What is your cutoff price for buying an S3?

classicX · 07-30-2006, 03:19 PM

With all the speculation going and the fact that we are inching ever closer to an S3 release, I wonder how many people are really willing to pay a premium for it?

I realize that this board is more for Tivo enthusiasts so the results may be a bit skewed, but what better place to guage the "real" market for this item?

Edit: The prices in the polls are for the "upfront" price, not including any subscription fees and after any applicable rebates and discounts.

phox_mulder · 07-30-2006, 03:26 PM

I'd say $500 would be my cutoff.

Whether that is before or after any "instant" or mail-in rebates remains to be seen.

A lot will depend on the pricing structure for the service as well.

phox

Jumpin_Joe · 07-30-2006, 03:28 PM

There is a direct correlation between how many pairs of shoes the wife recently purchased to how much I can spend (unquestioned by my wife) on a new Tivo. :-)

So if the wife spends a lot of money just before the S3 is released, the more I can spend on the S3

Edit: I voted for no more than $500

bkdtv · 07-30-2006, 03:33 PM

Depends on the storage capacity. For a unit with a 250Gb drive, I'm hoping for a price point of $499 or less. I would pay more for a 400Gb or 500Gb unit.

They could offer a 250Gb model for $399 and subsidize it somewhat with a 400Gb model at $599. Wholesale pricing runs $55-$60 for 250Gb, $115-$125 for 400Gb, and about $175 for 500Gb.

Riverdome · 07-30-2006, 03:44 PM

It completly depends on the service pricing.

Koan · 07-30-2006, 03:55 PM

No way will I be able to get my wife's agreement to go over $300 and also start monthly payments.

nhaigh · 07-30-2006, 03:56 PM

I posted the skys the limit but in all honestly I probably top out at around $1500.

That said, if the S2 cannot MRV the S3 content then I need to replace my DTS2 with and S3 as well and that put me at around $1000 each before I won't invest.

Lenonn · 07-30-2006, 04:13 PM

I haven't decided what my cutoff price is yet. As someone above said, it also depends on how much per month they will be charging for service. And whether my heart stops when I see the first ad and the price there.

mick66 · 07-30-2006, 04:32 PM

The poll neglects the many people like myself that have no need for a series 3 Tivo.

GoHokies! · 07-30-2006, 04:32 PM

/me places the tip of his pinkie finger to the corner of his mouth

One Meeeelion dollars!!!

EDIT: Whenever I get the S3, it'll be just after I sell my house and buy a new HDTV so the budget, while nearly unlimited, isn't quite to the million dollar mark. (That being said, anyone looking to by a house in Norfolk to support my Tivo habit, let me know)

rainwater · 07-30-2006, 04:43 PM

The poll isn't clear as to what they mean by the price. Does that mean buying it from Tivo.com with the service package? Or buying retail for the box only?

lessd · 07-30-2006, 04:47 PM

With a HD DVR cable box costing nothing but a rental fee (about $16/month) and having an unlimited warranty and facing no cable co transmissions changes that could cripple it (like switch video) and getting all the On Demand stuff (The S3 can't get On Demand), even with the much much better interface of TiVo I think will still make it a tough sell for the average consumer. It will take more than the people who visit this form to make the S3 a success, the average Joe has to buy into it. I see the S3 a much harder sell then the S2 was as the cable Co. never competed against the S2. (A few years ago my cable co even tried to sell TiVos with the Moto box and serial connection for its customers. It was a bomb for the cable co as they had to make many house calls to get the serial cable to work correctly with the Moto box, Moto than change their cable boxes and left out the serial connection and the project stopped)

classicX · 07-30-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick66

The poll neglects the many people like myself that have no need for a series 3 Tivo.

I considered that when making the poll, but I wanted to see the spread for people who plan on buying an S3, how much of a factor the price is, and whether it would change their "decision" to buy.

