which one/ taking the tivo plunge!(?)

[ducker]

I'm seriously thinking of taking the tivo plunge... I have a bunch of BB gift cards saved up and gonna plurge on picking up a box & a lifetime sub script at Best Buy later this week I think. Especially since someone pointed out a really good deal they are currently running on 80hr models.

Problem is it appears that they have 2 80hr models:
model R240080 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4793138&type=product&id=1051806252790)
model TCD540080 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6654836&type=product&id=1082742833318)

Only one shows the rebate so this might be a moot point.
but the TCD540 model for $70 looks nice. is there any thing that the R240 has over it? Perhaps I can get the rebate on the 240 model??

On a side note, I'm still apprehensive about the whole unable to record/watch 2 different shows at the same time. I guess I'll need to keep my VCR plugged in for those odd times. Also the TV I do watch most of the time is Live TV... as I don't watch all that many shows... the shows I do watch.. I don't really want to wait to watch them!!!! (lost, american idol, suvivor, etc...)

Last but not least!!
I'm a tech savey person... I'm guessing it's not THAT tricky to network the Tivo box to a home network so that I'll be able to archive some shows right?


Thanks so much for the feedback!

[ChuckyBox]

The TiVo web site says the rebate is "(v)alid only on TiVo Service Numbers (TSN) starting with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 275, 540, 565, 590, 595." So you are covered for either of these units. But you'll notice that the 240 box costs $30 more.

There is no problem watching "live" TV when there is something you want to watch on (though I'd recommend having the show recording, and start watching about 15 minutes late -- that way you can skip the commercials). But you'll find the really nice thing about the TiVo is that when you feel like watching TV, there will always be something you like available in your Now Playing list.

(By the way, you might want to edit your post -- the first link has an extra "http//" in it.)

[ducker]

that being said, is the 240 model worth $30 more?
(though I'd recommend having the show recording, and start watching about 15 minutes late -- that way you can skip the commercials)

Hm, but once you program somethign to record, I thought you had to wait until it finished recording before you could start watching it... So I would have to be home. and turn it to the station I wanna watch, and then "pause" the live TV until I get a 15min buffer?

Remember I'm an ultra Tivo Newbie :) And I might be totally off.

[Guindalf]

You an hit the TiVo button at any time and watch the show from the beginning while it is still recording. This is one of THE features of TiVo and a fact that I always use to explain the benefits of TiVo to the uninitiated!

[ducker]

You an hit the TiVo button at any time and watch the show from the beginning while it is still recording. This is one of THE features of TiVo and a fact that I always use to explain the benefits of TiVo to the uninitiated!

um? So like I said, I would have to be at my TV and hit the button at the start?

I'm guessing what you're explaining to me.. is if I was watching a show (from the start) and wanted to archive it in to Tivo history, I could "hit a button" and it would finish recording the rest of the show as well. (while I watch it??)

prime example... I wanna tape survivor... wife doesn't always make it home for the start...

If I don't start manualy watching it... it will begin recording at 8pm.... Will I be able to start watching the show if I so chose at say 8:13pm from the start???

Again, sorry if these questions are ultra-newbie... I'm trying to figure this out :eek:

[gfb107]

Yes, you can watch a program from the beginning while it is being recorded.
This would be no different than starting to watch the show at 8:00, then pressing pause to go do something, then coming back in 13 minutes and pressing play. The TiVo continues to record while you watch "behind live"

[shady]

TiVo will do what you want.
Basically, anything you set up to record will go into the Now Playing list (what you refer to as TiVo History). It does this as soon as it starts recording the program.

You can watch anything in the Now Playing list, including programs midway through recording anytime you like. This is what makes TiVo so great for me. Once you've told it which programs you are interested in, you don't have to rush home to watch them any more.

-- Last night I was watching Saturday's Olympic coverage. I'm not sure I'm ever going to catch up, but also, I'm not going to miss anything :)

[atmuscarella]

Does anyone find this somewhat strange?

