I dont have 20.2..yet..but owning a Premiere, regardless of how good it works at current Service pricing i'd say no. Its not worth upgrading from a TiVo HD. I also own one of those. From what I'm reading the Premiere Elite is another story. If you got plenty of money to throw around the Elite sounds like it may be worth it with its 4 tuners. On the bright side if you go with a Premiere you might get offered Lifetime Service on the THD for $99 if you play your cards in the right order..if you dont already have it.
Does 20.2 Make Upgrading to Premiere Worth It?
When the Tivo Premiere was announced I was onboard for upgrading my TivoHD. But then I started reading all the negative reviews and finally canceled my order. Since then I've patiently been waiting for Tivo to upgrade the Premiere software. It now seems that with the release of 20.2 the Premiere is in a much more usable state.
So from those who have 20.2 running, do you feel that upgrading from TivoHD is now worthwhile? I understand there are still some bugs in 20.2: are any a deal breaker you think? Does the Premiere still crash? Any UI bugs that are intolerable? I'm looking for any opinions as if I upgrade I will be doing so with a lifetime subscription, so I want to be damn sure the Premiere is behaving as it should.
I appreciate any thoughts and opinions you may have.
So from those who have 20.2 running, do you feel that upgrading from TivoHD is now worthwhile? I understand there are still some bugs in 20.2: are any a deal breaker you think? Does the Premiere still crash? Any UI bugs that are intolerable? I'm looking for any opinions as if I upgrade I will be doing so with a lifetime subscription, so I want to be damn sure the Premiere is behaving as it should.
I appreciate any thoughts and opinions you may have.
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Only you can really answer the question. Everyone will have different expectations, needs, requirements, etc. Personally, even with the improvements, I still find the HDUI sluggish and frustrating. Of course, you are not forced to use it- the SDUI is still there, and it is faster than on the TiVo HD. And you get the benefit of much faster network transfer, too. So you are losing nothing by upgrading, and have the option to gain features. My unit is and has been pretty stable.When the Tivo Premiere was announced I was onboard for upgrading my TivoHD. But then I started reading all the negative reviews and finally canceled my order. Since then I've patiently been waiting for Tivo to upgrade the Premiere software. It now seems that with the release of 20.2 the Premiere is in a much more usable state.
So from those who have 20.2 running, do you feel that upgrading from TivoHD is now worthwhile? I understand there are still some bugs in 20.2: are any a deal breaker you think? Does the Premiere still crash? Any UI bugs that are intolerable? I'm looking for any opinions as if I upgrade I will be doing so with a lifetime subscription, so I want to be damn sure the Premiere is behaving as it should.
I appreciate any thoughts and opinions you may have.
The 14.9 & 20.2 updates go a long way to proving that TiVo is finally making real changes and seems to be committed to updating the product. This is big news. Based on what had happened (or not happened) over the past year (really almost two years), many people (myself included) got the feeling that TiVo had no serious interest in fixing and improving the series 4 (Premiere*). The release of the Premiere Elite, with almost identical hardware, and running the same OS/UI, is further proof that TiVo intends to stand behind the series 4.
So, I don't think you have anything to lose. And the Spring update that is coming sounds very exciting (more features, faster HDUI).
I'm OTA only and still use the SDUI. For me the Premiere was a great upgrade from the TiVo HD (even a year ago) because in my particular situation the Premiere solves a couple of serious reception problems. If you use cable, I think your biggest decision would be whether you want to go with a (regular) Premiere or an Elite. The new 20.2 software is good enough that I don't think you're taking a big risk by upgrading now. TiVo could still step in something on their way to ironing out the remaining bugs, but it's starting to look like a finished product, in the SDUI I'm using and (from reports here) even in the HDUI.When the Tivo Premiere was announced I was onboard for upgrading my TivoHD. But then I started reading all the negative reviews and finally canceled my order. Since then I've patiently been waiting for Tivo to upgrade the Premiere software. It now seems that with the release of 20.2 the Premiere is in a much more usable state.
So from those who have 20.2 running, do you feel that upgrading from TivoHD is now worthwhile? I understand there are still some bugs in 20.2: are any a deal breaker you think? Does the Premiere still crash? Any UI bugs that are intolerable? I'm looking for any opinions as if I upgrade I will be doing so with a lifetime subscription, so I want to be damn sure the Premiere is behaving as it should.
I appreciate any thoughts and opinions you may have.
