[JoeAverage]

Okay, I am that straight C average person when it comes to HD TIVO. I do know I love the TIVO format, I love the HD channels, I am so-so about Direct- TV, and I can not stand Comcast. I have an old HR10-250 and I know it is about to go the way of the dodo bird in 2008. Looks like I am going to have to upgrade to the HR20. So to the die hard TIVO fans out there, how do you like the HR20 so far? Are there any options to “Having my Cake and eating it too?”

 

[ebonovic]

Besure to also check out the main discussion forum for the HR20:
www.dbstalk.com

Sure... you can keep your HR10-250 active as well as adding an HR20.
That way for everything you have access to (OTA-HD, the remaining HD SAT channels till they are converted, and SD), on your HR10-250

All the new content, on the HR20.

 

[RS4]

Okay, I am that straight C average person when it comes to HD TIVO. I do know I love the TIVO format, I love the HD channels, I am so-so about Direct- TV, and I can not stand Comcast. I have an old HR10-250 and I know it is about to go the way of the dodo bird in 2008. Looks like I am going to have to upgrade to the HR20. So to the die hard TIVO fans out there, how do you like the HR20 so far? Are there any options to “Having my Cake and eating it too?”

You'll get a lot of opinions about the HR20 - all the way from people saying it's better then Tivo (aren't many of those) to those Tivo users who have given up on it and glad they kept their DTivo.

The thing that impresses me the most is that there is not a lot of raving about the HR20, especially from the Tivo users. In fact, the opinion I see most is that it's ok, but it isn't a Tivo - or if DirecTV came out with an mpeg4 HD Tivo (many of us are hoping for that kind of announcement once the new ownership takes over), they'd replace the HR20 with it.

Check out the dbstalk.com. That forum is great for getting more ideas about it.

 

[Todd]

Well, I've had mine for a few weeks and it's become unresponsive 3 times, forcing me to restart it. That doesn't make me too happy, especially since I've been having lockup problems with my HR10 since I finally went to 6.3x. Aside from that, it's not a bad DVR, but certainly not as user friendly in most respects as TiVo is. The lack of dual live buffers is inexcusable and it's skip to tick mark and skip to live TV features are a buggy mess. Plus, if I ever have to get rid of my HDTiVo, I will really miss the Suggestions feature. Also, if you want to pump any video out of it to remote 4:3 TV's in your house, you will have aspect ratio problems...

 

[coachO]

After one week of use, let me simply say it works just fine but it is a nuisance.

 

[JoeAverage]

After one week of use, let me simply say it works just fine but it is a nuisance.

Comcast is starting to look better and better. At least they support HD Tivo... right??

 

[videojanitor]

The thing that impresses me the most is that there is not a lot of raving about the HR20, especially from the Tivo users. In fact, the opinion I see most is that it's ok, but it isn't a Tivo - or if DirecTV came out with an mpeg4 HD Tivo (many of us are hoping for that kind of announcement once the new ownership takes over), they'd replace the HR20 with it.

That pretty much sums up my feelings. I got the HR10-250 when it first came out (who doesn't remember the frenzy involved with trying to get one of those??), and I'm still using it. I also have a couple of HR20s -- got the first one last November. I don't really have a problem with the HR20 -- it's easy enough to use and it's stable -- but the TiVo just feels "better" to me -- more "natural" to use if that makes any sense. And the SCANNING on the HD TiVo blows the HR20 away -- much, much easier and more responsive. Anyone that has ever tried to use the "skip to tick" function on the HR20 knows what I'm talking about -- it works, but it's like walking up a flight of stairs with a couple of cinder blocks around your ankles.

But, I use it, because it gives me the channels I want. If they ever came out with an MPEG-4 DirecTiVo though, I'd be all over it.

 

[jbrasure]

I had the HR20 for a few months. I'll just sum up by saying that my blood pressure dropped when I finally got rid of it. The Tivo is much easier to use.

 

[Stanley Rohner]

I'll probably get flamed for saying something nice about the HR20 like usual, but here goes - I've had my HR20 since October of 2006 and I'm really happy with it. It had software issues in the beginning but it's been rock solid for me since April or so.

I'm sure someone will jump in and say - That's not what I've heard !!, HR20 talk is not allowed here !!, This is a TiVo DVR forum !, not a DIRECTV DVR forum ! Does that about cover it guys ? Maybe throw in a - DIRECTV DVRs SUCK !! for good measure.

 

[Arcady]

I'm not going to say anything about it not being a TiVo.

Who cares, when the content being recorded is low-quality over-compressed HD-lite garbage?

 

[Redux]

Be sure to also check out ...

That was a fair and honest post.

 

[DavidO]

Comcast is starting to look better and better. At least they support HD Tivo... right??

If Comcast, or any other cable TV provider, adds new channels using SDV, Tivo HD won't get them.

 

[jennifer]

I'm learning to like it. It's tough for me to go between the two softwares, as I still have an HR10 in the bedroom.

I do like the fact that recording a show is so simple with the HR20. It doesn't interrupt what I'm doing and is so quick.

 

[bigpuma]

If Comcast, or any other cable TV provider, adds new channels using SDV, Tivo HD won't get them.

True but Comcast is coming out with their own DVR with TiVo software so I imagine if they do go to SDV they will also have an HD DVR with TiVo software available for it.

 

[TonyD79]

You'll get a lot of opinions about the HR20 - all the way from people saying it's better then Tivo (aren't many of those) to those Tivo users who have given up on it and glad they kept their DTivo.

Aren't many of the latter, either. Probably fewer.

But at least you at last admitting that there are those who like the HR20.

Little steps, little steps.

 

[CessnaDriver]

The thing that impresses me the most is that there is not a lot of raving about the HR20, especially from the Tivo users. it.

That's because we aren't allowed to on here, but I will do it now anyway.

I LOVE MY HR20! I am a raving fan.

 

[flynxx]

In the 10 days I've had mine, I personally like them.

Just a matter of getting used to it.

 

[Sir_winealot]

On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it about a 6. Little annoying nuances aside, if it would just get through a full damn month without missing/screwing up a recording I could maybe get behind it. But it's been consistantly inconsistant.

 

[kmill14]

The look and feel of the HR 20 is fine...different from Tivo, but fine.

I don't like the menu set-ups and how many menu clicks it takes me to get to the scheduler/to-do list.

I don't like that you have to have season passes set up to record ALL programs (new or re-run) because you never know if the guide will properly lable the new shows.

I love seeing how much space I have left to record with.

I HATE not having a true dual buffer. HATE HATE HATE

I love knowing I will get a ton of new HD channels in the next month that I wouldn't with Comcast.

I hate wondering if the scheduler is going to screw up my recordings. I never worry about that with Tivo...ever.

I love the picture in channel guide feature.

I hate that its not Tivo.

 

[marvod]

On a scale of 1-10 I'd give the HR20 a 8. All 3 of mine have worked perfectly out of the box. Everything works as advertised and I will be receiving the new MPEG4 channels.

Do I miss my HR10's? Not really. I had to hack the hell out of it to do some of the things the HR20 does out of the box.

Would I go back if Tivo and Directv announced and updated MPEG4 box? Only if I can get it free like I did the HR20's. Yup thats right. Didn't pay a dime. Kinda nice since I got so screwed on the 3 HR10's I had.

So jump in the waters great..