[drober30]

TiVo has always been about the guide data and they focus on a revenue stream from a monthly subscription but there are so many of us that would be willing to upgrade to the latest hardware if we could transfer our lifetime service.

I would think that TiVo could profit by selling existing lifetime subscribers new hardware (like the Edge) and charging a fee to swap over their lifetime service. If TiVo can profit some from the hardware, transferring the service seems like it would be all profit, I think that is an untapped revenue stream.

I know TiVo has offered a $99 special in the past to transfer a lifetime service but I'm wondering if they had a standing offer that you could transfer your lifetime for say $150 and they made another $150 off the hardware, that's equal to 20 months of service at $14.99 month and many of us that are into technology upgrade our devices but with no movement on transferring a lifetime service, we don't upgrade so Tivo gets no money and its loyal customers don't get to enjoy the newest hardware.

I would upgrade my equipment every couple of years, breaking it down that's $150 year that TiVo is missing out on from each customer that would be willing to do the same. Were not going to forfeit our lifetime service and we bought lifetime service because we don't want another monthly bill; however, I think many would pay for a new box and pay a transfer fee if that was an option.

 

[tenthplanet]

This might work for some people, there is no law that says Tivo can't have more than one revenue stream.

 

[tommiet]

TiVo hardware is not the best... Their strong point is the DVR software and that's the only place they make money (if your counting the courts.)

Reading the issues should tell you about the poor hardware TiVo sells us. Poor design, over heating, early death to hard drives and system board failures. But it does seem that the older TiVo's were built better than the Bolt. I'm on my 3rd Bolt in about 18 months.

 

[ej42137]

TiVo has always been about the guide data and they focus on a revenue stream from a monthly subscription but there are so many of us that would be willing to upgrade to the latest hardware if we could transfer our lifetime service.

I would think that TiVo could profit by selling existing lifetime subscribers new hardware (like the Edge) and charging a fee to swap over their lifetime service. If TiVo can profit some from the hardware, transferring the service seems like it would be all profit, I think that is an untapped revenue stream.

I know TiVo has offered a $99 special in the past to transfer a lifetime service but I'm wondering if they had a standing offer that you could transfer your lifetime for say $150 and they made another $150 off the hardware, that's equal to 20 months of service at $14.99 month and many of us that are into technology upgrade our devices but with no movement on transferring a lifetime service, we don't upgrade so Tivo gets no money and its loyal customers don't get to enjoy the newest hardware.

I would upgrade my equipment every couple of years, breaking it down that's $150 year that TiVo is missing out on from each customer that would be willing to do the same. Were not going to forfeit our lifetime service and we bought lifetime service because we don't want another monthly bill; however, I think many would pay for a new box and pay a transfer fee if that was an option.

As others have pointed out, TiVo doesn't make money on selling the hardware; the profit comes from monthly service and lifetime. So you're asking TiVo to lose money so that you can enjoy new hardware. There isn't any profit motive in what you are asking for.

In fact, TiVo is doing you a favor because everything after the Roamio there has been a serious decline in build quality and very little useful new function; you get 4k that is useless because the cable companies aren't transmitting it in any significant amount, and voice recognition which IMO is about as useful as PIP. Oh, and a really ugly box that won't stack.

 

[jrtroo]

I haven't had any issues with my bolt, so as far as failures go, ymmv.

To make money on hardware, TiVo would need to see their boxes at a premium over current pricing. Pretty straightforward.

 

[janitor53]

I'd happily pay 500 dollars for an ATSC 3.0 box with all the bells and whistles like DV, etc. and updated apps. Happily.

 

[compnurd]

TiVo hardware is not the best... Their strong point is the DVR software and that's the only place they make money (if your counting the courts.)

Reading the issues should tell you about the poor hardware TiVo sells us. Poor design, over heating, early death to hard drives and system board failures. But it does seem that the older TiVo's were built better than the Bolt. I'm on my 3rd Bolt in about 18 months.

LMAO Tivo makes some of the best hardware around

 

[trip1eX]

Tivo doesn't even make the hardware any more. I think they just tell Arris what they want and Arris makes it. Or something like that.

 

[SullyND]

Tivo doesn't even make the hardware any more.

Has TiVo ever made hardware? I thought they always contracted it out.

 

[trip1eX]

Has TiVo ever made hardware? I thought they always contracted it out.

