Tivo Series 3 $399.99 AR (Costco), $469.00 AR or $372.36AC/AR (Dell) 5/27 to 6/16

TiVo Rocks!

Why is TiVo so popular when I can get a similar setup from my cable or satellite company for less? The cable company does not charge anything upfront and charges $10 per month for the 8300HD. Dish is $50 upfront after rebate and $6 per month for the vip622. Both are dual tuner HD dvrs. Capacity may be less on the 8300HD.

hawaiian2002 said: Why is TiVo so popular when I can get a similar setup from my cable or satellite company for less? The cable company does not charge anything upfront and charges $10 per month for the 8300HD. Dish is $50 upfront after rebate and $6 per month for the vip622. Both are dual tuner HD dvrs. Capacity may be less on the 8300HD.TiVo's services are far superior to the standard dvr (unless you have Cox cable- soon you'll be able to rent Series 3 tivos).

Some people like the extras like the music and pictures options, tivo2go (download/archive and burn shows to dvd), unbox, share home videos with family/friends, the ability to record and watch shows via the internet, wishlists, etc. A TiVo is easier to use than a standard dvr, and I find the fast forward/rewind/pause/play is smoother and more exact on TiVo.

hawaiian2002 said: Why is TiVo so popular when I can get a similar setup from my cable or satellite company for less? The cable company does not charge anything upfront and charges $10 per month for the 8300HD. Dish is $50 upfront after rebate and $6 per month for the vip622. Both are dual tuner HD dvrs. Capacity may be less on the 8300HD.

I hate the SA8300HD with a passion. We've gone through 6-7 in the two years we've been using em. From missed recordings, to disappearing recordings, to other strange problems... I am just sick of em...

Can't wait to upgrade to a TiVo...

Seems like a great deal for a TiVo 3.

I currently have a TiVo 1 & 2 w/ lifetime service, & a 2nd TiVo 2 paying $7/mo for it. Want to shift to the HD DVR's, otherwise I'd just stay w/ my current setup because TiVo rocks.

However, I'm also wondering if TiVo 3 is worth the considerable cost difference compared to my TWC HD8300 DVR w/ 2 tuners built in. I can get 2 of the HD8300's, stick a huge external SATA drive on one (which reportedly seems to work, you just lose the ability to time shift live TV on that DVR unit. Not a big deal because there's a 2nd HD8300 that could). This setup would have a monthly cost for the DVR's (comparable to the monthly cost of the Tivo3 & cable cards) & the only initial cost would be the large external hard drive.

Yes, TiVo is WAY better than these DVR's, but also way more expensive.

One downside I can think of is that you can't share shows between DVR's like you can w/ TiVo 2 & 3. Part of the better TiVo software.

just make sure you don't jump the gun on the purchase - as op said, this offer is good from 5/27-6/16, so you've got another week or so before it's active.

Conservative1 said: ReidWings said: Conservative1 said: Yeah your are right about computing changes only. My comcast market gives the first cable card for free and the second is 11.99 because it is considered a SECOND box. For me personally the extra TiVo service on top of the second cable card brings me around an extra $30 per month, im not that worried about missing a show.

Weird, Comcast for me (and on their site), charges 1.99 for the second cable card. First is free. Once multistream cards go mainstream (hopefully soon) you'll only need one card anyways.

With the card, I don't have to pay any HD fee so I save around $20 a month from Comcast that they would charge me for an HD fee and their crappy DVR. More than makes up my monthly TiVo cost.

Yeah, I had a card in my downstairs Pioneer 4360 and it would shut the picture off constantly. Had two cards replaced and same thing. wanted a card upstairs for my other tv and the rep said it would cost 11.99, in the oregon market. After all the hassel of getting the cards to work the rep said that it would be better to wait for the two-way cable cards.

Show them this and try to get your fee lowered. False advertisement if they charge more.

Comcast Cablecard cost (free for 1, $1.91 for second)

Fingers crossed that Dell posts the rebate on their site, cause then I'll be online asking them to refund the difference since I purchased one 2 weeks ago...

ReidWings said: Conservative1 said: Yeah your are right about computing changes only. My comcast market gives the first cable card for free and the second is 11.99 because it is considered a SECOND box. For me personally the extra TiVo service on top of the second cable card brings me around an extra $30 per month, im not that worried about missing a show.

Weird, Comcast for me (and on their site), charges 1.99 for the second cable card. First is free. Once multistream cards go mainstream (hopefully soon) you'll only need one card anyways.

With the card, I don't have to pay any HD fee so I save around $20 a month from Comcast that they would charge me for an HD fee and their crappy DVR. More than makes up my monthly TiVo cost.

How does that work? HD without paying for the HD package?

chibimike said: scoobydooby said: Fingers crossed that Dell posts the rebate on their site, cause then I'll be online asking them to refund the difference since I purchased one 2 weeks ago...

Why would Dell pay you a manufacturers rebate?

They don't have to. But it wasn't there when I ordered last week, so in the spirit of this site I'll at least give it a go. The worst that can happen is that they say no, but I've had good experiences with Dell.

I'm kind of surprised I'd have to explain that...

gizmotoy said: Metric said: How does that work? HD without paying for the HD package?
They probably include HD networks (ABC,NBC,Fox,PBS) as part of their basic cable package. I doubt he gets the full compliment of HD channels for free, otherwise that'd be a huge loophole and a poor design choice.

