questions from a rookie

[Tom White]

Here are a couple of questions from a TOTAL rookie in the TIVO world.

I have seen the threads talking about the Kids Zone promotions for a free Series 2 Tivo. My question is this.

It appears (from what I can find out) that the Series 2 Tivos only have composite and s-video capabilities. I have a Samsung 40" HD LCD capable of 720p video. How bad does the video look coming from s-video to a TV such as mine?

Am I also correct that the series 2 does not have any kind of digital audio out?

I would really like to take advantage of their free series 2 (based on buying a one year sub), but if the picture and sound are not going to be very good, then I'll look around for a deal on the HD Tivo.

Any help is much appreciated.

EDIT: I forgot to mention (See, I told you I'm a rookie) that my source would be the local cable company. No cable box, just straight out of the wall analogue cable.

[ZeoTiVo]

you spent some bucks to get a great TV versus some SD tube TV -
you need to spend the extra for the TiVo HD and get the items you will want going forward.

[MickeS]

Even regular analog cable will look better on the TiVoHD, so I too strongly suggest getting that instead of a Series 2. The advantage of this is also that for a small extra fee (I pay ($7 extra/month for two CableCARDs, but you can probably get away with less, depending on which Cable company you have, since a TiVoHD can use M-Cards, which means you'd only have to pay for 1 CableCARD), you can get your local channels in glorious HD. Or even get them entirely free with an antenna connected.

IMO, the picture on a Series 2 DOES however look good enough through s-video to a HD TV. But digital is the future, and I wouldn't advice you to get a Series 2 at this time. The extra money for the enhanced TiVoHD quality, not to mention the added out-of-the-box analog recording capacity compared to a Series 2, is well worth it.

[classicsat]

The Series 2 does 480i S-video at best, with stereo analog audio, no digital (it is only installed on TiVo units which directly record the digital stream, which could have DD audio). There is no benefit for digital audio out where the audio in is analog.

Since you have and HD set, cable, and ar interested in digital audio, I too recommend the TiVo HD, which will do all you want, and more.

[Tom White]

Thanks for all the quick replies.

Now here comes another question.

It seems that the prices I see on the Tivo HD units at different stores are all the same. Is there any store that is generally cheaper than the others, or does Tivo pretty much control the pricing?

Anyone know of any good sales going on?

Thanks again.

[MickeS]

Thanks for all the quick replies.

Now here comes another question.

It seems that the prices I see on the Tivo HD units at different stores are all the same. Is there any store that is generally cheaper than the others, or does Tivo pretty much control the pricing?

Anyone know of any good sales going on?

Thanks again.

You might want to check the Series 3 section of this site for deals with store coupons etc.

Generally, they sell for between $250 and $300. This forum sells them for $280: http://store.tivocommunity.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EA&Product_Code=652160&Category_Code=S3TIVO

[fallingwater]

Anyone know of any good sales going on?


(Scroll way down for HDTiVo's w/Lifetime Service.)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000RZDBM2?ie=UTF8&shipPromoFilter=0&startIndex=0&sort=sip&me=&condition=new

[ShoutingMan]

Here are a couple of questions from a TOTAL rookie in the TIVO world.

I have seen the threads talking about the Kids Zone promotions for a free Series 2 Tivo. My question is this.

It appears (from what I can find out) that the Series 2 Tivos only have composite and s-video capabilities. I have a Samsung 40" HD LCD capable of 720p video. How bad does the video look coming from s-video to a TV such as mine?

Am I also correct that the series 2 does not have any kind of digital audio out?

I would really like to take advantage of their free series 2 (based on buying a one year sub), but if the picture and sound are not going to be very good, then I'll look around for a deal on the HD Tivo.

Any help is much appreciated.

EDIT: I forgot to mention (See, I told you I'm a rookie) that my source would be the local cable company. No cable box, just straight out of the wall analogue cable.If you're currently watching HD television on your HDTV, then an Tivo S2 would be a step backwardsm as you'd lose your HD TV and return to standard definition TV.

But if you're watching analog TV and have no intention of upgrading to HD service (OTA, cable, dish), then an S3 is a waste of money. (I've not seen an S3, but basic principles tell us that it's not going give a much better picture for analog TV than an S2.)

I just got the S2 for free through the promotion you were asking about. There's no downside since I currently have analog cable. The unit is free, so if it's obsolete next year, I throw it away and buy an HD S3 then.

[MickeS]

I've not seen an S3, but basic principles tell us that it's not going give a much better picture for analog TV than an S2.)

Actually, the Series 2, TiVoHD and Series 3 all use different bit rates for the analog recordings on the same quality settings, IIRC. I do know that the Series 3 looks better on analog than my Series 2 does. But you are right, there isn't an enormous difference in this regard.

I just got the S2 for free through the promotion you were asking about. There's no downside since I currently have analog cable. The unit is free, so if it's obsolete next year, I throw it away and buy an HD S3 then.

Good point.