For people who will not buy an S3 at all, the price doesn't really matter, wouldn't you say?

kbohip · 07-30-2006, 04:51 PM

There's no choice on the poll for $200. That would be my max for one, as that's what I spent on my HR10-250.

classicX · 07-30-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbohip

There's no choice on the poll for $200. That would be my max for one, as that's what I spent on my HR10-250.

Also considered, but I didn't think that $200 was a realistic price point, given that the DVD-Tivo on the site is $180. If you're willing to spend $200, would you not even consider it at $300?

kbohip · 07-30-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicX

Also considered, but I didn't think that $200 was a realistic price point, given that the DVD-Tivo on the site is $180. If you're willing to spend $200, would you not even consider it at $300?

Personally, I wouldn't spend $300 for the S3. Especially knowing that Comcast will have and HD Tivo available for free plus a monthly fee. Right now I have Directv as Adelphia is my cable provider and their horrible. Comcast is however in the process of taking over and if I see them increase the service and programming and come out with a Tivo DVR, I'll be switching to them.

ChuckyBox · 07-30-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverdome

It completly depends on the service pricing.

The service costs $12.95/month, or $6.95/month if you have multiple boxes and one of them has lifetime service or is paying the full price.

nhaigh · 07-30-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbohip

...knowing that Comcast will have and HD Tivo available for free plus a monthly fee.

That is a good point.

I may end up with a Comcast TiVo anyway as it looks like they may well hit the streets first. Then the real question becomes what value does the broadband content not available on the Comcast TiVo represent. Also the question will a Comcast TiVo MRV with a real TiVo, i.e. will I be able to register the Comcast TiVo on my main TiVo account and have one MAK. All these things will affect the final decision and are questions not yet answered.

jfh3 · 07-30-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbohip

Personally, I wouldn't spend $300 for the S3. Especially knowing that Comcast will have and HD Tivo available for free plus a monthly fee. Right now I have Directv as Adelphia is my cable provider and their horrible. Comcast is however in the process of taking over and if I see them increase the service and programming and come out with a Tivo DVR, I'll be switching to them.

Unless Comcast rolls out a new box with a much larger hard drive, most people will find the box is inadequate for HD recording (12-15 hours, if lucky). No upgrades possible.

Series 3 - full-featured Tivo, HD, and upgradability (almost certainly).

ChuckyBox · 07-30-2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lessd

It will take more than the people who visit this form to make the S3 a success, the average Joe has to buy into it.

No, the average Joe does not have to buy into it (though I am sure TiVo would like him to at least desire it). As various TiVo execs have said, and has been repeated endlessly here, the S3 is a high-end product aimed at the sophisticated home theater buff. These people want the best, and they're willing to pay for it, and technical complexity doesn't bother them. Almost nobody in this survey (so far) has indicated a willingness to pay more than $800 for what will arguably be the premiere product in its category; there are many thousands of people who wouldn't bat an eye at paying that much for a pair of 10 ft. speaker cables or a pair of 3 ft. interconnects. The HT market is crowded with high-end vendors trying to catch some of the money people are throwing around like it grows on trees.

The S3 is a prestige product for TiVo, and it will class up the whole product line. The question isn't "are they charging too much for the average Joe?" but rather "are they charging enough to get the attention of their target market?"

rainwater · 07-30-2006, 09:21 PM

Also, don't be surprised if Tivo.com is the first and only place you will get this box initially. So you will be buying atleast a year of service and not be buying the box by itself. Considering the cost of the box is going to be much higher than current S2 units and the type of audience they are targetting, I don't think you will see major retailers having these boxes lined up and down the shelves initially.

Troy J B · 07-30-2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainwater

Also, don't be surprised if Tivo.com is the first and only place you will get this box initially. ... I don't think you will see major retailers having these boxes lined up and down the shelves initially.

where initially == 1st couple of weeks, 1 month tops. After that speciality shops will have boxes (possibly upgraded) available (just like with the s2dt). I never expected to see the Series3 in the major B&M retailers. After a price reduction, maybe.

