AudiA4
02-06-2008, 11:31 PM
I'm a "legacy" user of a Series 2 Tivo prior to my upgrade to HD service/televisions 2 years ago. Since an HD Tivo box wasn't available at the time, I obviously went with the standard Comcast HD DVR. I'm an interface nazi, so I really loathe the deplorable way the Motorola box works, but there are some good aspects...okay one, but its a biggie...Video On Demand (VOD), and SPECIFICALLY HD On Demand. When you select a movie, and some are free, the selection plays instantly in HD, and the choices are relatively good (like a limited "New Release" section at your local video store, but in HD).
So, here's my dilemma: I found an "open box buy" for a Tivo Series 3 HD Box at Best Buy for $299. I bought it instantly, knowing that it is/was the high-end box. However, after perusing these forums for known issues or limitations, I'm quite disheartened. I want the Tivo interface, and I admittedly like the high-end feel of the box and experience, but frankly, I've got a few concerns that I need help having confirmed by the experienced users on this site. Here are my concerns, and if most of these cannot be answered in the positive, I'm sticking with Comcast:
1 - Do the UnBox movie rentals on Tivo start playing immediately?
....if not, and if the huge "delay" I read about is in fact the standard fare, big letdown when compared to what is available by VOD, which is instant and HD. I also own an Apple TV and am looking forward to their movie rental service (in HD) to start in a few weeks. If Apple's service proves (relatively) instant, then I won't care about this feature on the Tivo box.
2 - Are UnBox movies available in HD?
....if not, wow...big letdown compared to VOD and upcoming Apple TV
3 - Is Tivo-to-Go and Multi-Room viewing available on the Series 3 HD or Tivo HD available?
....if not, then this is another (prior) "advantage" that Tivo had that I was looking for in added value or features over the Comcast box. I have an iPhone, and I was looking forward to being able to transfer unwatched TV shows to this device.
4 - Is the Mac Desktop software compatible with the newer Intel Macs?
....I read on CNET that the Mac Desktop software has not been updated for the newer Intel Macs...wow, if not, what a let down. I have a G5 PowerMac desktop (non-intel of course), but its not the machine where I keep my digital content (photos, music). Again, my Apple TV does this well, so its not a deal breaker, but still....
5 - Is the Roxio Mac Tivo-To-Go software solution compatible with the Series 3 HD box?
....I read on another forum that a recent Tivo update apparently rendered this 3rd-party "Tivo-To-Go" solution for Mac inoperable. I hope not. Of course, that depends on the answer to item #3 above!
I want to keep the Tivo Series 3 HD box, but if these limitations listed above are in fact still present (and haven't been updated by subsequent software updates), I'm going to return my Tivo! I don't want to!
I welcome your assistance and recommendations....
So, here's my dilemma: I found an "open box buy" for a Tivo Series 3 HD Box at Best Buy for $299. I bought it instantly, knowing that it is/was the high-end box. However, after perusing these forums for known issues or limitations, I'm quite disheartened. I want the Tivo interface, and I admittedly like the high-end feel of the box and experience, but frankly, I've got a few concerns that I need help having confirmed by the experienced users on this site. Here are my concerns, and if most of these cannot be answered in the positive, I'm sticking with Comcast:
1 - Do the UnBox movie rentals on Tivo start playing immediately?
....if not, and if the huge "delay" I read about is in fact the standard fare, big letdown when compared to what is available by VOD, which is instant and HD. I also own an Apple TV and am looking forward to their movie rental service (in HD) to start in a few weeks. If Apple's service proves (relatively) instant, then I won't care about this feature on the Tivo box.
2 - Are UnBox movies available in HD?
....if not, wow...big letdown compared to VOD and upcoming Apple TV
3 - Is Tivo-to-Go and Multi-Room viewing available on the Series 3 HD or Tivo HD available?
....if not, then this is another (prior) "advantage" that Tivo had that I was looking for in added value or features over the Comcast box. I have an iPhone, and I was looking forward to being able to transfer unwatched TV shows to this device.
4 - Is the Mac Desktop software compatible with the newer Intel Macs?
....I read on CNET that the Mac Desktop software has not been updated for the newer Intel Macs...wow, if not, what a let down. I have a G5 PowerMac desktop (non-intel of course), but its not the machine where I keep my digital content (photos, music). Again, my Apple TV does this well, so its not a deal breaker, but still....
5 - Is the Roxio Mac Tivo-To-Go software solution compatible with the Series 3 HD box?
....I read on another forum that a recent Tivo update apparently rendered this 3rd-party "Tivo-To-Go" solution for Mac inoperable. I hope not. Of course, that depends on the answer to item #3 above!
I want to keep the Tivo Series 3 HD box, but if these limitations listed above are in fact still present (and haven't been updated by subsequent software updates), I'm going to return my Tivo! I don't want to!
I welcome your assistance and recommendations....