TiVo HD refurb units are back in stock at TiVo.com for $100 less than the new price. These are the basic models that can record 20 hours of HD video. An add-on hard disk can add another 130 hours of HD. A TiVo service plan is required to make these boxes work. Service costs $13/month with discounts if you pay in advance. $15 FW Cash Back reduces your price to $185 for these units. Free shipping.
W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
You comment is similar to bashing a GREAT deal on buying a new car.... by saying it is worthless without paying for GAS!
TiVo haters need not comment in a DEAL for a TiVo system...
stridhiryu030363
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 24, 2009 @ 11:28p
Technologist said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
You comment is similar to bashing a GREAT deal on buying a new car.... by saying it is worthless without paying for GAS!
TiVo haters need not comment in a DEAL for a TiVo system...
um.. why do you have to buy a sub after paying for the unit?
stridhiryu030363 said: Technologist said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
You comment is similar to bashing a GREAT deal on buying a new car.... by saying it is worthless without paying for GAS!
TiVo haters need not comment in a DEAL for a TiVo system...
um.. why do you have to buy a sub after paying for the unit?
Ummmm, do you have a cell phone? Same principal... you pay for Hardware (subsidized), then pay for the additional "neat-o" stuff.
TiVo spent a lot of money building the system, and is (WAS) selling it below the cost of R&D... with a plan to sell their PROGRAMMING (which some people love) at a monthly fee.
If you are going to slam this, then you may as well slam CABLE. You can get TV for free, but cable adds premium content (as does TiVo), and makes viewing TV more enjoyable (for some, not all).
My comment was directed to those that INSIST on posting that they have a "better" solution.... Those comments are not warranted here, as this is a DEAL thread, for those that WANT TiVo, for ease of use/feature set... and don't want to dick around w/ a PC to watch TV.
*PS, I also pay for cable... and I ALSO have a media center AND a myth tv setup.... as well as multiple TiVos. The In laws NEED cable, because all the other stuff with the TVs that I do is BEYOND their comprehension! But they like that I can bring them a USB or a DVD with stuff they want to watch*
CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
True, the box is useless without a sub for series 2 & 3. "Lucky", I''m not sure what that means. Ahhhhh, you have pc skills to setup a media center.
That works for you, however, a lot of users have multiple un-talented users that might not be able to use your Media Center PC, so, TiVo works for the rest of those that can't build a media server.
Jeffla
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 1:31a
I love our TiVo HD. We upgraded the hard drive a couple years ago. We used to use TiVo, then switched to a dual core media center pc. After spending more time resetting it up because it lost it's frequency settings, vista crashed, or windows update messed something up, we returned to TiVo.
I miss the media center, it seemed more grown up/adult compared to the childish TiVo menus, but TiVo just works. Oh well, so TiVo haters move on. A media center pc is a lot more work to maintain then a TiVo. And to me, that's worth 10.00 a month.
That and my TiVo HD was 199.00, my media center cost me 600.00 to build. That's a lot of years of TiVo service.
I could never justify 6hrs/hr of htpc maintanace over $10/month TiVo fee. yes, my htpc made me feel "computer genius". but that romance was over in first 100 days. now it is my ego which prevents me to go back to TiVo.
cnewsgrp
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 5:49a
Technologist said: stridhiryu030363 said: Technologist said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
You comment is similar to bashing a GREAT deal on buying a new car.... by saying it is worthless without paying for GAS!
TiVo haters need not comment in a DEAL for a TiVo system...
um.. why do you have to buy a sub after paying for the unit?
Ummmm, do you have a cell phone? Same principal... you pay for Hardware (subsidized), then pay for the additional "neat-o" stuff.
TiVo spent a lot of money building the system, and is (WAS) selling it below the cost of R&D... with a plan to sell their PROGRAMMING (which some people love) at a monthly fee.
If you are going to slam this, then you may as well slam CABLE. You can get TV for free, but cable adds premium content (as does TiVo), and makes viewing TV more enjoyable (for some, not all).
My comment was directed to those that INSIST on posting that they have a "better" solution.... Those comments are not warranted here, as this is a DEAL thread, for those that WANT TiVo, for ease of use/feature set... and don't want to dick around w/ a PC to watch TV.
*PS, I also pay for cable... and I ALSO have a media center AND a myth tv setup.... as well as multiple TiVos. The In laws NEED cable, because all the other stuff with the TVs that I do is BEYOND their comprehension! But they like that I can bring them a USB or a DVD with stuff they want to watch*
TiVo is a big scam. $13/month for a glorified program guide which is what a sub is.
