benefit of xl vs. series 3

[rickeame]

I can get a used S3 from a buddy for fairly cheap with the lifetime service already on it. I would then upgrade the drive to 500GB and have a pretty sweet DVR.

However, I am wondering if the XL model has anything else "better" than the S3 that should make me move in that direction? (Other than MCARD support).

[pdhenry]

It appears that the HD and HDXL handle Netflix streams a bit more robustly than the S3, if the evidence on the Netflix Issues thread is of any merit.

[sender_name]

basically it seems that all the hardware in the xl is 'newer' and better...but the series 3 has more stuff...I love the front panel display. It saves me from turning on the tv to confirm what i am recording...and why go 500gb when you could go 1TB for $100...I have a 1TB with 150hrs of HD goodness on it at any given time

[Jonathan_S]

Other the M-card and a larger stock drive, the advantages seem to be mostly for the Series 3, especially if you get a good price on it.

The XL hardware is newer, but it's alse Tivo's cost cutting platform (like the TiVo HD) which makes it slower for certain actions, like network transfers. And the Series 3 has a fancier front display and comes with the glow remote as well.

[rickeame]

Would you get a drive from weaknees or just do it yourself? What drive would you recommend? I could stop by tonight and grab one at our local store, but not sure if one model is better than another for DVR operations.

The netflix thing is a bit troubling...something in the HD decoder?

[Resist]

Get a new new Western Digital "Green" 1TB drive with warranty (WD10EVCS) from here: http://cgi.ebay.com/TiVo-S3-Series-3-HD-1TB-Hard-Drive-Upgrade-Kit-NEW_W0QQitemZ280313024068QQihZ018QQcategoryZ11725QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I can't say enough good things about this seller, the price was right, shipped the drive fast and treated me great. You will get the drive a lot cheaper than at Weaknees or DVRupgrade.

[richsadams]

Get a new new Western Digital "Green" 1TB drive with warranty (WD10EVCS) from here: <snip>Or the OP could DIY for a bit less. A visit to the Official eSATA Drive Expansion and Drive Upgrade FAQ (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5616160#post5616160) sticky thread is in order. It has everything anyone needs to know about upgrading TiVo's including recommended hard drives and Section V covers internal upgrades. The process is very simple.

BTW...I would go for the Series3 w/Lifetime. :up:

[HerronScott]

My experience with NetFlix and my S3 has been good so far. I've watched the first 14 episodes of Doctor Who without any problems.

Scott

[Resist]

Or the OP could DIY for a bit less.When you factor in the cost of the adapters, the price is the same (or pretty close to) my alternative.

[jlib]

The "fairly cheap with the lifetime service" sort of swings it towards the S3. The main advantage of the HD/XL series is the single Cable Card needed but the S3 is more elegant otherwise. Depending upon your cable provider you will end up paying around $1.50 more per month for the needed second Cable Card.

If it has a stock hard drive and if you are going to upgrade the drive yourself then it is best to have Cable Cards installed first (then just put the original drive away for safekeeping after upgrading). If you don't have a PC or don't want to do the easy upgrade process yourself you can get a pre-upgraded drive (as referenced above) for about $40 over a blank drive. The WD10EVCS is the generally accepted drive of choice for upgrading the S3. You want to go directly to 1TB capacity.

[richsadams]

When you factor in the cost of the adapters, the price is the same (or pretty close to) my alternative.True enough. I never needed any adapters, but the OP might depending on what kind of computer/setup he has. If he buys one from your ebay supplier he'd need to consider the cost of a truck roll to re-pair his cable cards (if like most cableco's, they won't let him do it himself) plus the time it takes to re-do season passes, etc. Lots of things to consider, but the "plug and play" way is certainly an easy option.

[lrhorer]

Would you get a drive from weaknees or just do it yourself? What drive would you recommend? I could stop by tonight and grab one at our local store, but not sure if one model is better than another for DVR operations.
It's pretty much a judgment call, depending on the individual. If you are highly experienced walking around the guts of a computer, I suspect you may consider the extra bucks for a Weaknees or DVRupgrade solution not to be worth the minimal amount of work involved. If opening a PC causes you a little nervousness, then a Weaknees or DVRupgrade drive may be the way to go. If the very thought of opening up a computer gives you the willies, then maybe having Weaknees or DVRupgrade do the upgrade for you is the best solution. You rather sound to me as if you are in the first category. I certainly am, and I would not (never have) hesitate to buy a bare drive at bargain basement prices and fire up MFS Live or WinMFS to upgrade a TiVo.

As far as which drive... price is probably a major consideration, and for many folks the cheapest drive on which they can lay their hands is the best option. Some drives are a bit noisier, but often one of the hard drive acoustic management utilities can quiet the seeks if the TiVo sits where the noise is problematic. (The drive in the Tivo in my guest room is quite audible, but that room does not get a great deal of use, for example.) Most people don't bother with DVR rated drives unlesss they get a bargain on one.

[Resist]

If he buys one from your ebay supplier he'd need to consider the cost of a truck roll to re-pair his cable cards (if like most cableco's, they won't let him do it himself) plus the time it takes to re-do season passes, etc.No truck roll for Charter Cable, at least for when I did my upgrade. Overall I think it is very rare that your cable company would have to make a service call when doing this upgrade.

[Resist]

Depending upon your cable provider you will end up paying around $1.50 more per month for the needed second Cable Card.Some cable companies are charging more for M-cards, so you could end up paying the same price for one M-card as two S-cards.

[richsadams]

No truck roll for Charter Cable, at least for when I did my upgrade. Overall I think it is very rare that your cable company would have to make a service call when doing this upgrade.Charter in your area may be progressive but in others they are not so enlightened. Charter claims a little more than 5 million customers. By comparison the two gorillas, Comcast and TW, who prey upon...um...serve close to 40 million are not always so understanding. Even within their ranks they can't agree. If you have Comcast in Seattle for example they'll let you walk in, pick up cable cards, pair them over the phone, etc. However in most other areas (including ours :mad:) they won't even consider talking about it. Based on hundreds of posts on the cable card threads on the TCF and elsewhere it's apparent that a vast majority of cableco's require a service call for such things. That said, it's about $15 here...on the other hand VZ charges $89 or so. :eek: I think we'd agree that a quick call to the local cable company is in order is all.

Some cable companies are charging more for M-cards, so you could end up paying the same price for one M-card as two S-cards.Another good example of little or no consistency. Comcast in our area charges nothing for the first card and $1.50 for each card thereafter - either "M" or "S". A good friend a few states east pays $7/mo. for every card he gets from Comcast. :confused: Go figure. Usually the differences are the result of the behemoths absorbing smaller companies and keeping the existing structure, no matter how much at odds with their own it might be...unless of course the company they're buying charges less. :rolleyes:

[/rant] On cable companies...and straying a bit OT. ;)

[JWThiers]

Other the M-card and a larger stock drive, the advantages seem to be mostly for the Series 3, especially if you get a good price on it.

The XL hardware is newer, but it's alse Tivo's cost cutting platform (like the TiVo HD) which makes it slower for certain actions, like network transfers. And the Series 3 has a fancier front display and comes with the glow remote as well.

The XL also come with the Glo-remote. So basicaly you trade a front panel display and faster network transfers on the S-3 for newer hardware design, M-card support and a larger stock drive on the XL.