Tivo/DVRs - Pros & Cons?
 

If you have Tivo or another DVR system, would you please list a few of your likes/hates about them?

Also, are there any stand-alone DVR systems yet, say that use those VCR codes encoded into TV shows? Or do you always have to pay for the service?

I'm seriously considering asking Santa for one. Commercials just keep getting stupider and stupider and stupider, not to mention there are increasingly more of them in any given show. Besides, I have a wicked surfing habit. I'll just sit-and-flip for hours until the show I actually want to watch comes one. :nod:

TiVo is the coolest thing invented since the wheel.

Tee-vee completely changed for me when I upgraded my satellite receiver to TiVo three years ago. You watch only what you want to watch. You can record new movies and tape them around the same time that you can rent the just released DVD- maybe a month later at the most.

If you're watching live tee-vee, you can stop to go to the bathroom- you can also rewatch stuff that is exceptionally great. I find that feature perfect for episodes of Will and Grace and South Park.

It is fantastic!!! I have a keyword set up for both "Fleetwood Mac" and "Stevie Nicks" so that anytime anything with those guys on it comes on TiVo will automatically record it for me- and I've told it to record it and not delete it until I tell it to, so if there's a particularly busy time, the programs don't get bumped off the hard drive.

There are two drawbacks.

1) If you're a picky tee-vee watcher (like me), after time you will pretty much be watching the same things over and over. That's mainly because the tee-vee and movie industry can't fulfill enough material for TiVo to record (and you to watch) over a certain period. Also, cable channels (the bulk of DirecTV) replay programs ad nauseum (i.e.- Queer Eye for the Straight Guy).

2) When you first start out with TiVo, you'll never get around to watching all the stuff you've recorded. There's just not enough time in the day to do it.

However, over time number one mitigates number two- and if you check the guide and season your "To Do" list every couple of weeks you will get the best of both worlds.

P.S.- the best thing of all is I have not watched a single commercial in almost three and a half years!!! The only place I've had to sit through a commercial is the f*cking movies fer chrissake!!!!

:xoxo:

My boyfriend just set up our TiVo and I have to say that it is awesome!

I love that you can search for certain movies and shows and automatically record them. Awesome and very time efficient!

A must have, in my opinion. Now all I need is a DVD-R.

Here's a big con:

TiVo Will No Longer Skip Past Advertisers
Wed Nov 17, 7:55 AM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...astadvertisers

When it debuted in 1999, TiVo (news - web sites) revolutionized the TV experience by wresting control of screen time from advertisers, allowing viewers to record shows and skip commercials. TiVo's slogan said it all: "TV your way."

Behind the scenes, though, TiVo was courting advertisers, selling inroads to a universe most customers saw as commercial-free. The result is a groundbreaking new business strategy, developed with more than 30 of the nation's largest advertisers, that in key ways circumvents the very technology that made TiVo famous.

By March, TiVo viewers will see "billboards," or small logos, popping up over TV commercials as they fast-forward through them, offering contest entries, giveaways or links to other ads. If a viewer "opts in" to the ad, their contact information will be downloaded to that advertiser — exclusively and by permission only — so even more direct marketing can take place.

By late 2005, TiVo expects to roll out "couch commerce," a system that enables viewers to purchase products and participate in surveys using their remote controls.

Perhaps even more significant is TiVo's new role in market research. As viewers watch, TiVo records their collective habits — second by second — and sells that information to advertisers and networks. (It was TiVo that quantified the effect of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction," reporting a 180% increase in the number of replays reported by viewers.)

For advertisers it's an extraordinary boon, a quicker and more effective way than they've ever had of measuring the effects of their TV commercials.

For viewers, TiVo's new strategy means the technology famously christened "God's machine" by Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) Chairman Michael K. Powell is rapidly becoming a marketer's best friend, proving that try as they might, consumers cannot hide from marketing.

There are no cons to Tivo, NONE- even the article that diss posted is relatively meaningless. They already do forms of those "billboards" and I skip past them just the same as I always have with other commercials.

It will change the way you watch TV. I've actually ended up watching more TV than ever with my Tivo, but it's TV that I want to watch. I have season passes for all my favorite shows, and wish lists for a lot of things- I have Fleetwood Mac related wishlists, but I also have ones for actors. I love Gilmore Girls, so I have wishlists set up for Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham, and it tapes amazing stuff for me- I've gotten their appearances on Will and Grace, Third Rock, Seinfeld (Scott was the spongeworthy guy!), Law and Order... if they're on a daytime program, it automatically alerts me and tapes them for me. It's incredible.