The link provided in the first post is to a Best Buy web page selling a 240 model TiVo - shows it's new - can they really still have them in stock someplace? I believe the 240s where replaced by the 540 models sometime mid 2004.

ducker,

The 240 models are reported to have better TiVoToGo transfer rates over the 540 models due to superior USB parts. But I would be very skeptical about the 240 model units actually being available.

Good Luck,

atmuscarella

[pdhenry]

You can start watching a show while it is still being recorded. If you set up to record survivor at 8:00 you can begin watching it at 8:00, or 8:12 or 10:00 tomorrow. If you start watching too soon after you start recording you won't be able to skip all of the ads because eventually you might catch up with live TV, but that's the only catch.

To clarify: You can skip the ads while you are watching, but after you've skipped enough to catch up to live TV you won't be able to skip any more.

[ducker]

Does anyone find this somewhat strange?

The link provided in the first post is to a Best Buy web page selling a 240 model TiVo - shows it's new - can they really still have them in stock someplace? I believe the 240s where replaced by the 540 models sometime mid 2004.

ducker,

The 240 models are reported to have better TiVoToGo transfer rates over the 540 models due to superior USB parts. But I would be very skeptical about the 240 model units actually being available.

Good Luck,

atmuscarella


So... are they in fact available? they look to be on that link I pasted?
:confused:

now if I can find a BB store that has lifetime prepaid membership cards available. Hell, I'll just take a BB that picks up the phone!!

[ZeoTiVo]

Ducker - do you use a cable box or just basic cable that can be hooked straight to the TV ?

Do you have broadband interent now? like a cable modem or a DSL modem and do you have your PC hooked to that ? Do you use wireless or is there a wire connecting them ?

as to the 240 vs 540, atmuscarella is correct that the 240 is an earlier model and I would be surprised if best Buy had any. But if Best Buy does than buy the 240. basically the 540 was introduced to lower manufacuring costs - hence the cheaper USB chips that rely on the Processor to do USB and why the 540 is slower. I have both a 240 and 540 model running at home, Both work fine but the 240 is indeed faster at TiVoToGo to get shows to my PC.


I did not see anyone touch on the aspect that you buy the hardware at best buy but get the lifetime subscription from TiVo, inc. I do not think you can use any Best Buy gift cards to get the lifetime sub.


and within a week of having the TiVo you will get that watching Live TV is a thing of the past, especially in your case where you have some specific shows you watch. You will go to TiVo now playing list and see survivor in there and watch it.

you might see a red circle beside it, that means it is currently recording - you will select it and see how nmuch it has recorded -
20 minutes ? cool I can watch and fast forward all the commercials
5 minutes ? hmm eitehr go do something for 15 minutes and come back or pick another show already recorded adn watch it adn then watch survivor.

but with basic cable - you can use a splitter (available at Best Buy for like 4$) and have the cable hooked to your TiVo and cable hooked to your TV so you can still use the TV as before in case you do watch something live like the news or sports that you did not want to record for some reason.

[ducker]

Hm, I just got off the phone with some guy at BB. He said they Tivo will be stopping offering Lifetime Subscripts @ BB locations... so pretty much the stock they have on hand.. is it.!!

[morac]

I too find it strange that Best Buy would be selling the 240 model since as far as I know they aren't being made any more. I would say its a refurbished TiVo except that refurbished merchandise is usually much cheaper than new merchandise.

The main differences between the 240 and 540 series are:

1. 540 has a night light, while 240 does not.
2. The 540 is sliver, the 240 is black.
3. The 540 has a different powerup movie than the 240.
4. The 240's transfer times are significantly faster (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3050412&&#post3050412) with respect to ToGo and MRV (faster networking).
5. For certain things, the 240 has better general performance than the 540.


If you can get a 240, then I'd say jump on that as most people consider it better than the 540 for reasons 4 and 5 above.

