Tivo/DVRs - Pros & Cons?

[Nixxxed]

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.

[The Tower]

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!!!!

[Mad4stevie]

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.

[dissention]

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.

[hayley]

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.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by hayley

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.

****, 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.

[Nixxxed]

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.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

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.

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

[hayley]

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.

[estranged4life]

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.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by dissention

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

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!

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by The Tower

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?

Originally Posted by hayley

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.

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

[amber]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

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" (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?

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by amber

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!!!!

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):

[amber]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Isabelle Rossellini??? BWAHAHAHA!!!!

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"