to the two different generic DVRs that I've used. (Time Warner Cable and DirecTV post-TiVo.)

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:28:55 +0000

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:05:03 +0000

Youtube now available via TVbytheNumbers.com!?

You’re better off with an XBOX 360 or PS3 where you can just surf the web and do this. Plus, until you can play Madden (or anything else) on a TiVo, it’s more versatile to boot.

The TiVo deadpool watch is on…

P.S. It’s an absolute certainty they sold FAR more of the $99 boxes than the $299 boxes…

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:05:03 +0000

Youtube now available via TVbytheNumbers.com!?

You're better off with an XBOX 360 or PS3 where you can just surf the web and do this. Plus, until you can play Madden (or anything else) on a TiVo, it's more versatile to boot.

The TiVo deadpool watch is on...

P.S. It's an absolute certainty they sold FAR more of the $99 boxes than the $299 boxes...

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:05:03 +0000