[ChuckyBox]

To clarify: You can skip the ads while you are watching, but after you've skipped enough to catch up to live TV you won't be able to skip any more.
That's what's known as "ice cream time." :D

Another great thing about TiVo that I was reminded of last night is that the Season Passes are smart and have a better memory than I do. "House" had a special Monday airing last night, which had totally slipped my mind from when they announced it after last Tuesday's show. TiVo didn't forget. It saw the schedule change, and dutifully recorded it for me. TiVo is good. :up: :up: :up:

[ChuckyBox]

The main differences between the 240 and 540 series are:

1. 540 has a night light, while 240 does not.
2. The 540 is sliver, the 240 is black.
3. The 540 has a different powerup movie than the 240.
4. The 240's transfer times are significantly faster (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3050412&&#post3050412) with respect to ToGo and MRV (faster networking).
5. For certain things, the 240 has better general performance than the 540.

6. The 240 is "taller" than the 540. I believe the footprint of the units is about the same, but 540 may be a bit smaller there, too.

[Sussex Place]

ZeoTiVo, you said: "or pick another show already recorded and watch it and then watch survivor".

Does that mean with a Series 2 TiVo (without a splitter) I CAN watch something TiVo previously recorded, while a different show is being recorded?

[Guindalf]

Yes, absolutely!

[ducker]

now... I could try to get the 240 on the website... but I just found out that I could get a Open Box 540 for $199. which I THINK will still be available for rebate usage..

So now the situation is..
$199 for a 540 open box
or the 240 for $50 more?

at a $30 difference I could see getting the 240. And yes there's a possiblity I'll connect the Tivo box to my network... but I'm not sure the extent I'll be doing data transfer.

[ZeoTiVo]

now... I could try to get the 240 on the website... but I just found out that I could get a Open Box 540 for $199. which I THINK will still be available for rebate usage..

So now the situation is..
$199 for a 540 open box
or the 240 for $50 more?

at a $30 difference I could see getting the 240. And yes there's a possiblity I'll connect the Tivo box to my network... but I'm not sure the extent I'll be doing data transfer.

the question to ask your self I guess is - will I ever open the TiVo up to put a larger hard drive in ? if the answer is Yes, I paln to soon enough put a 200 gig drive in then get the 240

if the answer is - I am really not wanting to have to do that kind of stuff, then get the open box 540 - I assume it has 80 hours on it ?

[ducker]

yea the open box 540 is a 80hr too.

Would I upgrade the drive?? there's a good chance I would. Especially if the series 3's are WAY up there in price; and I plan on holding on to the series 2 for a while. (I've built my own PC's from what I've read it isn't much more difficult then that... most likely easier then getting a damn heatsync on top of a CPU!!)

I'm guessing the 4 year service plan from BB wouldn't be a good idea if I plan on upgrading the HD in the near future; huh ;)

I'd be looking at:
Order Total: $274.22
for the 240 via online...

vs. $199 + tax for the 540 from a B&M shop.

[Guindalf]

[QUOTE=ducker]I'm guessing the 4 year service plan from BB wouldn't be a good idea if I plan on upgrading the HD in the near future; huh ;)
[QUOTE]

The golden rule is NEVER buy an extended warranty or service plan for electronic equipment.

Say the 4-year extension is $150, you could buy at least three 160Gb or larger drives for that price (Staples has a 200Gb on sale this week for $39.99 after $40 Easy rebate) and if anything goes wrong with the box, it almost certainly will be the HD. If you're really worried, make an image on a 160 or 200 Gb drive and extend your recording time and place the 80 in storage for future use. Much cheaper than an extended warranty and more practical too! Also, if a 200 Gb drive is $40 now, imagine how cheap it'll be in a couple of years.

[ducker]

Yea I don't usually... someone suggested it though (not at BB)

I hear ya on the HD upgrade.
So I'm looking at a difference of NEARLY $80 between the open box, and the 240.
which one, which one... I'd getting quite the itchy trigger finger :D

I posed the open box quetion to the Tivo Rebate Center to see what they will say, but I don't know if they'll get back in touch with me before I get the unit!

