Stay away from Comcast. Stay far away. Goodbye, Tivo.

[bensherman]

I have been a Tivo user for years. Almost eight long years. I've had a series one box, a DirectTivo, a TivoHD, and now this Comcast service with Tivo.

Today, I'm hanging it up, and won't be returning, thanks to Comcast.

I am on hold right now, waiting for someone to talk to me about my busted Motorola box with Tivo software on it. For the fourth time, I've lost my preferences, wishlists, recorded programs and channel setups.

For the fourth time, I'm going to have be late for work waiting for the Comcast guy to show up when they have to replace the box. For the fourth time, I am without working cable.

Tivo is supposed to make television experience easier, but it simply isn't. It is, in fact, making things more difficult, frustrating, and just plain bad.

I'm reviewing my options. As I've been a Tivo user for almost 8 years, I've grown attached to it. I'd rather not watch any television than watch it without Tivo. So my options are to buy a TivoHD, and wait for one of their installers to come here and be confused (I've been through this process, it is also not fun). Then, I am locked into a three year agreement with Tivo that effectively forces me to use Comcast.

I won't do that. I wouldn't ever sign a contract with Comcast, and I won't sign one with Tivo that requires me to use them.

Tivo, I'm sorry, but we are breaking up. I have watched my investment in you fall beyond reasonable, and your partnership with Comcast is the final nail in the coffin. It saddens me that you've invested so much time and money into making software that is so awful. The responsiveness of that Tivo button is missing, and until it returns, these Comcast/Motorola/Fake Tivo boxes are worthless.

8888 . 8888 . 8888 . 8888 .

No thanks. Good Bye.

[mtchamp]

I'm in the New Bedford area and had the 8888 issue and knew from reading forums that it was not going away with a new box until they fixed the bug so I quit Comcast TiVo many months ago. I'm waiting until I hear everything is working. More updates have been promised, but so far they have not been stable enough to depoly accross NE. The 8888 bug fix went out to some systems but was stopped when other problems poped up.

I have two TiVo HD's with cablecards and absolutely no problems, so I'm happy with Comcast without their box. I've had zero issues with installation and performance since the TiVo HD came out. I recommend you buy a TiVo HD around $220 where ever they can be had for the lowest price. I bought mine from Amazon. Buy TiVo Lifetime Service (It's Back!) for $399 for the first box and $299 for additional boxes. Maybe you can get it for $299 being a longtime TiVo customer, just ask.

I always bought Lifetime Service and it pays for itself and no monthly bills. Pay for it once and you're done for many years. I usually have gotten a good five years out of any TiVo box I've owned with Lifetime before upgrading to a new box. You know that a TiVo HD has way more features than a Comcast TiVo will ever ever have. If you want the best value go independent with your settop box and get a TiVo HD. That's the ultimate solution. You can also use it with FIOS if that's an option now or later.

The way content is coming down over the internet from TiVocast and Amazon Unbox, you might not need Comcast at all. Many people have dropped Comcast and bought an HD Antenna or just kept basic cable. Stop the insanity of dealing with Comcast forcing TiVo to make it work on the wrong hardware. It won't work as good as a TiVo HD until Comcast starts suppling new boxes designed to work with TiVo in the first place.

[bicker]

So my options are to buy a TivoHD, and wait for one of their installers to come here and be confused (I've been through this process, it is also not fun). Then, I am locked into a three year agreement with Tivo that effectively forces me to use Comcast.That's one of the strongest reasons folks stick with the Motorola DCT-/DCH-3416 boxes that Comcast offers in many areas, with the iGuide software, rather than the TiVo software. As much as people love to b---- about it, it actually does the job well-enough, sometimes, in my experience, better than a stand-alone TiVo, with no obligation or commitment.

[jamesbobo]

That's one of the strongest reasons folks stick with the Motorola DCT-/DCH-3416 boxes that Comcast offers in many areas, with the iGuide software, rather than the TiVo software. As much as people love to b---- about it, it actually does the job well-enough, sometimes, in my experience, better than a stand-alone TiVo, with no obligation or commitment.

I'll second that. The Comcast box, while not as good as a TiVo, is not too bad. My season passes have never missed a recording. Like TiVo, you can pad recordings, see other times the show will be on, prioritize season passes, record only new episodes, etc.

Here are its weaknesses: While "record first run only" works well with network shows, it will record the same episode of cable shows throughout the week. That's why it's best to put all season pass cable shows low on the priority list.
There are no wishlists, but when you create a season pass you can record from one channel or every channel. It has a To Do List but it only shows one day at a time. The Comcast remote is nowhere as easy to use as the TiVo remote.
I've figured out how to get rid of the green bar when paused (press Exit), and pressing the instant rewind button when done fast forwarding will have the same effect of hitting play after fast forwarding a TiVo: it will jump back a few seconds since you've probably passed the point where you want it to stop.