Modern Vespa

I'm thinking about switching from my current DVR system(time warner) to the TiVo system. I know nothing about TiVo other than what i've read on line. What is your personal fav and why. My current DVR box is driving me crazy Keep getting the box changed and it still erases recorded shows and randomly stops recording shows that have been programed etc. Any input is really appreciated. Thanks

Hi Judy, I use my HD DVR box non-stop without a problem (Comcast mind you) so it sounds like you have a problem with the box. Not sure if you are using one from a cable co to switch out. I hate (I know, not a family value) my friends Tivo period and would never do it (to me not as user friendly and there are other fees that I don't like plus it was hooked up to a phone jack which I don't have by my TV set up) Anyways, that's just my opinion - good luck!

Geo thanks for the insight.Just have a regular box not HD. I keep getting the boxes changed out from time-warner. They always have different strange problems. Techs just shake their heads and go "haven't seen that problem before" Nobody i know here has a TiVo. So i can't compare. I'm just trying to figure out if it's the old frying pan into the fire thing. Sounds like maybe neither one is better than the other. If the TiVo is better i'd spring for it. I do quite a bit of traveling and when i get back i'm always missing parts/endings of shows which is so frustrating i wanna make sure since i only pay $9.95 for the dvr a month. Doing the TiVo would be more money initially but if it works the money would be worth it.

So it's not just me? We have had several glitchy boxes from TWC. Apparently they are using crappy quality equipment.

I got a DirecTV HD DVR from Costco for like $375 and it works great, since you have your own equipment, you don't pay a leasing fee.

i bought a TiVo four years ago and returned it within a week. Don't get me wrong, I loved the interface and usability and the ability to set shows from anywhere across the internet, but my problem came with its position in my home theater system.

Using my HD box to watch TV I could not easily just 'hit record' and start taping, and to watch something I had to switch to a different input on my receiver to pass the TiVo's signal, which was of much lower quality. Granted I was pushing the image to a 116" projected screen, but the image quality was horrible.

I keep renting the box from Cox Cable as much as I hate to but I have not had one problem with it.

I actually just dumped TIVO, fees were getting old as I just didnt use it enough. I am looking toward AT&T U-verse now which includes a DVR.

You guys are making me jealous with all of the variety you have to choose from ...

I had ReplayTV for about 5 years and LOVED IT! You could set up folders for each show, so it made it very organized. Don't care for my DVR from Cox, it dumbs everything into the same location by date, and you can only see 3 or 4 listing before you have to scroll to look for more....

Just my 2 cents.

Get a Slingbox, and watch your own TV on your lap top.... anywhere.

I definitely agree that the interface for the Cox box is really bad, but the quality has held up well and the easy integration into the system is worth it.

I had an integrated tivo/directv receiver from Directv that I used fo r 6 years. Because it was through Directv, monthly fees were $3.99. The tivo was awesome, never missed a show and was quite speedy navigating through the menus etc. I really loved it.

I just upgraded to a directv hd receiver and now have their proprietary dvr. The remote control has too many buttons and it is quite slow navigating through menus. I have not missed any shows yet, however have only had it for a few days. Unfortunately, Directv has broken their relationship with tivo and do not offer a hd tivo.

i'm a huge tivo fan. used to have 2 series2 tivos, but have gone down to one HD tivo. i love the interface, searching for programs is 100 times easier with tivo than on any cable dvr i've used, and with the hd box you use cable cards so there is no need for a seperate cable box. i also love having the extra functions (music and pics can be streamed from my pc, download shows and movies directly from amazon, and a few other internet cabable features that i use less often). granted it is more expensive with the added subscription fee, but IMO it is the Vespa of DVRs.

I have the HD Tivo that can tape two shows at once, has tons of storage space, great interface. I haven't had any issues with it and would really HATE to be pre-tivo again. I LOVE the fact I can search for things I might be interested in watching. I don't have time to sit and watch t.v., but there are the occasional downtimes where all I want to do is sit and veg in front of the t.v. Now when I do that, I have something to watch that actually interests me!

After years of happy TiVoing, my "DirecTiVo" (with built-in DirecTV receiver) died in a lightning strike. By then they'd stopped making a combination unit and DirecTV sent a DVR that they claimed was just as good. It's emphatically not. We've had the thing for over a year through multiple software updates and it still doesn't handle conflicts among competing subscriptions - we have to do that manually. It's a total piece of junk. TiVo software makes all the difference versus other DVR's.

A longtime*, 2 Series2 Tivo household. Love the interface, Amazon UnBox, home network connectivity, etc. No experience with anything else, but my neighbor has the Comcast DVR and when he comes over to watch something with me keeps saying, "My DVR doesn't do that!" or "That's too cool"

* Longtime means lifetime subscription. I don't have a monthly Tivo bill. Best $350 I ever spent. (Of course, at the time I was betting they'd be around long enough for me to recoup my investment.)

I have had three DVR's:

Tivo (HD and Standard)
Time Warner (HD)
Directv (HD and Standard)

Tivo is by far and away the best of the bunch and more than worth the extra monthly fee. Be prepared, Time Warner will give you hassle about gettng the Tivo to work with your service, but don't take their crap. They are mandated by the federal government to get you set up with the set top box of your choice.

Directv's was ok although I would never do business with them again after they ripped me off after being a loyal customer for almost ten years.

Time Warner's box is the most miserable piece of consumer electronics ever made.

Just my 2 cents.

I hear ya on the time warner. That's why i'm checking out TiVo. Last nite it got a bug up it's ass and erased 5 shows I had plenty of room left. I'll be getting the no direct one since i have time warner as my dsl and cable. Direct tv isn't so good out by me. Thanks for all the great advice. Will hit best buy and give them a once over.

TiVo is pretty cool, interface-wise.

Companies using the Motorola DVRs take note: that stuff sucks. I have the HD one that Comcast distributes, and holy crap:

- it crashes non-stop, forced to restart
- it hangs
- boot time is a terror
- has a really obtuse interface

grr.