[Maxnl]

I think the rebate states in the fine print that it excludes open box merchandise, along with other non-new merchandise bought at B and M stores.

[ducker]

you know... in looking at the model number of the "240"
I'm noticing something...
it's model number is:

R240080
NOT!!! TCD240080

perhaps it IS a referb?????

[ZeoTiVo]

you know... in looking at the model number of the "240"
I'm noticing something...
it's model number is:

R240080
NOT!!! TCD240080

perhaps it IS a referb?????


or just another open box item from Best Buy. Best Buy had an issue with people impulse buying a 50$ after rebate TiVo only to find out at home they had to subscribe. many took it back to Best Buy at that point. You may well have stumbled onto the online pipeline into those returns.

We extoll the virtue of a 240 here (and indeed I have my one lifetime subscrip on my 240 and monthly on my 140 hour 540 model) but I would not place a huge emphasis on getting a 240. The problem is you most likely will not know about the rebate until after the 30 day period. that makes it a risk.

in any event I would go with a 40 hour in any thing as you do seem comfortable with doing your own upgrade. It is pretty straight forward to upgrade the TiVo hard drive or indeed fix it if the hard drive goes bad.

[ducker]

BB doesn't currently have 40hr ones avail - I could always pick up one from the secondary market (ebay) for around $30.... nevermind looks like those would run easily over $50 for a series 2 (40 or 80 hr) in good condition via ebay. Not really worth it vs. getting one new.

I didn't think BB would sell open boxes via their website??!!! (and those models being pricier then the new 540's) But perhaps that's why they don't have the link to the rebate on that web page??

I might just say the heck with it and pick up a 540

[ChuckyBox]

I might just say the heck with it and pick up a 540
BB doesn't have the 40-hour boxes online, but all three of the stores near me still have a few in stock. You'll get a 540 for sure, but for $20 (after rebate, plus tax) you really can't go wrong. You can use the box for a while, and if you decide you want more disk space, you can add it pretty easily and cheaply.

And something that the others in this thread didn't mention is that the new TiVo-branded wireless adapter (available again in two weeks, I believe) is reported to be significantly faster than other wireless adapters (precisely because it unloads some of the work the CPU was doing). This means, I think, that the relative speedup with this adapter will be greater on a 540 than a 240. But I haven't seen anyone do this comparison directly. If true, one of the main arguments for the 240 goes out the window.

[ZeoTiVo]

And something that the others in this thread didn't mention is that the new TiVo-branded wireless adapter (available again in two weeks, I believe) is reported to be significantly faster than other wireless adapters (precisely because it unloads some of the work the CPU was doing). This means, I think, that the relative speedup with this adapter will be greater on a 540 than a 240. But I haven't seen anyone do this comparison directly. If true, one of the main arguments for the 240 goes out the window.

the wireless adapter from TiVo does indeed offloadwork from the CPU on the TiVo - but I think it is wireless work that the drivers for wireless imposed on top of USB. in other words - people who reported speeds on the TiVo wireless adapter were reporting speeds I was getting with a wired USB adapter. I would expect to still see speed differences between a 240 or 540 with a TiVo wireless adapter.

but again I would not place huge emphasis on getting one vs the other and since 240 model is no longer made - be very wary of what I would get 240 wise via the best Buy web site.

Ducker - I like buying from a B&M myself to make return easy but in case you did not know - you can get TiVo DVRs direct from TiVo inc. www.TiVo.com and if you go with a year subscription the 150$ is taken off up front with no rebate hassle. You can then apply the 155$ cost of year subscription to a lifetime at activation time on their activation website. they won't take Best Buy cards but thought it worth mentioning

[ducker]

hehe.. thanks for all the awesome feedback people!!! it's been great. Yea that's my dilema kinda. I have BB gift cards, hence how I can pull this off w/o the lady getting all upset about me dropping a wad of cash. (that's including the lifetime membership... so I'm not gonna kick up more monthly fees - woo!)

perhaps I'll call around and see if anyone still has a 40hr in stock. Otherwise it looks like the safe bet will be simply the 540 - 80hr (un-opened!) box.