I think they used to design it. Engineer it. Now I don't think they do.

I recall them laying off hardware engineers or something in the last few years.

they probably had some Chinese factory actually manufacture it the entire time. But it was their design and engineering.

 

[RegGuheert]

I'd happily pay 500 dollars for an ATSC 3.0 box with all the bells and whistles like DV, etc. and updated apps. Happily.

When? Certainly not today...

 

[jrtroo]

I think they used to design it. Engineer it. Now I don't think they do.

they probably had some Chinese factory actually manufacture it the entire time. But it was their design and engineering.

I'm pretty sure they were (are) made in Mexico.

 

[tommiet]

LMAO Tivo makes some of the best hardware around

Like others have already said.. TiVo does NOT make ANY hardware. And the hardware they source out is to the lowest bidder. So cheap is the name of the game. 3 Bolts in 18 months shows its not a great product. 2 died with bad hard drives and the other was a system board. My current Bolt has the cable card port door removed and a fan running under it to keep the temp down. So you call that "best hardware?"

TiVo was nice to me and replaced the 3rd Bolt for free (due to my 2 other dead ones.)

Are you driving a Fiat too?

 

[janitor53]

Like others have already said.. TiVo does NOT make ANY hardware. And the hardware they source out is to the lowest bidder. So cheap is the name of the game. 3 Bolts in 18 months shows its not a great product. 2 died with bad hard drives and the other was a system board. My current Bolt has the cable card port door removed and a fan running under it to keep the temp down. So you call that "best hardware?"

TiVo was nice to me and replaced the 3rd Bolt for free (due to my 2 other dead ones.)

Are you driving a Fiat too?

I've had none of those issues though, I'm not sure anecdotes are the best way to know if hardware is good or bad....

 

[ej42137]

To make money on hardware, TiVo would need to see their boxes at a premium over current pricing. Pretty straightforward.

They aren't selling very well at current prices. Pretty straightforward way hasten the death spiral.

I haven't had any issues with my bolt, so as far as failures go, ymmv.

I've had none of those issues though, I'm not sure anecdotes are the best way to know if hardware is good or bad....

I have three Bolts currently. One of them will only restart successfully after a fifteen minute wait to cool down; I had to return two others due to out of the box failures. This failure rate is absurd. Several others have have reported similar experiences here on TCF.

Sometimes anecdotes are all we have to go on, we don't have access to TiVo's return statistics.

 

[pldoolittle]

I raise the right end of my bolt until the case is almost parallel with the surface. I figure more room for the case to radiate heat, and a cooler source of intake air, can't hurt. No issues so far.

 

[compnurd]

Like others have already said.. TiVo does NOT make ANY hardware. And the hardware they source out is to the lowest bidder. So cheap is the name of the game. 3 Bolts in 18 months shows its not a great product. 2 died with bad hard drives and the other was a system board. My current Bolt has the cable card port door removed and a fan running under it to keep the temp down. So you call that "best hardware?"

TiVo was nice to me and replaced the 3rd Bolt for free (due to my 2 other dead ones.)

Are you driving a Fiat too?

TiVo hasn't made hardware in about 2 years. Prior they did. I would say your environment is probably causing the issues

 

[tommiet]

TiVo hasn't made hardware in about 2 years. Prior they did. I would say your environment is probably causing the issues

So all the others that list hardware issues are environmental problems? I'm going to end this thread as I can see you have been drinking the TiVo Kool-Aid and are unwilling to believe all the poor reviews from others with TiVo hardware issues.

done......

 

[compnurd]

So all the others that list hardware issues are environmental problems? I'm going to end this thread as I can see you have been drinking the TiVo Kool-Aid and are unwilling to believe all the poor reviews from others with TiVo hardware issues.

done......

Every manufacturer has some hardware issues.... For every poor review here there is 20 people with no problems like myself.. I would again say you probably have environmental issues causing the problems

 

[mattyro7878]

I have had the original Bolt--still have the box. Works like a champ. My Roamio plus is still working-bought that used on ebay for $60. I started with the Premiere. In all this time I have had one failure-- the Basic Roamio did not function right out of the box. I am quite satisfied with Tivo's track record as far as hardware goes. (On another note, just found a Sony STRDN-1040 for $50-with remote. That too works like a champ )