The things I primarily use on my TivoHD is the DVR functionality (obviously), Amazon Instant Video, connecting to PyTivo, and the occasional YouTube video. I would like to start using the HDUI and Netflix if the software is improved (its terrible on my TivoHD so I ended up buying a Roku). The response time for Amazon and YouTube are fairly slow with the TivoHD so if the Premiere is faster then that it might be worthwhile.
I'm not on the 20.2 yet, but I would not have even considered going the Premiere route if they had not released the four tuner elite and cracked the door on the possibility of eventually getting something like a TiVo Preview that will allow me to deliver my TiVo programs to more screens in the home.
TiVo making a real effort to show off next gen interface changes, iPad streaming apps, etc, at CES also helped to push me over the edge into going with an Elite.
TiVo making a real effort to show off next gen interface changes, iPad streaming apps, etc, at CES also helped to push me over the edge into going with an Elite.
Your DVR functionality can remain the same, just a bit faster, under SDUI. Or it can be improved in functionality but not speed by using the HDUI. Either way, you gain a lot more storage space.The things I primarily use on my TivoHD is the DVR functionality (obviously), Amazon Instant Video, connecting to PyTivo, and the occasional YouTube video. I would like to start using the HDUI and Netflix if the software is improved (its terrible on my TivoHD so I ended up buying a Roku). The response time for Amazon and YouTube are fairly slow with the TivoHD so if the Premiere is faster then that it might be worthwhile.
Your PyTiVo experience will be much improved due to the MUCH faster network speed in the Premiere.
Your Netflix/Amazon experience will remain similar to the series 3... for now. The supposed new Netflix app is released in the Spring at which time I expect it can only get better. I am not sure that will be backported to the series 3 (it is fairly unlikely).
Yeah... it seems Tivo has pretty much abandoned TivoHD updates at this point.The supposed new Netflix app is released in the Spring at which time I expect it can only get better. I am not sure that will be backported to the series 3 (it is fairly unlikely).
If Netflix is important to you, a new UI for that isn't coming until spring. Frankly for internet video I would suggest you look at a Roku 2. It supports Amazon Prime, if you subscribe, which there is no timeline for that on the Premiere. I have a Roku and prefer it to the Tivo HDs interface and like that I can view the free Amazon Prime content.The things I primarily use on my TivoHD is the DVR functionality (obviously), Amazon Instant Video, connecting to PyTivo, and the occasional YouTube video. I would like to start using the HDUI and Netflix if the software is improved (its terrible on my TivoHD so I ended up buying a Roku). The response time for Amazon and YouTube are fairly slow with the TivoHD so if the Premiere is faster then that it might be worthwhile.
I had been an Amazon Prime subscriber for the free second day shipping from not long after they started offering it, so that content is essentially free, in my view. The Roku is a streamer and if you don't have a high quality internet connection, it may not work as well as downloading Amazon content to your Tivo HD. While some channels supported by the Roku have subscription fees, the Roku itself does not.
How stable is 20.2? I have a tivo series 3 THX which is on its way out and I will probably need to replace in the next few months if not sooner.
My main concern is how stable is the premier with 20.2 recording season passes and shows? Are there major problems with shows being missed do to re-boots and incorrect guide information? I have a ROKU 2 XS so I am not concerned about the video on demand features.
Thanks,
Joe
My main concern is how stable is the premier with 20.2 recording season passes and shows? Are there major problems with shows being missed do to re-boots and incorrect guide information? I have a ROKU 2 XS so I am not concerned about the video on demand features.
Thanks,
Joe
Yes, to me the experience is now worth it.
I never had much stability problems on my Premiere, ever, except for the "stops responding to remote" bug that appeared early last year after an update. And that appears to have gone away with 14.9 and stayed away with 20.2. (Unless you count my first Premiere that totally failed at 90 days and was replaced under warranty... but that has nothing to do with software).How stable is 20.2?
You *could* replace the hard drive. But if you can get a deal to transfer lifetime, that might be an even better option.I have a tivo series 3 THX which is on its way out and I will probably need to replace in the next few months if not sooner.
For me? I can't remember my TiVo Premiere ever rebooting on its own. (Of course, you don't count OS updates, which require a reboot; and I have rebooted it myself to clear the "stops responding to remote" bug, but even with the bug, it kept right on recording). It has never lost a program or failed to record something. I have never had an guide data error any worse than on my series 3.My main concern is how stable is the premier with 20.2 recording season passes and shows? Are there major problems with shows being missed do to re-boots and incorrect guide information?
