[mudpoet]

I'm a newbie here, but I've been trolling around for a little while. Great forum with lots of info. Right now I'm trying to make a decision...

I've got Comcast cable, and I'm currently set up with their dual-tuner DVR. I hate it. I miss my DirecTivo I used to have when I had satellite.

There's no way I'm forking over the cash for the Series 3 HD unit, but I hear there's a new box due out in November.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether I should buy the "New" Tivo HD or wait until November. What exactly IS coming in November? What is the difference between it and the "new" TivoHD?

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!


Thanks

 

[richsadams]

I'm a newbie here, but I've been trolling around for a little while. Great forum with lots of info. Right now I'm trying to make a decision...

I've got Comcast cable, and I'm currently set up with their dual-tuner DVR. I hate it. I miss my DirecTivo I used to have when I had satellite.

There's no way I'm forking over the cash for the Series 3 HD unit, but I hear there's a new box due out in November.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether I should buy the "New" Tivo HD or wait until November. What exactly IS coming in November? What is the difference between it and the "new" TivoHD?

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks

Welcome. I hear you about the POS Comcast DVR. Worst thing we ever had. Some will likely post that Comcast and TiVo have an agreement and that they (Comcast) will be offering a TiVo GUI in the future. Everyone is still holding their breath. Whenever it happens I'll still stick with a "real" TiVo.

Not sure what you "heard" but there's no new TiVo coming in November. Perhaps you read that a new software upgrade will be out at that time which will allow multi-room viewing and TiVoToGo - two features which aren't currently activated on the S3 and TiVo HD.

The new TiVo HD is the best bet for dollar conscious buyers. It can be had for somewhere around $260 these days if you shop around.

OR for about $140 more you can purchase a new S3 TiVo (larger HDD, Glo remote, yadda, yadda). Most retailers are currently selling them for $599 and there's a $200 rebate from TiVo.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[RoyK]

My advice would be to research the total cost of hardware and service, spend a bunch of time on the TiVoHD forum reading about the experiences and opinions of those who have gone before and then decide what YOU want to do.

 

[cxc273]

I just tried out a Comcast DVR last night ... wow it's terrible. I needed one temporarily until I can replace the dead drive in my S2.

I'll probably pick up an S3 or a TivoHD in the next few months when my finances permit.

As for mudpoet, both HD units have gotten good reviews for the most part. As RoyK says, do a little research and pick the one that best suits your needs.

 

[mudpoet]

Do I make the correct ASSumption that the TivoHD is series 2?

what features does a S3 have that an S2 doesn't?

 

[jbernardis]

TivoHD is part of the S3 line.

S3 = HD, digital cable
S2 = ability to take a video input - this allows it to work with satellite/cable boxes

Also, for the time being, S2 = MRV, TTG, TTCB, and all of that stuff

 

[richsadams]

As others have recommended and IMHO I'd stick with researching the "original" S3 and the TiVo HD as MRV (multi-room viewing) and TTG (TiVoToGo - ability to transfer recordings to your computer) will be available in November on both. Here are two threads that discuss and compare both to get you going:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=359947

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5353037#post5353037

Best of luck!

 

[Solver]

For details on the TiVo HD and services available, you may want to check here, http://www.tivo.com/
(they might be a bit biased.)

 

[mudpoet]

For details on the TiVo HD and services available, you may want to check here...

They (tivo) don't have a comparison chart and I couldn't really find the information I was looking for that spelled out the differences other than the amount of storage. I'll check out the links that richsadams posted and see if that provides what I'm looking for.

Thanks for all the help guys, and if you have any more input, please do!

 

[mudpoet]

As others have recommended and IMHO I'd stick with researching the "original" S3 and the TiVo HD as MRV (multi-room viewing) and TTG (TiVoToGo - ability to transfer recordings to your computer) will be available in November on both. Here are two threads that discuss and compare both to get you going:

(link)

(link)

Best of luck!

richsadams,

That helped out a lot, thanks! Right now it looks like the TivoHD will suit my needs just fine. I have 2 final questions that should be extremely simple for anyone here to answer.

1. THX is the only downside I see (for me) to the TivoHD vs the first S3 HD unit. Does this mean I won't have 5.1 surround sound?

2. For the MRV and TTG features, is that something that will be updated remotely (via phone line or internet connection), or will the box have to be "hacked"? I couldn't tell if "coming soon" means to new boxes being sold or rolled out to existing boxes.

 

[richsadams]

richsadams,

That helped out a lot, thanks! Right now it looks like the TivoHD will suit my needs just fine. I have 2 final questions that should be extremely simple for anyone here to answer.

1. THX is the only downside I see (for me) to the TivoHD vs the first S3 HD unit. Does this mean I won't have 5.1 surround sound?

2. For the MRV and TTG features, is that something that will be updated remotely (via phone line or internet connection), or will the box have to be "hacked"? I couldn't tell if "coming soon" means to new boxes being sold or rolled out to existing boxes.

1. You'll still have 5.1 DD sound with the THD. THX certification requires that equipment meet certain standards. TiVo opted not to submit the THD for certification. The THD may/may not meet similar audio/video output performance as compared to the S3, but that shouldn't be a worry unless your A/V demands are quite high.

2. MRV and TTG will be part of a software upgrade that will be pushed out automatically by TiVo to all S3 and THD boxes via a download either by phone or broadband depending on your connection. Nothing to do on your part.

 

[mudpoet]

EXCELLENT!!

Thank you everyone for your replies - you have been very helpful. I'm going to go ahead and pick up the TivoHD.


Thanks again!