Replace TiVo with Comcast DVR w/TiVo sw?

[jimdgar]

I've got the 80Gb Series-3 which I love. Recently moved to a Comcast-equipped house and had a tech come out and install a cable card (M) as they wouldn't let me do it myself. Works great. Here's the question. The tech says I should get the latest Comcast DVR which has the TiVo UI and 160Gb disk. Comcast will only charge me $10/mo vs. $12.95 I'm paying for TiVo, plus I can then get On Demand. It would be nice to have 160Gb, but I don't care about the On Demand.

Is there any reason to do this? I can't imagine the Comcast DVR would be as clean or as feature-rich as the Series-3 I have today. Sounds like a stupid move on the surface as I've already payed for my TiVo.

-jimdgar

[Stephen Tu]

"80Gb Series-3"? Does not compute. Original series 3 came with 250Gb. TivoHD comes with 160Gb. If you are using an M-card sounds like you have a TivoHD?

If you want more space then consult the expansion FAQ above to add a new internal or external drive.

VOD would be the only real reason to go with the Comcast DVR. But I find VOD to be overpriced, I think Netflix is a better buy, using both the mail & the streaming to Tivo. The standard S3 software also appears to be more stable than the Comcast version.

I doubt the Comcast would be cheaper in the long run. You really ought to get the lifetime Tivo plan rather than paying monthly, you'll save a lot long term. The tech probably neglected to tell you about the ~$3/month extra for the Tivo software rather than their default. Plus that $10/month for the DVR rates to go up over time, in my area it also started $10/month a few years ago but it is already up to $16/month now.

[richsadams]

An 80GB Series3? :confused: The original Series3 (http://i35.tinypic.com/4lhmiq.jpg) has a 250GB hard drive and the TiVo HD (http://i38.tinypic.com/14lim28.jpg) has a 160GB Hard Drive. The new TiVo HDXL (http://i44.tinypic.com/10mmmja.jpg) has a 1TB hard drive. Not sure what you might have. If your TiVo has dual tuning capability utilizing an "M" cable card I suspect that it's a TiVo HD with a 160GB hard drive.

It's probably best to pay a visit to the HD Comcast TiVo DVR thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=62) for more info.

That said, I haven't tried the ComcasTivo DVR so have no comparison. Having VOD may be appealing to some. We had a Comcast DVR for a short time, in fact three of them in about as many months...they all died...but I understand the ComcasTivo is a different animal. We didn't find Comcast's VOD very compelling at the time plus with TiVo we have many other features including Amazon VOD, Netflix, YouTube, networking with your home computers, (ordering Pizza, ha!), etc. Not sure what the ComcasTiVo can do in that department.

So if you're just looking for more recording space, your TiVo HD (if that's what you have) would be an equal. If you want VOD and/or a few other features the Comcast box may be what you're looking for. Keep in mind though that if you just want more recording space that you can add the 500GB WD My DVR Expander (http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-WDG1S5000VN-500GB-Expander/dp/B0018O77Q2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235780907&sr=8-1) via plug and play to your current TiVo.

Best of luck!

EDIT: Stephen...great minds think alike! ;)

[JoeTaxpayer]

Before TiVo, 1st Comcast Box cost $14.95, second box, $21.90.
2 lifetime TiVos, the first with no Comcast Fees as first outlet gets free card, I now save $442 / yr. The TiVos were eBay finds, totaling $1150, so my breakeven is just over 2-1/2 yrs. After that, it's a free ride. In your case as Stephen pointed out, add $3 for the TiVo service thru Comcast. You use the networking at all? Maybe I'm a geek, but I think that feature is super.

[namechamps]

I've got the 80Gb Series-3 which I love. Recently moved to a Comcast-equipped house and had a tech come out and install a cable card (M) as they wouldn't let me do it myself. Works great. Here's the question. The tech says I should get the latest Comcast DVR which has the TiVo UI and 160Gb disk. Comcast will only charge me $10/mo vs. $12.95 I'm paying for TiVo, plus I can then get On Demand. It would be nice to have 160Gb, but I don't care about the On Demand.

Is there any reason to do this? I can't imagine the Comcast DVR would be as clean or as feature-rich as the Series-3 I have today. Sounds like a stupid move on the surface as I've already payed for my TiVo.

-jimdgar

No price difference. If you prepay 1 year Tivo works out to $10.75 per month.

No space difference. There have only been 3 HD capable Tivos.
Original Series 3 = 250GB HDD
HD Tivo = 160GB HDD
HD XL Tivo = 1000GB HDD

At worst your Tivo has exactly the same space as Comcast Tivo.
(Easy way to determine which Tivo is check system info. If you have 20hrs of HD space it is a HD Tivo = 160GB).

So really there would be no reason unless:
a) you love VOD that much
b) you want to give cable company more money for an inferior product