Might as well ask since I mostly forgot about TiVo (except for old SD boxes in my kids rooms) when DirecTV dropped them and just recently have a cable card option--does having the lifetime TiVo sub with DirecTV do anything for me on these boxes? I'm sure this is FAQ somewhere.
JSquare293 said: dhodson said: can u use TiVo with any cable provider or with any satellite? Satellite Receiver or External Cable Box: DT = Yes, HD = No
The HD TiVo only works with OTA or Cable Cards, DT or Dual Tuner works with cable (with or without cable box) or satellite (with box).
I have both Windows 7 Media Center HTPC and TiVo Series 1, and each one serves it's purpose.
Series 1 and 2 work with cable and satellite boxes. TiVo HD will not work with any box. Not sure what you are referring to as DT (assume you mean a Series 2 TiVo) as TiVo HD is Dual Tuner (DT)...
cnewsgrp said: Technologist said: stridhiryu030363 said: Technologist said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
You comment is similar to bashing a GREAT deal on buying a new car.... by saying it is worthless without paying for GAS!
TiVo haters need not comment in a DEAL for a TiVo system...
um.. why do you have to buy a sub after paying for the unit?
Ummmm, do you have a cell phone? Same principal... you pay for Hardware (subsidized), then pay for the additional "neat-o" stuff.
TiVo spent a lot of money building the system, and is (WAS) selling it below the cost of R&D... with a plan to sell their PROGRAMMING (which some people love) at a monthly fee.
If you are going to slam this, then you may as well slam CABLE. You can get TV for free, but cable adds premium content (as does TiVo), and makes viewing TV more enjoyable (for some, not all).
My comment was directed to those that INSIST on posting that they have a "better" solution.... Those comments are not warranted here, as this is a DEAL thread, for those that WANT TiVo, for ease of use/feature set... and don't want to dick around w/ a PC to watch TV.
*PS, I also pay for cable... and I ALSO have a media center AND a myth tv setup.... as well as multiple TiVos. The In laws NEED cable, because all the other stuff with the TVs that I do is BEYOND their comprehension! But they like that I can bring them a USB or a DVD with stuff they want to watch*
TiVo is a big scam. $13/month for a glorified program guide which is what a sub is. But paying my cable company $18 a month for their limited function DVR is a better deal?
Only negative about TiVo HD is you need two cable cards for dual tuner. My cable company charges $5+ a month for a card so even with lifetime sub I'm still paying a monthly fee. That being said I'd be paying for the cable card with a HTPC or renting an inferior box from the cable company for even more than TiVo, so TiVo is still the cheapest/easiest solution.
Liquidator said: Only negative about TiVo HD is you need two cable cards for dual tuner. My cable company charges $5+ a month for a card so even with lifetime sub I'm still paying a monthly fee. That being said I'd be paying for the cable card with a HTPC or renting an inferior box from the cable company for even more than TiVo, so TiVo is still the cheapest/easiest solution.
That depends on the Cable Co. Many now have the new M cards which provide for dual channels with a single card and monthly charges vary tremendously with some as cheap as $1.50/month.
Another DirecTV question from above -- by all reports TiVo will be re-entering DirecTV DVR business in 2010 though honestly the HR series receivers aren't a bad alternative.
I like TiVo, works mint! Bite the bullet for Lifetime service and before you know it....you break even! It may not be for everyone but I love such control over Tv!
udaysalian
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 12:32p
I was tempted to buy the lifetime on my hd TiVo. I offered them $199 and they came as low as $250 for lifetime. This is when I went to cancel my first month subscription. I told them I do not like to pay $250 and see their product advertisements on my tv. I am paying for TiVo so I could record and also to avoid the advts.
Since they could not come to my offer I politely refused their discounted lifetime subs. I was hoping to use the manual recording option after the subs was cancelled. I realized after cancelling, that option was disabled by TiVo.
But I noticed that the dvr is still on both the tuners for a one hour or so. I am happy with that, as I can skip the advt from my prime time program. That is all the time that I get anyway to watch my TV. If anyone knows how to do the manual recording on TiVo HD please pm me.
I love TiVo, but like others I don't quite get what you are paying 13/mo for. The program guide? Aren't those freely downloadable? It's a nice package, but I hate feeling like I'm paying a monthly fee for really, nothing.
