New Moxi HD DVR is out - will this be a true competitor for the Tivo HD?

[bareyb]

Thanks for the review KungFuCow. Interesting to hear first hand impressions. :up:

[JimDog14]

Thanks for the review KungFuCow. Interesting to hear first hand impressions. :up:

x2 :up:

[lew]

Tivo and Moxi both (currently) use Tribune guide data.

Is there a screen to set your default options for SPs?




I had a cable DVR at one point and one of the things that I absolutely hated about it that Tivo didnt do was that it picked up all the rebroadcast episodes on USA as new episodes. Like Burn Notice, Psych, etc. So if they ran a marathon, they'd all get recorded. I suspect the Moxi is going to have this same problem. The Tivo doesnt do it. Maybe they use guide data from a different place, I dont know but this was my biggest pet peeve with the cable DVR so I wanted to bring that up right out of the gate.

The interface on the Moxi is.... different. It seems to require a lot more steps to do things that really should be simpler. Could be that Im not used to it yet and there are shortcuts I dont know about. Along that train of thought, the Moxi doesnt come with a printed users manual, just a quick start guide. I know that downloadable manuals are the thing these days but I think this thing needs a printed manual. Since its a bazzlion pages, I probably dont print it.

An example of this is when setting up a "season pass" on the Moxi, you select the series to record and at that point, its set. If you want to set it up for just first runs or stop/start buffering, you have to go to a completely different menu and edit it. Under normal circumstances, not really a deal breaker but when I was moving all my season passes over, it was a huge PITA.

The guide is also funky. Thankfully I guess in the last software update they added a grid guide. Im sure in time Ill get used to the regular guide but its really kind of odd.

Media streaming works really well, even tho you have to use PlayOn. I had already bought PlayOn for my PS3 so I guess Ill get another key in a few days. Hulu streaming is fantastic. The picture looks great. Media streaming from my PC also works well and that was something I used all the time on my Tivo. It takes a few more steps to get to the media but it works well.

The ticker is also really cool. You can stream weather, news, sports scores, etc at the bottom of the screen.

My general feeling on the unit is positive. But, even tho Ive owned multiple Tivos, Ive also had Showstoppers and ReplayTVs so Im used to working with different interfaces and like most people mention, the Moxi's interface is stunning. It kicks the crap out of Tivo appearance wise. I do think that Tivo is slicker operation wise but appearance wise, Moxi owns Tivo.

So far Im not regretting the switch. Im glad that Moxi works with PlayOn. Having Hulu handy like that is awesome. I havent played with the YouTube interface via Playon and it wasnt something I really used on Tivo either but the Hulu stuff will definitely get used. I know Hulu support on PlayOn is a tad spotty so we'll see how well their support holds up.

Im also not sold on the Moxi remote. Its not terrible but the Moxi seems to be a little laggy in responding to remote commands. The layout is a little wierd and I do hit the wrong button from time to time but Im sure that will stop as I get used to it. I also couldnt make it work with the Vizio Sound Bar but other than the Tivo back lit peanut remote, I havent been able to get anything to work with the Vizo Sound Bar.

[KungFuCow]

Tivo and Moxi both (currently) use Tribune guide data.

Is there a screen to set your default options for SPs?

There doesnt appear to be. Supposedly thats one of the things thats supposed to be coming in the fall update.

Unfortunately, unlike Tivo, there isnt a whole forum for the Moxi. Heck, the only thread I can even find on the thing is on the AVS Forum and its huge and I havent read through much of it.

I suspect that the Moxi is driven by remote shortcuts and I just havent figured a lot of them out.

I do like the unit.. Im going to relocate it tonight to a different place in my cabinet to where I hope it will get a more consistent remove signal. I think my coffee table is interfering with the remote signal.

[bkdtv]

Is there a screen to set your default options for SPs?No, but Moxi recently announced that default options could be set with the next software update, coming before fall's end.

If you haven't seen it already, I updated the AVS HDTV DVR Feature Comparison table (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17063966&postcount=2) to reflect the new developments. TCF does not support tables so I can't post it here.

According to Arris (Moxi's new owners), the Moxi spends about $5 million per year on DVR R&D. TiVo spends $60 million on who knows what. I suspect TiVo's older architecture makes development rather inefficient.

[KungFuCow]

No, but Moxi recently announced that default options could be set with the next software update, coming before fall's end.

Where does one follow along with Moxi's communications with the public?

[JimDog14]

If you haven't seen it already, I updated the AVS HDTV DVR Feature Comparison table (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17063966&postcount=2) to reflect the new developments. TCF does not support tables so I can't post it here.