I have the Digital silver package, pay $1.50 for the second Cablecard and get HD for free too (Discovery, ESPN, NG, Universal, MTVHD, TNTHD and a few others). I also get Showtime in HD since I have that as an addon to my silver package.

HD is indeed "free" if you have a qualifying digital package, which I think means any of them.

TheGodEye said: hawaiian2002 said: Why is TiVo so popular when I can get a similar setup from my cable or satellite company for less? The cable company does not charge anything upfront and charges $10 per month for the 8300HD. Dish is $50 upfront after rebate and $6 per month for the vip622. Both are dual tuner HD dvrs. Capacity may be less on the 8300HD.
Serious, have you never ever read these forums? Everytime a TiVo deal comes along, we need at least one comment like this?

Your DVR works, but having both, your DVR is crap compared to TiVo.

Think AMD Sempron vs Intel Core 2. Both are chips. Both work. They are not the same.
I had a Motorola DCT 3416 DVR from Charter and I currently have my TiVo S3. No comparison whatsoever. The interface is 1000% better. Most importantly, though, my TiVo is reliable. The POS DVR from Charter deleted my recorded programs for no apparent reason FOUR TIMES--at that point, I finally decided to give up on the POS (and the ~$25/month rental fee that came with it).

PoorJohn said: Did the TiVo offer to transfer an old lifetime to a series 3 expire?

Yes, and was extended once, but is now really gone. I think that may explain why the prices are coming down so fast.

Will the Series 3 boxes work with DirecTV HD boxes?

HotStuff2 said: ...Series1 owners are eligible for one lifetime transfer, period...

I think this has been covered ad nauseum in various threads here; This isn't true.
Only Series 1 owners who purchased prior to Jan 2000 are "grandfathered" and eligible for lifetime transfer.

TheGodEye said: hawaiian2002 said: Why is TiVo so popular when I can get a similar setup from my cable or satellite company for less? The cable company does not charge anything upfront and charges $10 per month for the 8300HD. Dish is $50 upfront after rebate and $6 per month for the vip622. Both are dual tuner HD dvrs. Capacity may be less on the 8300HD.
Serious, have you never ever read these forums? Everytime a TiVo deal comes along, we need at least one comment like this?

Your DVR works, but having both, your DVR is crap compared to TiVo.

Think AMD Sempron vs Intel Core 2. Both are chips. Both work. They are not the same.

This is a perfectly fair argument. It helps users understand if the small increase in features and usability of a TiVo is worth the added expense. When evaluating any product it is a good idea to also evaluate the alternatives.

Show them this and try to get your fee lowered. False advertisement if they charge more.

Comcast Cablecard cost (free for 1, $1.91 for second)


Duh, did you read the whole thing?

Disclaimer: Regulated Prices quoted above may not apply in all markets. Please call 1-800-COMCAST to learn more about Regulated Prices for your area.

aphexII said: Ok well i just worked out how much extra the TiVo will run me over a span of three years (pending i activate with the three year plan)

TiVo Box - $11.11/mo ($400 over 36 months)
TiVo Svc - $12.95/mo (three year plan paid monthly)
Cable cards - $3.50/mo ($1.75/mo each)
----------
= $27.56/mo


Currently i pay;

SA 8300HD - $6.95/mo
DVR Service - $6.00/mo
----------
= $12.95/mo


Thats a difference of $14.61/mo from what I am paying now, not too bad IMO (other than laying out $400 up front for the tuner). I may end up going that route, i miss TiVo.

Don't forget to factor in the cost for an external eSATA drive. The basic 30 hours HD the S3 will record just isn't enough. I've added a 750Gb Seagate and can record all the HD I want...

Agreed! With companies like Dish Network offering a full featured DVR for only a few dollars more monthly, what is it that motivates one to spend hundreds of dollars more per year for a few additional features? In my area Time Warner/Oceanic costs about 50% more than Dish, add on top of that the $400 - $600 equipment charge, $16.95 a month for TiVo, plus additional for the cable cards, and you have a very pricey gadget. If you have already made your first $100 million and/or the TV is all that you have to live for then I guess it doesn't matter. I owned a TiVo when it was the only game in town. It was a convenience but not something that I could do without. With the newer DVR one has 90% of the features of TiVo at 10% of the cost, perhaps this is why TiVo is struggling in the market?????

tyrone3971 said: TheGodEye said: hawaiian2002 said: Why is TiVo so popular when I can get a similar setup from my cable or satellite company for less? The cable company does not charge anything upfront and charges $10 per month for the 8300HD. Dish is $50 upfront after rebate and $6 per month for the vip622. Both are dual tuner HD dvrs. Capacity may be less on the 8300HD.
Serious, have you never ever read these forums? Everytime a TiVo deal comes along, we need at least one comment like this?

Your DVR works, but having both, your DVR is crap compared to TiVo.

Think AMD Sempron vs Intel Core 2. Both are chips. Both work. They are not the same.

This is a perfectly fair argument. It helps users understand if the small increase in features and usability of a TiVo is worth the added expense. When evaluating any product it is a good idea to also evaluate the alternatives.