I also got a great deal on mine. I bought the straight ahead Tivo 40 hour box, which is normally $200, but I got $10 bucks straight off it as well as a $100 rebate, so I got my box for $90. The monthly service is like $12, but since starting service in the beginning of September, I've actually yet to be charged the monthly service fee since. I don't know if it's a mistake or what, but I'm not knocking a gift horse in the mouth with it.

****, if they're going to hijack my Tivo for such extensive market research purposes, I want to be compensated. Especially if I'm paying for the service every month.

Wow - thanks for all the info, everyone. I had heard the advertisers didn't like their commercials being skipped, and wondered what they would do about it.

The only question I still have is that you have to actually purchase the Tivo SERVICE along with the actual equipment. There's not a stand-alone box that can read the cable stream? If that's the case, then forget it. Time-Warner in Houston is offering a DVR with their digital cable service, for only the cost of the machine, the service being included if you buy digital cable.

And I suspect that digital cable will eventually be completely watch-on-demand service anyway... They're already doing movies that way, as well as some sitcoms and other series.

Now, if they'll only change cable service to where you can subscribe to only the channels you want to watch -- I can cut out all the stupid shopping channels, sports channels (ESPN Classic -- is there a point to this channel?), and the bane of my existence: all the smarmy fundamentalist evangelist networks. :nod:

You have to SUBSCRIBE to TiVo's service. It's utter ****, I know.

Get a DVR if your cable company offers it. Mine doesn't, I have cheap ****ty cable- we have to go through a certain provider in my apartment complex, so I had to get the actual Tivo and pay the Tivo subscription fee... but if you can do the DVR as part of your cable package, DO it- you won't regret it.

Havent decided myself...
 

yet on Tivo/DVR, But considering how often I don't watch TV I would probably pass on 'em...

Hell, I enjoy enough music/DVD's (ie-My side of the bedroom needs to be extended out by 4' to accomadate my ever growing collection of cd's/DVD's) where I dont really miss regular TV any longer.

Brian "I love my Panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-R burner" j.

My TiVo subscription is only six measley dollars a month. Hello- you can't get something for nothing...

Trust me, it is absolutely worth it!

How'd you get the subscription so cheap?

Thanks for the info - we're weighing the options. We'd have to upgrade to digital cable from "cheap ****ty cable" :laugh: (perfect description, btw!). So, do you have to pay for cable service AND Tivo service then?

Nixxed, who is on the album picure on your sig.????? It totally looks like isabelle.
Also, if you have Tivo that must really free up your time to go out and actually do things, real life things, right?

Isabelle Rossellini??? BWAHAHAHA!!!! :laugh: :lol: :laugh: :lol:

It's actually Rufus Wainwright, in drag!!! (But I only realized that a few days ago, after someone posted about it on his message boards.)

This is what he really looks like (and yes, he WILL be my husband, uh, as soon as I meet him):

no, doof, isabelle adjani. the only thing that looks different is the eyebrows. wow, he/she is pretty. And Isabella's name is Isabella, not Isabelle
Wow, he is a really pretty man, and he DOES kind of look like Isabelle Adjani, i mean, from looking at his "man pictures"

Gee, anything else you'd like to correct me on? Sounds like someone has been sparring with dissention a little TOO much ;) :xoxo:

Who is IsabellE Adjani? I only thought you meant IsabellA Rossellini because I have a big-time fixation on her -- Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her being my favorites -- and that's who Rufus' album cover reminded me of (before I learned it was actually him).

No, that was an affectionate "doof" and i haven't been sparring with dissention at all. that's funny, we're both fixated on an Isabelle(a)
http://member.hitel.net/~k2hdd/adjani38.jpg here's one...
http://member.hitel.net/~k2hdd/adjani10.jpg here's one
http://member.hitel.net/~k2hdd/adjani73.jpg here's one

here's a side shot http://member.hitel.net/~k2hdd/adjani57.jpg it's like almost dead ringer...

