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03-14-2006, 10:59 PM
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#1
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No Stalkers Please
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 827
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Lifetime Sub Or Not? What Would You Do?
With only a few days left, I can't decide whether I should switch from a $12.95 per month subscription to a $299 lifetime subscription or not. We bought a Series 2 box about 4 months ago and I love it, but hate monthly fees. At $299, we would have to get 23 more months out of this box to break even.
How long does an average Tivo box last? If it does break can I still make it work with the lifetime sub by just self adding a new hard drive?
What should we do? Please let me know what you all think.
Thanks!
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03-14-2006, 11:05 PM
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#2
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Custom User Title:
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,334
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Do you plan on upgrading to the Series 3 when it comes out? Lifetime adds a lot to the resale value, especially now.
Upgrading the hard drive doesn't affect the subscription from what I understand.
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03-14-2006, 11:25 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Denver area
Posts: 4,367
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by robbins
With only a few days left, I can't decide whether I should switch from a $12.95 per month subscription to a $299 lifetime subscription or not. We bought a Series 2 box about 4 months ago and I love it, but hate monthly fees. At $299, we would have to get 23 more months out of this box to break even.
How long does an average Tivo box last? If it does break can I still make it work with the lifetime sub by just self adding a new hard drive?
What should we do? Please let me know what you all think.
Thanks!
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I've never quite understood why people ask for recommendations of this type on a public board - we can't possibly know your situation.
That said - if you believe you'll be using your Tivo for two more years (reasonable), then go for it. The two things most likely to require repair after the warranty is up are the hard drive and the power supply, both easy to replace. Neither will affect the status of a lifetime subscription.
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03-14-2006, 11:27 PM
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#4
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Stylish Jane Sixpack
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 805
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do LT, you really can't lose. If worse comes to worse and it's no longer feasible for you just resell it for approx $300.
From what I've read the only component that fails is the harddrive, which can easily be replaced, so the lifetime of the box is prett good.
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03-15-2006, 07:47 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 230
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My Toshiba/Tivo died after just 6 mos. and I was told to get another, which they don't make anynore.
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03-15-2006, 08:32 AM
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#6
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Number crunchin'
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 30,686
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Do it, but only if you are willing to either (1) keep the TiVo for 2 years or more or (2) make the effort to re-sell it on eBay when you decide it's time to upgrade to a Series3.
If it breaks before you get your "money's worth," come back here and ask people how you can fix it.
__________________
Sheldon: You know, in difficult moments like this, I often turn to a force greater than myself.
Amy: Religion?
Sheldon: Star Trek.
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03-15-2006, 08:49 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 133
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I have a tivo that was purchased in August 2000 that is still going strong. I got lifetime on that for $200 back then which translates into an average of about $3.03 a month.
I would do it if you're willing to sell it. Even if you only keep it another year, you will be able to sell it for more than $150, saving you some money.
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03-15-2006, 08:50 AM
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#8
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Grandminion
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 5,774
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by slyone
My Toshiba/Tivo died after just 6 mos. and I was told to get another, which they don't make anynore.
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If its the Toshiba SD-H400 Weaknees lists them available for sale on their site.
__________________
=Steve=
Ah Steve, a man of great wisdom. I bow before thee. - Skittles
**** Cancer
Sent from my desktop.
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03-15-2006, 08:54 AM
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#9
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Go Pats
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ashland, MA
Posts: 35,430
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Since it's your first box, I would def go to lifetime, then buy another and do multi discount 
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03-15-2006, 09:44 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,891
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by robbins
How long does an average Tivo box last? If it does break can I still make it work with the lifetime sub by just self adding a new hard drive?
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Among my friends there were nine TiVos bought 6 years ago and none have failed yet. I think TiVo Inc. is too young to know how long an average TiVo lasts.
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03-15-2006, 09:46 AM
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#11
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No Stalkers Please
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 827
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Thanks for the replies, I think we are going to do the lifetime!
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03-15-2006, 10:07 AM
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#12
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Contra sceleris
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,306
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You can replace the power supply, the fans, the disks. Take a look at the parts available from ptvupgrade and weaknees. The only really hard thing to fix would be ICs on the motherboard which can be desoldered but all the motherboard stuff is solid state so it's going to last and last and last.
And the S3 is going to make S2's obsolete like this year's Landcruiser makes the Camry obsolete. The S3 isn't going to be cheap, does a lot of things that may not be relevant to value conscious consumers, and they aren't going to have lifetime.
These things are like 57 chevies. They are going to be around as long as people have TVs that display SD resolution.
A very very long time- so unless you couldn't be bothered reselling on Ebay, this is going to save you a heap of cash.
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