Troy

nhaigh · 07-30-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh3

Unless Comcast rolls out a new box with a much larger hard drive, most people will find the box is inadequate for HD recording (12-15 hours, if lucky). No upgrades possible.

Series 3 - full-featured Tivo, HD, and upgradability (almost certainly).

If I only get 12-15 hours of HD I'll be OK. I can always get two or archive to PC. I'll still be using a S2DT for SD content anyway.

lessd · 07-30-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckyBox

No, the average Joe does not have to buy into it (though I am sure TiVo would like him to at least desire it). As various TiVo execs have said, and has been repeated endlessly here, the S3 is a high-end product aimed at the sophisticated home theater buff. These people want the best, and they're willing to pay for it, and technical complexity doesn't bother them. Almost nobody in this survey (so far) has indicated a willingness to pay more than $800 for what will arguably be the premiere product in its category; there are many thousands of people who wouldn't bat an eye at paying that much for a pair of 10 ft. speaker cables or a pair of 3 ft. interconnects. The HT market is crowded with high-end vendors trying to catch some of the money people are throwing around like it grows on trees.

The S3 is a prestige product for TiVo, and it will class up the whole product line. The question isn't "are they charging too much for the average Joe?" but rather "are they charging enough to get the attention of their target market?"

Good point if that what TiVo wants low volume high price (maybe make money on the hardware for a change) but the Cable Co will still come out with units that can use external HD (SA has that allready..you can put your own HD on their box if it has the new software), I still think high end people will still have to have a non DVR digital box from the cable co for their On Demand and other stuff they will not want to give up on.

Bierboy · 07-30-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainwater

Also, don't be surprised if Tivo.com is the first and only place you will get this box initially. So you will be buying atleast a year of service and not be buying the box by itself. Considering the cost of the box is going to be much higher than current S2 units and the type of audience they are targetting, I don't think you will see major retailers having these boxes lined up and down the shelves initially.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyJB

where initially == 1st couple of weeks, 1 month tops. After that speciality shops will have boxes (possibly upgraded) available (just like with the s2dt). I never expected to see the Series3 in the major B&M retailers. After a price reduction, maybe.

Not what I would assume, according the documents posted with the FCC. TiVo specifically mentions that it "...will be generally available in retail stores soon." There's no mention of availability at TiVo.com (though I am sure it will be) - my point is that, from their statement, it's pretty clear the S3 will be concurrently available at retail outlets. I'd be VERY surprised if it's not.

Arcady · 07-30-2006, 11:35 PM

There's not more than $400 worth of parts in the S3. ATSC tuners are much cheaper than they were a few years ago, and hard drives are way cheaper. I'll add $100 to pay for TiVo's R&D. Sell it to me for $499 and I'll buy at least 2 of them. Make it $1000 and I won't buy one.

mick66 · 07-31-2006, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicX

I considered that when making the poll, but I wanted to see the spread for people who plan on buying an S3, how much of a factor the price is, and whether it would change their "decision" to buy.

For people who will not buy an S3 at all, the price doesn't really matter, wouldn't you say?

Not having a need for one doesn't mean that I wouldn't buy one if the price were low enough. Your poll doesn't offer that price as a choice.

Jasoco · 07-31-2006, 01:31 AM

Is the Comcast thing still happening? When's the timeframe on that one? Same time as the Series 3?

Dan203 · 07-31-2006, 02:44 AM

If they're more then $1,000 I may only buy one. If they're less I'm definitely going to buy two. And if they're less then $500 then I'm probably going to buy three.

Dan

jlb · 07-31-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick66

The poll neglects the many people like myself that have no need for a series 3 Tivo.

I'm in a similar boat.....I do not have HD yet......nor an HD TV.......but I would still consider buying an S3 in preparation. Would I spend 300-5000...maybe. Would make a nice X-mas gift. Plus, I would save some if I was on normal pricing, going from $12.95+$6.95 to just $12.95.

Not sure........I vote "undecided" for now....