Comcast Tivo versus Series 3 w/cablecards

[WindyCityGirl]

I am sure I am missing something but.....

Wouldn't someone be better using a Series 3 Tivo (with cablecards) over a Comcast TIVO? I would think the abilty to hack into a Series 3 for better capacity etc would make it an easy decision.

What am I missing?

[ajwees41]

I am sure I am missing something but.....

Wouldn't someone be better using a Series 3 Tivo (with cablecards) over a Comcast TIVO? I would think the abilty to hack into a Series 3 for better capacity etc would make it an easy decision.

What am I missing?



The fact the the S3 and Tivo HD do no not handle 2 way communications. Also they cost more the the Comcast Tivo since you need to buy the S3 and pay monthly service vs rent the Comcast.

[Bruce24]

I am sure I am missing something but.....

Wouldn't someone be better using a Series 3 Tivo (with cablecards) over a Comcast TIVO? I would think the abilty to hack into a Series 3 for better capacity etc would make it an easy decision.

What am I missing?

If your not interested in VOD, don't mind paying up front for the box and are willing to take the change that the box won't be obsoleted too quickly, then sure.

[JohnnyO]

What am I missing?

Fear of losing access to HD channels when/if your cable provider starts using Switched Digital Video (SDV).

SDV is a capability that allows cable providers to offer more channels with limited bandwidth. It requires a two-way communication with the set top device - something current TiVo devices can't do. The "cable industry" is created a device to allow a TiVo to work on an SDV system, but it is a crap shoot as to when it shows up (forecasted for 2Q 2008), and if it works as planned.

[aadam101]

My reasons for getting a Comcast Tivo was the cost and the VOD ability. I kinda missed VOD.....

[WindyCityGirl]

Can you upgrade the HD in the Comcast Tivo like you can with the Series 3 or is it just a rental so you can't really do anything to it?

Does it have all the functionality of the Series 3 (like Tivo to go)?

The fact the the S3 and Tivo HD do no not handle 2 way communications. Also they cost more the the Comcast Tivo since you need to buy the S3 and pay monthly service vs rent the Comcast.

[ajwees41]

Can you upgrade the HD in the Comcast Tivo like you can with the Series 3 or is it just a rental so you can't really do anything to it?

Does it have all the functionality of the Series 3 (like Tivo to go)?

no you can't and no it doesn't have Tivo2Go

[mtchamp]

I have both and that settles the issue of VOD but rarely use it myself, others in the house like it. Special adaptors will soon be available for Switched Digital Video which might involve a further cost, but usually not a big problem for TiVo lovers. I just needed another box and it works like a TiVo but I prefer the real TiVo with CableCards and SDV is not a problem for me at this time. I use TiVoCast, Amazon Unbox and Rhapsody often, plus I occasionally use other TiVo features that make a full featured TiVo box the first and best choice for me.

I bought the TiVo HD's for $250 each, I have 2, plus Lifetime Service $400, the same way I bought all my TiVo's and I never lost money on them. I feel I've saved money in the long run. So, if the upfront hardware cost is not a problem, I think the real TiVo with all TiVo services like TiVo-To-Go, online programing and many more that you should go to TiVo.com to learn about are worth paying a TiVo subscription for.

Most people will be satisfied with the Comcast TiVo implementation. I use it and it works, but I'm not using it enough to give you any day by day performance issues. I never had any blank screens, green screens, reboots or any serious issues. I don't use Dolby, so lack of it doesn't matter to me. Searching for programs is more sluggish, but I already set up some Season Passes, so I don't use the Live Guide hardly ever. We use it for VOD and that is the only feature on top of the familar TiVo interface that makes it worth having for me.

I understand Comcast promises to fix issues reported here as quickly as possible. A software upgrade and bug fix was promised by Comcast's own Rep in this forum and is due very soon.

[VivaLasVegas]

I decided to go with the Comcast version b/c of the up-front cost. I've had mine for less than a week, though, and I'm already considering replacing it with a TivoHD.

There's nothing I've used in OnDemand that I couldn't just record for myself with expanded hard-drive capacity. The speed in the menus and the guide is a real issue. I didn't think it was too bad at first, but it gets frustrating very quickly - escpecially when remote clicks don't register or you accidentally hit OnDemand instead of Select, which is too easy to do. I've also been getting green-screens pretty regularly and sometimes rebooting is the only way to fix it.

[miricle]

I am sure I am missing something but.....

Wouldn't someone be better using a Series 3 Tivo (with cablecards) over a Comcast TIVO? I would think the abilty to hack into a Series 3 for better capacity etc would make it an easy decision.

