GM99 said:I think this is a good deal.

It is as good as the Am8zon deal WAS. the Am8zon deal was $99 for machine and a $100 gift card, the 1 year service is $129 therefor total of 99+129-100=128. This deal is 125.

The Amazon deal wasn't really a deal. People were buying that to use the GC to activate their Radio Shack Tivos. This resulted in four Tivos and one year of service on two of them plus money in your pocket.

OK I'm a n00b when it comes to TiVo for cable. If you subscribe to digital cable will this pull in your digital cable channels? I have DirecTv myself but am interested in buying this for my parents for Christmas.

randall said:OK I'm a n00b when it comes to TiVo for cable. If you subscribe to digital cable will this pull in your digital cable channels? I have DirecTv myself but am interested in buying this for my parents for Christmas.

My TiVo works in conjunction with my cable box (digital). During initial setup, you connect the cable box to your TiVo (via serial or IR connection) and the TiVo works out the best way to tune/change channels using your cable box. If you're still in an area that doesn't require a cable box, the TiVo should tune the channels for you. Dual-tuner TiVo models are another story. The downside to these Series 2 DT boxes with digital cable (i.e. requiring a cable box) is that you'll only be able to tune one channel at a time through the cable box. Thus, they should effectively function as a ST box. To my understanding, to get true DT capability in this case, you need to step up to a series 3 TiVo which incorporates digital (rather than analog) tuners. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me as I currently have digital cable with both ST and DT Tivos (the DT is waiting for the TiVo rebate before activation).

In for 2. Thanks OP, great Christmas gift for the parents and in-laws.

jmunjr said:A TiVo rep told me the 1 year of service begins when the item ships...

That sounds ridiculous! Especially since I got one to be a present. =\

how big is the hard drive? i didn't see on TiVo site

thanks op, delivered today

oopsz said:jmunjr said:A TiVo rep told me the 1 year of service begins when the item ships...

Nah, it begins from the first sync- the first time your TiVo calls in to get setup information/program guide.

I think the TiVo rep is correct. Seems to correspond with this FAQ here:

Link to Tivo.com FAQ

"Will I have to activate TiVo service upon receipt?
No, you will not need to activate TiVo service. Your TiVo box will ship with TiVo service pre-activated. You can ignore any directions in the Getting Started poster, Viewer's Guide, or Guided Setup to activate TiVo® service online or by phone. We've already activated service for you."

This is a different from puchasing the unit and service separately.

dwit said:alphasux said:jmunjr said:A TiVo rep told me the 1 year of service begins when the item ships...

That sounds ridiculous! Especially since I got one to be a present. =

Might "sound ridiculous" but that's the fact.

Yeah.. Sadly =( I know.. Anyway, I'm already loving my DT TiVo! =)

bavster said:Just wondering: I have regular cable ( 90+ channels) BUT I dont pay for it..I came with the apt..not sure if cable company knows...now if I install the TiVo...will I have problems?

No way.. Why would anyone care?

You're still receiving the same signal. Now you're just shifting time and recording.