[ducker]

Ok - dee is done!! found a 40hr unit and picked it up. (yes the 540 model) my cost??
only tax! (after rebate)

woo!!! BB is unloading these as they won't be carrying them anymore at all!

(the ironic part was that I've missed the first 20 minutes of American Idol picking up this!!!! No tape in the VCR)

[pdhenry]

(...No tape in the VCR) What is this Vee-Cee-Arrrr of which you speak?

[ChuckyBox]

Ok - dee is done!! found a 40hr unit and picked it up. (yes the 540 model) my cost??
only tax! (after rebate)

Nice find. I was in BB tonight and they were still $20, but they seem to be going fast.


woo!!! BB is unloading these as they won't be carrying them anymore at all!

Would you care to elaborate on this statement? Did a salesman tell you that? Did you ask what models they will be carrying?

[ducker]

they will no longer be stocking the 40hr models. he wasn't sure about the gift card subscriptions, if they would or wouldn't be stocking them in the future.
(vs. the other guy at another store that said they will be discontinuing them)

it really seems as if they are unsure what Tivo will be doing. Many of them (the workers at BB) seem to think the cable companies DVR's are taking away from people wanting Tivo's... that's exactly why I wanted this.. can't stand feeding them more money!

The 40hr was still $19.95, but the manager (?? maybe) told the associate to discount it another $19.95 at the register!

They did still have a number of 80hr

[ChuckyBox]

That's interesting. There has been some speculation (mostly by me) that something is going on with TiVo's product lineup. They are clearly very low on inventory, which you would expect to happen right before a new model is released. My guess is that we are going to see an update pretty soon. Then again, maybe they'll just make the 80-hour box the low-end unit.

In any event, you got a great deal on your box. I hope you enjoy it.

[ZeoTiVo]

Ok - dee is done!! found a 40hr unit and picked it up. (yes the 540 model) my cost??
only tax! (after rebate)

woo!!! BB is unloading these as they won't be carrying them anymore at all!

(the ironic part was that I've missed the first 20 minutes of American Idol picking up this!!!! No tape in the VCR)


nice work and use of gift cards :up:
the 40 hour is goingh out of stock - my speculation is that TiVo, inc. is gearing up for a monthly subscription only pricing model on 40 hour TiVos. So there would be no reason for Best Buy to carry them

PS = my wife told me the first round of American Idol competition was boring and she loves the show.

[ducker]

yep caught the second half and then some.. and it was quite.... meh.

or maybe no one is really using the 40hr units as is... very few are, or those that are, have given Tivo feedback that they are disatisfied with the product. (and aren't about to self-upgrade)

[Stormspace]

I think the rebate states in the fine print that it excludes open box merchandise, along with other non-new merchandise bought at B and M stores.

I may be telling on myself here, but I bought an 80 hour open box deal at Best buy and got the rebate with no problems. I think BB takes the hit on that since it was opened.

[ducker]

you're right... it could of gone through w/o a hitch for me. but you won't know until it goes all the way through, since the rebate only needs copies of the UPC/receipe, who's to say someone already didn't submit a form.

[tenthplanet]

[QUOTE=Guindalf][QUOTE=ducker]I'm guessing the 4 year service plan from BB wouldn't be a good idea if I plan on upgrading the HD in the near future; huh ;)
[QUOTE]

The golden rule is NEVER buy an extended warranty or service plan for electronic equipment.

NO, not quite. While it's debateable for computers. Plasmas, LCD TV's, TV's with picture tube and rear projection TV's need them. Also any well built equipment you may want to preserve vs. replacing with with cheaper but not as well built. One reason a lot of consumer electronic gear has gotten cheaper is it's built that way. Also preserve and repair is very green and extended warranties help make that possible.