Not sparring with dissention, huh? Then make sure I get an invite to the wedding! :D

Wow - Isabelle is beautiful! I definitely see the Isabelle/Rufus/Isabella resemblance, especially in the side shot you posted. Who knows - maybe he was inspired by her? Here's the cover for Want (One) - makes the Want (Two) cover make a little more sense - the whole Camelot and Lancelot/Gweniviere thing he was going for:

http://rufuswainwright.com/media_wantone.html

oh, i see. gosh, i'll have to listen to him now that i know he's so hot :D JK. Is he gay? And also, maybe he was inspired by her since he looks exactly like her from the side! sorry, i'm still tripping out on that - i mean, i was sure he was her....Anyway, I do like a guy in armor... ;)

I've had it for a long time. My subscription is through DirecTV, which is probably cheaper than dealing with a cable company.


Rufus is quite the hairy little hottie, isn't he!!

F*ck you! :lol: :xoxo:

I'm horny and when I'm horny, I'm an ass. ;)

Yes, he's gay. And you're right about the armor. Not to mention his huge "sword". :]

:nod: :nod: :nod: Droooooooooooooooooooooooool. But back off, he's mine!!!

Wow - finally, an explanation! And you must be horny A LOT! :nod: :xoxo: :laugh:

Apparently. :laugh:

That thread about hot celebrities really got to me. I was constantly reminded of all the movie stars I want to do before I die. :lol: And those pics of Nicole Kidman and Jake Weber really put me over the edge. :laugh:

:laugh: I totally understand. I've been in a very Chicken Lady (from Kids In The Hall) mood: "gottagetlaidgottagetlaidgottagetlaid".

Speaking of hot celebrities, what do you think about Doug Wilson's latest look? In case you haven't seen the new Trading Spaces episodes, he's blonde now. And it's a weird yellow-blonde, not a good color for him. I think it's atrocious, and I can't for the life of me figure out what the hell he was thinking. :shrug:

:lol: You and me both. :lol:

I've been feeling so blah and tired lately, but now I'm roaring. I've been sitting around the house for the past few hours thinking of the celebs I want to bone and that's never healthy. :laugh:

Oy, my love for him went out the window when I saw the **** he did to himself. I get sexual feelings for few men and now I'm bummed that my lust for him went out the window. The book is too blah for me, I saw it at Barnes and Noble and said forget it. He's running out of ideas.

*goes back to dreaming about Nicole Kidman and Jake Weber*

Oh no he ain't!!!


:wavey: :sorry: ;) :laugh:

Great, now, because Dissention is horny (I'd like to thank god for last weekend, while i'm at it, by the way) I have to look at a goddamn picture of Nicole f**cking Kidman every goddamn post he does. :mad: THANKS!!!! That's it, i'm putting up pictures of Val and Isabelle....

Hey, you should be lucky, I put three of the most gorgeous people in my sig. :xoxo:

well, i only like one of them, and one is rat like. I'll just have to counter with Val and Isabelle. Hmmm, i should put up someone you think is dog like, too...perhaps Jack Nicholson's ass? :lol: So, rock on, Blondie....

Well, no one can accuse you of having exquisite taste. :laugh: j/k

:laugh: actually, i've never seen his ass, i'm sure it's repulsive...but Val and Isabelle? Beauty...

Val Kilmer? He's become a bloated old fool. :laugh:

Bloated is right on target. Ewwwwwww...... And those weird lips are just too much for me.

So, I'm starting to get the drift that you're a one man kinda guy. :laugh: Sheesh! The dude gets blonde hair and you ditch him for some other hottie. Whatta playah...

Kilmer has been way freaky for a long time. I don't dig him very much. And his stint as Steve Holmes totally repelled me.

:laugh: Mr. Doug is starting to look his age and the new hair isn't helping.

We were talking about TV shows that we used to love last week and I remembered American Gothic, and then I remembered that Jake Weber was on it and then I remembered what a cutie he is. Sue me. :laugh: *swoon*

you're high. I like older men, and i don't usually like pretty boys, so his scruff that he's gained only makes him better. those lips are to die for. so are those cheekbones.

Yeah, and that "one man" isn't allowed to age, apparently! But you're wrong about Kilmer, you youth obsessed f**! heh, just kidding. And Val looks awesome in his tube dress, i tell you what... :woohoo: His lips are my favorite part, so i don't know what you're talking about...

They can age however they want, doesn't make them still gorgeous. Mr. Weber is 40 and still looks 20. :laugh:

Rent Wonderland and tell me if you think Kilmer is hot. Fech. :laugh:

I don't like movies with ugly/gross things in them. Else i would already have watched it...plus, he's a great actor, and that's always a massive bonus.