Why does it say the analog dongle for Moxi "adds $129"? I thought Moxi said it was free, just pay for shipping?

[ZeoTiVo]

According to Arris (Moxi's new owners), the Moxi spends about $5 million per year on DVR R&D. TiVo spends $60 million on who knows what. I suspect TiVo's older architecture makes development rather inefficient.

in a nutshell - TiVo DVRs support analog recording via internal tuners while the Moxi is only digital internally. I think that makes things significantly easier to develop on and also much cheaper to build.

[ZeoTiVo]

Why does it say the analog dongle for Moxi "adds $129"? I thought Moxi said it was free, just pay for shipping?

also you are missing some X's. for instance the TiVo and Moxi can also
"Record one channel as SD while you watch a previously recorded show in SD"
and the TiVo can record with "VCR like timer"

that is just not a distinguishing trait for them perhaps

[bkdtv]

also you are missing some X's. for instance the TiVo and Moxi can also
"Record one channel as SD while you watch a previously recorded show in SD"
and the TiVo can record with "VCR like timer"
Moxi doesn't offer manual timers, as far as I know. Instead, they offer the "only record in [this] timeslot" option as part of every season pass. TiVo does offer manual recording, so I will add that as "optional."

The "Record one channel as SD" was actually referring to downconversion of HD to SD. I'll clarify that.

[fatlard]

Where does one follow along with Moxi's communications with the public?

http://twitter.com/moxi_hd

I think even my grand mother twitters....

[KungFuCow]

http://twitter.com/moxi_hd

I think even my grand mother twitters....

LOL.. I dont.. who cares about what I think?

[rocko]

Hey KFC,

Can you comment how your Moxi is performing with the Tuning Adapter? Given all the problems folks have had with some TAs I'm wondering if the MOxI handles them the same, better, or worse than the TiVo? If you haven't had any TA problems then I guess there's nothing to compare but ...

In a roundabout way I guess I'm wondering if the problems with TA's are just poor TA implementations in general or a poor TiVo TA implementation ... ???

[KungFuCow]

Hey KFC,

Can you comment how your Moxi is performing with the Tuning Adapter? Given all the problems folks have had with some TAs I'm wondering if the MOxI handles them the same, better, or worse than the TiVo? If you haven't had any TA problems then I guess there's nothing to compare but ...

In a roundabout way I guess I'm wondering if the problems with TA's are just poor TA implementations in general or a poor TiVo TA implementation ... ???

Its been painless for me. Ive had no issues whatsoever with the TA other than initially getting the Moxi to sync with it. That did take an online chat with Moxi tech support but they were really helpful and after they explained to me how to get it going, it was a snap.

The only thing I can comment on from a Tivo Vs Moxi TA standpoint is the Moxi doesnt seem to have as many dropouts as the Tivo did. I havent had the TA long tho. I had held off hoping the analog bug would be fixed but since it didnt appear a fix was forthcoming, I went ahead and got one.

I had talked also about the poor remote performance. I moved the Moxi to a better location and that helped a lot with the remote signal. I think I had it actually angled away from me where it was at before.

[Grumock]

I had talked also about the poor remote performance. I moved the Moxi to a better location and that helped a lot with the remote signal. I think I had it actually angled away from me where it was at before.

Here i thought it was just my remote LOL. Even changed out the batteries. Mine is at a funky angle though too.

[elgibby]

I had talked also about the poor remote performance. I moved the Moxi to a better location and that helped a lot with the remote signal. I think I had it actually angled away from me where it was at before.

FWIW: Lighting of various kinds can interfere with remotes. I had 3-way lamp with a curly CF bulb in it next to my AV cabinet and discovered if the lamp was on "3," my Harmony remote wouldn't work! I've also read that the light emittted from some TVs also can interfere.

[mattack]

Tivo and Moxi both (currently) use Tribune guide data.

Is there a screen to set your default options for SPs?

Please, there's no reason to quote the entire article, especially top-postingly, when responding to it!!

[bkdtv]

Why does it say the analog dongle for Moxi "adds $129"? I thought Moxi said it was free, just pay for shipping?Moxi made the dongle a $129 option when they dropped the price to $499.

[lew]

Please, there's no reason to quote the entire article, especially top-postingly, when responding to it!!

Just add me to your ignore list.

[KungFuCow]

Id love to find a better replacement remote for the Moxi but with all the odd buttons on it, Id be afraid to try. The remote is "okay", it just wont work with my soundbar and that really disturbs me. LOL