What am I missing?

As of today, probably nothing other than VOD and initial up-front cost. I am running the Comcast Tivo for now, until Tivo comes out with a next-gen (series 4?) box running tru2way/OCAP.

[astrohip]

Also they cost more the the Comcast Tivo since you need to buy the S3 and pay monthly service vs rent the Comcast.
Depends on how much Comcast charges. In Houston, they charge so much for an HD DVR that the payback for a TiVo is less than three years. And yes, I am including the monthly fee to TiVo.

And for those three years, you get the beauty of the pure TiVo UI, not the comcastic bombastic.

YMMV. :D

PS: Note my sig, I have both, so I know of what I speak (but not the ComCastTiVo, just the regular DVR).

[ajwees41]

Depends on how much Comcast charges. In Houston, they charge so much for an HD DVR that the payback for a TiVo is less than three years. And yes, I am including the monthly fee to TiVo.

And for those three years, you get the beauty of the pure TiVo UI, not the comcastic bombastic.

YMMV. :D

PS: Note my sig, I have both, so I know of what I speak (but not the ComCastTiVo, just the regular DVR).

but you don't get ondemand or SDV channels with the S3

[astrohip]

but you don't get ondemand or SDV channels with the S3
Comcast doesn't use SDV in Houston. Non issue for me.

I also have a Comcast DVR (SA8300HD), and have for years. And still I have never once used PPV or VOD. Never. Ever.

But again . . . YMMV.

[llarch]

Would be great to see a comparison, for example;

Comcast TiVo, pros:

VOD
PPV?
No upfront costs
No SDV issues?


Stand-alone TiVo, pros:

MRV? Is this available on the Comcast TiVo?
Faster menus?
TiVoToGo
TiVoToComeBack
Larger out-of-box capacity
Upgradable drive

Am I missing anything?

[stiffi]

What's the Recording capacity of the Comcast Tivo? Also, is it HD?

[llarch]

What's the Recording capacity of the Comcast Tivo? Also, is it HD?

The Comcast TiVo is HD, but I believe it has a smaller capacity, good question.

[HiDefGator]

Comcast doesn't use SDV in Houston. Non issue for me.

You let off the "Yet" as in "Comcast doesn't use SDV in Houston YET!"

[JanS]

Currently, I have one TiVo S3 box plus I use a Comcast Moto STB (High-Def, not a DVR) in my living room. I use the Moto box for Comcast VOD all-the-time. And then in my bedroom I currently have a TiVo S2 with a Comcast bare-bones (Std Def.). The S2 changes the channels on the Comcast box with an IR blaster.

And I just recently got a second S3 box with a larger drive (1TB, Weaknees) that will get put into my Living Room setup and the current S3 will go to the bedroom.

So, I'm going to have to switch out some of my Comcast STBs. Namely to get HD VOD in my bedroom. Not that I _have_ to have it, but all the other pieces will then be HD - the LCD panel, the TiVo (S3), so the Comcast VOD might as well be HD, but I can live with only SD in there :)

So, I'm seriously considering renting a ComcastTivoDVR box, if 1) they're available in my market (San Jose, CA), 2) if it's HD. I don't care if it has a ton of space on it since I'm going to only use it for the "VOD box". I'll still have a S3 TiVo for all else (Rhapsody, HD channels, Premimums (HBO, SHO), etc).

Does anyone know if the ComcastTiVo DVR is widely available yet? Or it only in Beta in most markets?

Thanks!
-jans
p.s. plus to my knowledge SDV isn't a factor yet in my Comcast market... at least I haven't lost any programming yet(?)

[JohnnyO]

Does anyone know if the ComcastTiVo DVR is widely available yet? Or it only in Beta in most markets?



Nope -- The Comcast TiVo is still only available in New England.

[JanS]

Nope -- The Comcast TiVo is still only available in New England.

Thanks! Do you have knowledge of when it's going wide-spread?

Cheers,
--jans

[JohnnyO]

Thanks! Do you have knowledge of when it's going wide-spread?

Cheers,
--jans

I do not. I figure this forum will know within hours of any announcement, though.

[johnh123]

The speed in the menus and the guide is a real issue. I didn't think it was too bad at first, but it gets frustrating very quickly - escpecially when remote clicks don't register or you accidentally hit OnDemand instead of Select, which is too easy to do.

Is the speed issue worse with the comcast tivo than with the untivo'd comcast dvrs? Cause they are pretty slow and non-responsive as it is-