[Stormspace]

[QUOTE=Guindalf][QUOTE=ducker]I'm guessing the 4 year service plan from BB wouldn't be a good idea if I plan on upgrading the HD in the near future; huh ;)
[QUOTE]

The golden rule is NEVER buy an extended warranty or service plan for electronic equipment.

NO, not quite. While it's debateable for computers. Plasmas, LCD TV's, TV's with picture tube and rear projection TV's need them. Also any well built equipment you may want to preserve vs. replacing with with cheaper but not as well built. One reason a lot of consumer electronic gear has gotten cheaper is it's built that way. Also preserve and repair is very green and extended warranties help make that possible.

The problem with that is that cosumer electronics companies have turned these deals into profit producers by over charging for the service rendered. It got so bad at one point I wouldn't even walk into an electronics store because I didn't want to argue with the sales guy about extended warranties. Mostly they wouldn't take no as an answer. And for the most part I never had a piece of equipment fail within the extended warranty period.

Here's where I bailed on that philosophy. With the new plasma I did get the one year extended warranty since I don't fully trust the technology. So, now I have two years to see if it goes bad.

[Guindalf]

[QUOTE=Guindalf][QUOTE=ducker]I'm guessing the 4 year service plan from BB wouldn't be a good idea if I plan on upgrading the HD in the near future; huh ;)
[QUOTE]

The golden rule is NEVER buy an extended warranty or service plan for electronic equipment.

NO, not quite. While it's debateable for computers. Plasmas, LCD TV's, TV's with picture tube and rear projection TV's need them. Also any well built equipment you may want to preserve vs. replacing with with cheaper but not as well built. One reason a lot of consumer electronic gear has gotten cheaper is it's built that way. Also preserve and repair is very green and extended warranties help make that possible.

I strongly disagree with this statement. The reason the equipment has gotten cheaper is because of competition, not reduced manufacturing quality in most cases. Also, early adopters will pay more when a product is new, helping the makers to recoup the R&D costs.

The HR10-250 is a prime example. It was $1000 until six months ago. And also, you can pay the $8 a month or whatever for a protection plan or you can buy a 250 Gb drive for $60 or $70, image it and be set for whatever comes your way!

With electronics, new technology is announced all the time and the older stuff becomes obsolete in no time. I would rather have the opportunity to replace a broken plasma with the newest TV if I choose or even get the same technology for a lot less than it was when I bought it.

There will always be the exception to this, which is unfortunate, but overall, you are much, much better to skip any extended warranty.


On another note, I also think that the retailer should have an obligation to receive the product for the duration of the manufacturer's warranty (which is how it works in the UK) rather than making you deal with the maker directly with all the shipping and other fees associate with it.

[morac]

Most warantees are 90 days for parts and labor and then up to a year for parts. I would get the extended warantee on really expensive purchases because I'd hate to buy a huge screen TV for $5000 and then have it break in 91 days and have to pay hundreds of dollars to get it fixed.

Also a number of extended warantees have replacement policies so if your TV breaks in 2 years and they can't fix it and the model is no longer sold, you'll get a newer model for free.

That said, paying for an extended warantee on a TiVo these days is not really worth it. Especially when most problems are easily fixable.

[ducker]

Ok... woo . setup running and all done!! :)

I think I need a new splitter though (3 way) since it appears that my signal through the Tivo is looking worse then the picture quality through my digital cable box.

(both going through standard component cable to my receiver, and then the TV)

The picture coming from the digital cable box -> TV just looks richer, and doesn't have any loss of picture quality.

Where as the picture quality through the tivo (while watching LIVE tv) looks definetly poorer. Again, this isn't recorded material, but live.

and finally one other interesting point the tivo menus are all clear as a bell... very crisp quality. maybe I'm splitting my line too many times.


I might post this in the help forum...