800.00 Good Introductory Price

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I find it so odd that people sit on the sidelines and complain about price. The fact that they are sitting on the side line is way more powerful than the complaint. At $800 we all get to decide whether or not the value is there. If too few decide that S3 is worth $800 and Tivo cannot meet their business objectives, they they will lower the price, or determine that the HD market is not profitable without the subsidies that cable companies get for their box, or Tivo will find a different business model for HD. If enough people are adding the S3, then they have set the price point appropriately.

If they are worth their salt at all in marketing, they have a good idea as to how elastic their market is with respect to price. If this is the case then Tivo is introducing the S3 to the market at approximately the pace they want to.

Just my $0.02 worth
sjcbulldog

 

VERY WELL SAID.

ALso they have the ability to discount the box at any moment anywhere up to $150 just by creating a Rebate for the box. If they need to adjust the pace they can quickly toss out a rebate.

 

That's untrue and uncalled for.

What do you do, research a guy's posts each time someone pops up?

Are his opinions and information a threat to your thesis?

 

I have a thesis?

 

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I'd like to read it.

(ducks and runs...)

 

No troll, and not bashing. Just found out the details and am posting appropriately. Apparently you don't like opinions contrary to your own. Oh well.

Care to discuss actual facts rather than just flaming me?

Guess not.

 

Uh, what the hell are you talking about?

I'm comparing the charges for the device. ALL other charges will be the same whether you use the TiVo or the CableCo DVR.

In other words - to make it simple - that same "$75-$100 per month" applies to TiVo users as well - in addition to the other charges.

Unless you're using OTA signal only. Which many people cannot. And which severly restricts channel lineups.

 

No, I said I cannot "justify" it. I can most certainly afford it.

I'd like to understand exactly how financially the Tivo can "pay for itself" versus a Comcast DVR. Unless you're one of the lucky ones who can transfer the lifetime service, that is simply not even remotely possible. Even then it is extremely unlikely - actually impossible. Purely impossible. At least financially.

 

Kind of agree with you there, except I think perhaps that TiVo found themselves in a bad situation with the S3 and was forced to market and made a poor decision in terms of trying to value margin versus projected revenue. They wouldn't be the first ones to do that.

The important thing I think you got right is that they might find that they cannot compete without some serious partnerships with more than Comcast. They're good at software and really service - not hardware really. As the MSO markets continue to mature - and especially since there is no hope insight for Cablecard 2.0 agreement between vendors - the TiVo box market will continue to be challenged and price will be paramount.

I really, really, really like the idea of the S3 and I really like TiVo service. I'm crabby about this because I'm coming to the conclusion that because of the manner this product was managed and released it won't do anything to challenge the cable providers.

 

Also, for the record I'm not bashing TiVo. I really want them to succeed. I like the S3. I'm frankly just very disappointed that the price and service strategy will likely handicap it so that little progress will be made - and I (along with many others) have been waiting anxiously a long time for it.

Since you apparently feel differently (and would prefer to attack me rather than discuss the issue) perhaps you might point me to some industry publications that actually endorse the strategy?

 

Anyone with more than 1 tivo in their house gets the Multi Discount (even if they do not have a lifetime). So worst case, the S3 costs a household with 2+ tivos only $6.95/mo + in my case $1.75 per Cablecard (3.50 for the pair). That leaves the cost for many at only $10.45 a month to use the Tivo S3 instead of a monopoly cable company box. I personally was paying my cable co' $9.99 a month for the DVR service fee and $7.95 for the digital converter. Math would obviously show $17.94 from cable co. - $10.45 from Tivo = $7.49 a month savings to many people using Tivo instead. Over time, this will definitely pay for itself and then some.

If you do have a lifetime, well than you simply get a quicker and larger return on your investment.

Heck, similar math would also show a savings over cable without a multi discount. This savings is nominal enough where I would not argue it is enough to make the average Joe jump at the chance with the large up front tag.

 

You need to sign up here.

 

Simple. In order to get Comcast DVR, I have to pay Comcast $70/month. For S3, I'm paying Comcast $15 for limited basic and $1.50 for two CableCards. I get HD channels for FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS, which are all I need. Let's assume TiVo monthly fee of $13. The difference in monthly costs is $40.50. That would pay for a $700 S3 box in less than 18 months.

 

I was thinking it was because he was spanked in the S3 bug list thread for piping up about this, it was pointed out there were 30 other threads about this already. So obviously he listened and found an existing thread where it was more appropriate.

 

I still think the S3 is cheap, though not many seem to agree with me. Its refreshing to see a company willing to make a quality product (at a quality price). Not many companies are that brave.

 

Some people drive a $15k car, some drive a $40k car. Both get the job done, but the more expensive car does it better. "Better" is subjective, but they still sell a heck of alot of $40k cars.

The S3 is just plain sweet (or "better"). You make the initial investment and then the cost going forward (for years and years) is the same or (most likely) less then a base bare-bones cable system provided DVR (that you have to live with daily forever going forward).

It's a joy each and every day to experience the S3.

Tonight, have the Cards/Mets in HD on 1 tuner, have a show recording (in HD) on the other tuner, can catch-up on Letterman (in HD) in between slow spots in the game, and be able to bounce back and forth easily between each. The dual buffer always has the game in HD exactly where I left off, the recording in HD never skips a beat, and the Letterman in HD always starts right where I last left off. All in crystal clear HD. And the remote is perfect.

And when the S3 slows down selling they'll lower the price. Why offer a rebate when you don't have to.

Yep, some have issues with cablecards, but if you don't ... well ... there's nothing better then the S3.

 

Yawn. Since you've read enough of this forum to resurrect this three-week-old thread, you've also seen any number of other threads in which people make the exact same points you make and other people discuss with them the "facts." Review a few of those threads and just pretend it is you and me -- it'll have pretty much the same effect.

 

Hell, I've had nothing but problems with cablecards, and it's still a great box. Would the overall experience have been better if Charter could get their act together? Sure. But expeciting Charter to get their act together is like... well... expecting Charter to get their act together. But I, and the other folks in my area, will eventually beat them into submission. In the meantime, I've got HD, 5.1 sound, dual tuners, and an interface that can't be beat. And like btwyx, I think $800 for a piece of high-end HT gear that I'm going to use daily for years is cheap.

 

Actually, I agree. If I had a decent working DVR I would have a tough time justifying the cost as well. But my SA 8300 was a pos and since I'm with TW and have no chance of getting a TiVo based software DVR I justified it.

If your Comcast box doesn't miss recordings, doesn't have huge sound drop offs and a flaky picture then I don't blame you for holding off. As a matter of fact, since Comcast has a deal with TiVo to use their software eventually I might of held off as well.

 

Please stop with the flawed analogies. This one would be more accurate if you assume that the $40K car cannot do anything that the $15K car can't, except it has a better steering wheel and occasionally changes the radio station when it sees a song that you might like. It also looks a little bit better on the outside.

Would you pay an extra $25K to drive with a better steering wheel?

I assume you are talking about watching the game live while recording Letterman on the other tuner. If not, then I don't see how you plan to do what you plan to do.