Help me justify Tivo HD

[cwag17]

I currently have a S2 Lifetime and a S2DT MSD. I recently got Fios installed and a new HD TV so the S2DT isn't cutting it anymore.

Basically here are what i believe are my options:

Verizon HD DVR - $15.99/month

Tivo HD - $299 for Box
$6/month for 2 cablecards
$9.95/month MSD

So if my math is correct it will cost me the same monthly weather I get the Verizon box or the tivo. Only difference is the $299 cost for the box.

I do not use any of the extra features that tivo offers, just for recording shows.

Also, did Tivo get a rocket scientist to come up with their pricing plans? Could they have made it anymore confusing? I would do the lifetime transfer but i am not eligible as i purchased it in 2005 on my S2.

[ZeoTiVo]

get the lifetime offer on the TiVo HD for 399$.
399/(9.99) = payoff in 39 months (15.99 to verizon - 6 for cable cards)
pays off faster if you can get one Mcard and bring card cost down some
No rocket science in that

[TiVo Troll]

TiVo Inc. has somewhat of a a bean counter mentality. Their pricing plans have gotten a bit simpler lately, but still are confusing at best and succeptable to fraud at worst. Not that it matters, but Comcast's pricing is at least as complicated in a different way!

Amazon currently has a deal on HDTiVo while TiVo is offering a different deal on HDTiVo w/Lifetime Service.

HDTiVo only requires 1 'M' CableCARD so that should help whether you pay monthly or get Lifetime Service.

[RonDawg]

If you're used to a TiVo, you will NOT be happy with the Motorola or SA DVR boxes. If you can get superior service for the same monthly price, it should be a no brainer, especially if you can get most if not all of the THD's purchase price back by selling the Lifetime'd S2. That will make your monthly cost go up a bit (because you will need at least one box at full rate for the second one to have MSD pricing) but it's still worth it IMHO.

[cwag17]

So just to clarify since I have a S2 with Lifetime i will qualify for the MSD on the Tivo HD for $9 a month.

[ZeoTiVo]

Originally Posted by cwag17

So just to clarify since I have a S2 with Lifetime i will qualify for the MSD on the Tivo HD for $9 a month.

correct- then if you add the 6$ for cable cards it is the same as a DVR from cable co.

so really the upfront cost of the TiVo HD is what you have to justify in your decision

[MickeS]

I say what I always say: get the cable company (Verizon in this case) DVR and try it out, if it works for you, keep it.

I tried the cable company DVR but it was so bad it made me get a Series 3 sooner than I thought I would. You might be luckier though.

The best way to justify the cost of the TiVo HD, if you really need to do that, is of course to start using the extra features like TTG, TTCB, music playback, and others.

[Generic]

Fios does not currently have M cards. They are supposed to come on in the first quarter of next year(which usually means later then that). You will initially have to use 2 S cards.

[alyssa]

Originally Posted by MickeS

I tried the cable company DVR but it was so bad it made me get a Series 3 sooner than I thought I would. You might be luckier though.

OMG, TW's DVR box was....painful to use, to put it politely. When I found a S3 box for ~ $500 last dec I jumped within an hour. I was that PO'ed at the cable dvr.

[andyw715]

concider the cost of the box a Christmas (if thats your thing) gift to yourself. No need for justification then.

[cwag17]

Well I picked up a TivoHD last night and got the lifetime subscription. Verizon is dropping off the cablecards on thursday so hopefully that goes smooth.