TiVo…
So I’m thinking of getting a TiVo. Here’s why… Costco has 80GB (80 hour) TiVos for $269, with a $100 mail-in rebate. The monthly charge is $12.95. I’ve been thinking of resubscribing to Netflix, but that’s $20/mo, and I mostly tend to want content to watch while eating dinner or whatnot. This means :30 tv shows or so. Netflix has a harder time providing this…
I’ve thought about building a MythTV box, but with the cost of a large hard drive, memory, quiet case, and a MPEG2 video capture board, I’m looking at around $400 to get things going this route, plus my time. At this rate the break-even point would be 17 months… Granted, MythTV would allow me to do more with the captured files, but if I want a captured show, I’ll be doing it in DV, not MPEG2, and thusly using the capture device on my Mac. So, that’s kinda out the window…
Hmm, does anyone who reads this have a Series 2 TiVo and actually use it? The price isn’t too bad, and I think it’d be pretty handy… Costco’s price is also a lot cheaper than buying it from Best Buy or Netflix.
One other neat thing… Hopefully Tivo will get around to releasing a new Mac version of TiVo Desktop fairly soon, which will allow me to watch recorded shows on my Mac. Right now it’d be PC-only. Poo.
I use my parents’ TiVo all the time, and I gotta say, the ease of use and great UI is fantastic; it’s got a Mac level of attention to detail, and if you get the right USB wireless adapter* (this is IMPORTANT) it will integrate perfectly into your network, although the TiVo Desktop sharing is a bit of a processor hog, to be honest.
*- DO NOT get the Linksys one. Only certain firmware revisions work with TiVo, and it’s impossible to tell which you’re getting until you bring it home. My folks have a D-Link DWL-122 that works perfectly after I upgraded the firmware (which the TiVo did for me, quite easily.)
Oh, thanks for the info. Fortunately I’ve already got a Linksys USB to wired ethernet adapter, and there is a drop behind the TV, so I’m all set in that regard. I’ll just use that, if I get one… :)
Yes, we have a series 2 Tivo and use it all.the.time. We will not be without one now. :)
Oh, neat. Hmm… Maybe I’ll have to give it a go. I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I do like having stuff around when I’m going to eat dinner and whatnot. And this way I’d never miss an episode of Frontline. Hmm… < thinking >
I have been a Tivo user for over two years now, the product is incredible, the tag line about it changes the way you watch TV is 100% true. I would recommend the product to anyone.
Completely changed the way I watch TV. Now I spend less time watching, but end up watching more of what I want to watch, rather then whats on. Can’t recommend it enough.