Seriously? Is it worth it? Are you happy?

[LeeBrock]

I'm a New Toy/Tech addict too. Should I wait until the price is reasonable? Or is the Tivo HD really all that? I love my Tivo, but their user interface... :down: They don't even make a half way decent TivoDesktop for Mac. Now my Mac, that makes a lot more sense to spend more of my money on. Mac has made my life a whole lot easier and prettier. :p

I got an HDMI DVR from Comcast for 9 bucks a month. I can still use my Series 2 for stuff not broadcast in HD. Boy, I don't even have a lifetime subscription to be concerned about transferring or I'd really be squealing. :eek:

So, is it worth it?

[nhaigh]

Yes.

[megazone]

It is worth it to me.

[Gregor]

Yes, it's worth it.

[rvs57lin]

Iam totally confused!

I have an S-1 since 1999 & I do not know if I have grandfather rights, so I would not have to pay the $199.00 for transfer to the S-3?

I am told that you cannot have TTG on the S-3?????????????/
I am told that you cannot transfer recorded material from the S-3 to a computer?
I have been told that the S-3 has 32 hours recording time OR 300 hours of regular time?
I have been told that in order to use a S-3 you have to have cable cards from your cable provider?
As iI understand the S-3 can record two HD channels at the same time and you can also view another channel?

Can somebody clear some of the air for me? I would very much like to buy the S-3 but i have heard tio many things that you can't do with it and the cost is up there, especially if you have to pay the $199.00 to transfer and give up a life time subscription!

thanks A TIVO confused TIVO user!

[megazone]

Iam totally confused!At the top of the forum is an S3 FAQ thread which would answer most of your questions.

If you purchased lifetime on your S1 in 1999, then you get a free transfer.

[bap]

Iam totally confused!
I have an S-1 since 1999 & I do not know if I have grandfather rights, so I would not have to pay the $199.00 for transfer to the S-3?If you bought the lifetime service in 1999 then you should be able to transfer the lifetime service to an S3 without paying the $199. See the Q&A section of this post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=290723) in the Coffie House. In particular:

Grandfather transfer: The one-time "Grandfather transfer" (for people who purchased Product Lifetime on or before January 21, 2000 [as in, more than six years ago], and who have not already used their one-time transfer) is still allowed and will also be honored for future hardware releases from TiVo, such as the Series3. If you have any trouble when you call, please mention KDB code 09-07-04 to the agent.

[robbins]

Not a chance, no way is it worth it. Tivo S3 is WAY overpriced and over-valued not to mention that you are at the whim of the cable companies overpriced programming. NO WAY.

[derekcbart]

Wow!

I had never heard about grandfather rights. I have one of the original 15 hour Series 1 boxes with Lifetime, but I gave it to a friend when I got the Series 2. If I used this grandfather transfer would that mean that the Series 1 that my friend has would no longer work?

Thanks.

[bkdtv]

Not a chance, no way is it worth it. Tivo S3 is WAY overpriced and over-valued not to mention that you are at the whim of the cable companies overpriced programming. NO WAY.
Much of the country will be getting cable competition over the next several years. You can switch your Series3 from Comcast to Verizon FiOS in about a week and cut $30/mo off your bill.

If I used this grandfather transfer would that mean that the Series 1 that my friend has would no longer work?
It would no longer work for free. It would work for $6.95/mo, if you keep it on your account.

[bap]

I had never heard about grandfather rights. I have one of the original 15 hour Series 1 boxes with Lifetime, but I gave it to a friend when I got the Series 2. If I used this grandfather transfer would that mean that the Series 1 that my friend has would no longer work?

Thanks.The S1 would lose its lifetime service so you or your friend would have to start paying to keep the S1 active.

[musicforme]

You can switch your Series3 from Comcast to Verizon FiOS in about a week and cut $30/mo off your bill.

In my case I'm switching from Comcast Extended Basic for $50 a month including tax to Verizon Fios and will pay around $56 a month with a ton more channels.

I hate cable boxes with a passion and the CableCards enable me to keep it off my Tivo.

[Dan203]

I love my Tivo, but their user interface... :down:

If you don't like the TiVo interface then it's probably not for you. TiVo's main advantage over other DVRs is their interface. If you don't like that interface then save yourself some money and get a DVR from your cable company.

Dan

[talmania]

It is worth it to me.

And me as well. I would have bought 2 but the disabled eSATA port kept me from doing so. I have full confidence it will get enabled at some point.

[Bierboy]

"Is it worth it?" is a very personal question, and the answer is subjective. As Mega says, it's definitely "worth it" as it is for me, too. For others, and for various reasons, it may not.

[SeanTivo]

Wow!

If I used this grandfather transfer would that mean that the Series 1 that my friend has would no longer work?

Thanks.

It would work for 12 months until Tivo shuts off the S1 box.

What if your friend buys a S3 and calls for the transfer before you do?

[Stormspace]

Yes.

Well, that makes sense. You sig clealy lets us know you have no need for MRV as none of your devices talk to each other. ;)

[bubba1972]

It would work for 12 months until Tivo shuts off the S1 box.

What if your friend buys a S3 and calls for the transfer before you do?

I don't think a grandfathered lifetime transfer gets the 12 months on the old box. Only those paying the $199 to transfer.

[derekcbart]

It would work for 12 months until Tivo shuts off the S1 box.

What if your friend buys a S3 and calls for the transfer before you do?
My friend isn't interested in HD and certainly isn't interested in spending $800 for a new box. He will be content with what he has until I upgrade again in the future.

We received our Series 2 as a gift with free lifetime service so I haven't actually paid TiVo for anything out of my pocket in nearly 7 years, so I'm okay doing it this time.

[zordude]

It's worth it to me.

[doctord]

It is for me.

Me: SD DTiVo user for years. Never had a real TiVo although like most, I hacked and hacked my DTiVo to try and make it one. Had to have basic cable to get locals for years.

Got sucked in by the lure of HD locals and ended up paying for both DTV and Cable to keep the TiVo and keep the family happy. Tried the Motorola HD DVR. What a POS. Held out for the TiVo software for it (Still hasn't happened) but I'll never get over my dislike of it. Too many shortcomings and bugs. We rarely even used it to record anything. The GUI of the DTiVo was so much better.

Finally added an OTA antenna for locals and came to a crossroads. Cable or Satellite. The family had issues with flipping between inputs on the TV and remote as well.

I received my S3 yesterday and installed it last night. I took the one cable card I have out of my TV and put it in the S3. The setup couldn't have been easier. The OTA tuner found a bunch of locals that didn't show up on my TV's scan. I only get a couple of extra channels, but may invest in a rotor to see if I can bring some more in. I made a trip through the channel list to clear out the OTA and Cable channels that I don't get (not an option on the Comcast box).

Bottom line for me: I can now drop the dish ($76 per month). Upgrade the cable package to the missing channels ($20 addition). Send back the POS DVR ($10 per month savings). Sign up for 3 years of TiVo ($8.31 per month). With my rewards coupons and the 10% off I used at CC, the S3 will pay for itself in 11.5 months.

And how do I like the S3 with its TiVo GUI and its ability to mesh the OTA and Cable in the guide. Well let me quote Joe Cocker: "You're everything I hoped for, you're everything I need". Keep in mind that I'm still in the honeymoon period, but so far so good. Too bad I have to wait another week for the second cable card.