TIVO vs DVR WHICH IS BETTER?

[Masseuse]

Tell me folks. Which do you prefer? And what major differences are there in these two toys of ours. Let's discuss it and anything else. I love to laugh and I love to be frighted by movies, so in order not to miss what I love to watch, I invest in computers and the like. Who's with me?

[LoadStar]

Well, this isn't really a TV Show Talk topic - it'll probably get shuffled off to the TiVo Coffee House forum, if a mod happens to notice the thread.

And your question is hard to answer, because TiVo IS a DVR. I presume you're asking for a comparison between TiVo and some other DVR you have in mind, but without knowing WHICH DVR, it's hard to answer your question. And if you're asking for a comparison between TiVo and just any other DVR on the market - well, some are better than others. It'd be like you asking "How does the Honda Civic compare to an automobile?"

[Masseuse]

Well, this isn't really a TV Show Talk topic - it'll probably get shuffled off to the TiVo Coffee House forum, if a mod happens to notice the thread.

And your question is hard to answer, because TiVo IS a DVR. I presume you're asking for a comparison between TiVo and some other DVR you have in mind, but without knowing WHICH DVR, it's hard to answer your question. And if you're asking for a comparison between TiVo and just any other DVR on the market - well, some are better than others. It'd be like you asking "How does the Honda Civic compare to an automobile?"

I did not intentionally start this thread in the wrong place. Could I delete it?

[DLL66]

I did not intentionally start this thread in the wrong place. Could I delete it?


This thread will eventually get moved by the moderators. TiVo by far is better than Dish Network's DVR. TiVo is so far user friendly!

[vertigo235]

TiVo

[doom1701]

Personally, I prefer my vehicle over my automobile. That should help answer the question.

[Billy66]

If you don't know already know that TiVo is a DVR, then likely any DVR will change your life in a positive way that you can't currently imagine. this is a TiVo place so you will certainly hear that TiVo is the best and that none can compare. I personally believe Tivo is the best right now as well, but the others have been and are gaining ground.

Get a DVR of some kind.

[MasherSCF]

Not having to order DISH network is a big plus...

[Masseuse]

Not having to order DISH network is a big plus...

That is what I wanted to know I guess. Most DVRs come with some kind of package. Time Warner which introduced the DVR to me comes with a package but Tivo is different. Thank you all.

[zync]

By DVR I'm assuming you're talking about hardware offered by a cable company vs. stand-alone or satellite TiVo.

I have both a TWC DVR (8300HD) and a stand-alone TiVo. I use the 8300HD with Time Warner Digital to get my HD channels. It also has DVR functionality - that is, when it works. To be fair its gotten a lot better, but it took 4 YEARS for them to get it stable. However the interface is horrible: no wishlists, no priority programming (it either conflicts and you can't record, or it doesn't, and it records), only a 6-day look-ahead, and playback options are frustrating (can't skip ahead 15 minutes, have to fast forward all the way - its just like a VCR - ugh).

TiVo wins hands-down on the user interface - no question. However the standalone doesn't have a dual tuner, no HD, and no capability to record digital channels.

BUT - that's changing. TiVo is coming out with a stand-alone dual tuner which will hopefully allow me to ditch my 8300HD. I have to do the cost-analysis though.

[timckelley]

The last two people I know who got DVRs got Time Warner DVRs. I personally only know two other people besides me that have TiVos (my boss and my cousin).

Time Warner is this popular? Is their DVR that good? Well, I suppose they do have FSI, but I wouldn't think that would make a big difference.

BTW, one of the TW DVR owners is my brother-in-law who lives next door to me. I had extolled all the nice features of TiVo to him beforehand, but he still went and got a Time Warner DVR anyway. Why? Well, I do hear it can handle HD TV, but he doesn't have an HD TV in his house.

[HDTiVo]

What's a DVR?


BTW, one of the TW DVR owners is my brother-in-law who lives next door to me. I had extolled all the nice features of TiVo to him beforehand, but he still went and got a Time Warner DVR anyway. Why? Well, I do hear it can handle HD TV, but he doesn't have an HD TV in his house.
Another reason not to visit family. ;)

My friend with a TiVo got an HD Plasma and a TW HD DVR to go with it. The TiVo moved to the bedroom.

Yesterday I asked him if he misses the TiVo in the living room. He said yes.

[classicsat]

That is what I wanted to know I guess. Most DVRs come with some kind of package. Time Warner which introduced the DVR to me comes with a package but Tivo is different. Thank you all.

What you are saying could be confusing.

It would be accurate to say that most DVRs come form service providers.

The standalone TiVo works with the provider you may have ,plan to get, or eventually switch to. IOW, TiVo, at least for now, is not a replacement for a TV provider.

[ZeoTiVo]

I personally prefer to watch my TiVo over watching my car.


bear in mind that TiVo is currently at series 2 which is only a single tuner and SD.
Most cable company DVRs are two tuner and can do HD

that can be a significant difference to some.

to me it was significant in the sense I did not want to spend an extra 20-30$ for digital cable just to be able to get the DVR. And HD is not of interest to me yet either for the same reason of not wanting to pay the larger early adopter prices.
I think by next Christmas prices on TV and digital packages may be at a rate I want to pay adn then HD becomes the thing.

as for interfaces - TiVo beats the others - my whole family - Wife, adn kids use the TiVo with little problem

[Don B]

I have had for over a year an Rca Scenium 7000 that performs well for my large C=band dish which Tivo does not support. I use it for recording in realtime, pause and skipping when needed.

In addition I have 4 Tivos, one is a standalone with the others hooked to Directtv.

The hi def10-250, tho a bit slow offers amazing picture with a good setup and the others allow convenience of season passes, two week guide, etc.

There are other options with these units but bottom line is your real needs which will be the best unit for you.

The tivos far and away have more features but only good to those who will use them.