Well, Premiere with Lifetime Subscription for upgrading my TivoHD is looking more and more tempting. $99 for the Premiere, and $399 for the Lifetime Subscription. Wonder how long that deal will last?
I have a Premiere with the 20.2 software, a TiVo HD, and an original Series 3 HD. They are all lifetimed and used for OTA. On my Premiere I still find the SDUI superior to the HDUI, however I do like the new Guide Options in the HDUI.
My Premiere is superior to my other 2 TiVos in almost every way however the 2 Series 3 units do get marginally better OTA reception.
I would not spend $500 to replace either of my Series 3 units with a Premiere unless they died and were not easily repairable.
But has others have said most of the reasons to upgrade or not upgrade are fairly personal and it really only matters what you want and value.
Good Luck,
My Premiere is superior to my other 2 TiVos in almost every way however the 2 Series 3 units do get marginally better OTA reception.
I would not spend $500 to replace either of my Series 3 units with a Premiere unless they died and were not easily repairable.
But has others have said most of the reasons to upgrade or not upgrade are fairly personal and it really only matters what you want and value.
Good Luck,
Here is another question: how is Hulu+ on now? I read a review on Engadget from May 2011 where they trashed the experience. Has it improved at all since then?
I never found Hulu+ that bad on the Tivo compared to any other devices that have Hulu+. The Hulu UI is the same on all devices so you can't knock Tivo specifically for that.Here is another question: how is Hulu+ on now? I read a review on Engadget from May 2011 where they trashed the experience. Has it improved at all since then?
The only difference I've seen with Hulu+ on the Tivo is that the "pause"/delay after a commercial before the video restarts is noticeable longer than on my Roku.
It's definately slower than most other Hulu clients which isn't saying much since they are all slow except the Xbox version. And they have never made any noticeable updates since launch. It still uses some old elements that clients like Roku have had updated long ago and still isn't overscan ready.I never found Hulu+ that bad on the Tivo compared to any other devices that have Hulu+. The Hulu UI is the same on all devices so you can't knock Tivo specifically for that.
The only difference I've seen with Hulu+ on the Tivo is that the "pause"/delay after a commercial before the video restarts is noticeable longer than on my Roku.
I never found Hulu+ that bad on the Tivo compared to any other devices that have Hulu+. The Hulu UI is the same on all devices so you can't knock Tivo specifically for that.
The only difference I've seen with Hulu+ on the Tivo is that the "pause"/delay after a commercial before the video restarts is noticeable longer than on my Roku.
Thanks for the info. I actually was thinking of using it as On Demand if I decided to get the Premiere, but I just read Comcast (my provider) should be coming to the Premiere this year so that makes Hulu+ unnecessary for me.It's definately slower than most other Hulu clients which isn't saying much since they are all slow except the Xbox version. And they have never made any noticeable updates since launch. It still uses some old elements that clients like Roku have had updated long ago and still isn't overscan ready.
For us, our premiere had bad guide data and therefore failed to record a show, a couple days after it updated to 20.2. It was supposed to record The Simpsons at 8:00PM on Sunday. The guide said it was on at 7:30 and 8:00 - the exact same (new) show. However, the show at 7:30 was not The Simpsons. I forget what it was, American Dad or Family Guy or something similar. So as soon as we saw it was recording the wrong show, we stopped that recording, thinking it would then start recording The Simpsons at 8:00. Nope. It did not record, with the error saying that the show was already recorded previously and cancelled. We have it set to record new episodes only, because duh, it's The Simpsons and is on like eight times per day even with OTA only!... It has never lost a program or failed to record something. I have never had an guide data error any worse than on my series 3.
So that's a bummer, can't recall ever having bad guide data before. This particular problem could have been solved if there was an option in the delete/cancel menu saying 'Bad Guide Data', record next showing, or something like that. Really the season pass should record ALL shows that are not marked as reruns, even if it thinks it already got it.
Much better option (if they have what you need). I can't imagine why ANYONE would *PAY* to be *FORCED* to watch commercials. It is just plain ridiculous to me.Thanks for the info. I actually was thinking of using it as On Demand if I decided to get the Premiere, but I just read Comcast (my provider) should be coming to the Premiere this year so that makes Hulu+ unnecessary for me.
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