Then again, my cable company wants me to pay 10/room for boxes to get channels I pay for in my package.
Maybe it's just me, but the bloated costs of cable from every angle hurt ones fat wallet, and seem very pyramidy in scheme.
CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update. TiVo will get all the HD stations in your current digital package, unlike your Media Center, which will get OTA or QAM HD at best. So I doubt you are recording ESPN HD or anything but local OTA channels.
I don't mind my Comcast HD DVR, I just wish they had a bigger hard drive or a way to add an external drive.
I love my TiVo HD. Two huge benefits to the regular TiVo service is the ability to stream Netflix movies/shows and to watch Amazon Video on Demand. If you already have Netflix, you can stream as many movies/shows as you want for free. The selection isn't as good Netflix'x DVD rental, but if you already have an account, the service if free. Also, Amazon's Video on Demand is great. I'm watching season one of Battlestar Galactica in HD for $5.00.
Jeffla
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 7:37p
SimMike said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update. TiVo will get all the HD stations in your current digital package, unlike your Media Center, which will get OTA or QAM HD at best. So I doubt you are recording ESPN HD or anything but local OTA channels.
I don't mind my Comcast HD DVR, I just wish they had a bigger hard drive or a way to add an external drive.
There are Media Center PC's with cable card slots. So you can get your ESPN HD.
udaysalian said: I was tempted to buy the lifetime on my hd TiVo. I offered them $199 and they came as low as $250 for lifetime. This is when I went to cancel my first month subscription. I told them I do not like to pay $250 and see their product advertisements on my tv. I am paying for TiVo so I could record and also to avoid the advts.
Since they could not come to my offer I politely refused their discounted lifetime subs. I was hoping to use the manual recording option after the subs was cancelled. I realized after cancelling, that option was disabled by TiVo.
But I noticed that the dvr is still on both the tuners for a one hour or so. I am happy with that, as I can skip the advt from my prime time program. That is all the time that I get anyway to watch my TV. If anyone knows how to do the manual recording on TiVo HD please pm me.
Thanks
You passed on a $250 lifetime???? Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! Ever see the resale value on a lifetime HD unit? Obviously not.
SafetyDance said: udaysalian said: I was tempted to buy the lifetime on my hd TiVo. I offered them $199 and they came as low as $250 for lifetime. This is when I went to cancel my first month subscription. I told them I do not like to pay $250 and see their product advertisements on my tv. I am paying for TiVo so I could record and also to avoid the advts.
Since they could not come to my offer I politely refused their discounted lifetime subs. I was hoping to use the manual recording option after the subs was cancelled. I realized after cancelling, that option was disabled by TiVo.
But I noticed that the dvr is still on both the tuners for a one hour or so. I am happy with that, as I can skip the advt from my prime time program. That is all the time that I get anyway to watch my TV. If anyone knows how to do the manual recording on TiVo HD please pm me.
Thanks
You passed on a $250 lifetime???? Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! Ever see the resale value on a lifetime HD unit? Obviously not.
I agree....$250 lifetime for an HD unit would be an INSANE price.
udaysalian
Member
posted: Aug. 26, 2009 @ 9:00a
I have heard that TiVo at times sells refurb HD unit with life time for $400. Just google and u will find that.
I still dont believe in paying someone to put advt on my screen. That's just me.
udaysalian said: I have heard that TiVo at times sells refurb HD unit with life time for $400. Just google and u will find that.
I still dont believe in paying someone to put advt on my screen. That's just me.
That's true but I don't mind paying for a service that will allow me to watch a 1 hour show in 40 minutes so I DON'T have to watch commercials. There are so many good reasons to have TiVo, then not to. And if I called TiVo and they offered me a refurb with lifetime for $400, I'd be walking around REAL happy.
wakemaker said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
True, the box is useless without a sub for series 2 & 3. "Lucky", I''m not sure what that means. Ahhhhh, you have pc skills to setup a media center.
That works for you, however, a lot of users have multiple un-talented users that might not be able to use your Media Center PC, so, TiVo works for the rest of those that can't build a media server.
And how do you get cable's HD channels on your media center pc? Do you use IR emmitters? Cable Card? This is what's holding me back .
Jeffla
Member
posted: Aug. 26, 2009 @ 10:09a
bobdelt said: wakemaker said: CheapCheap1 said: W/out the service, this is an expensive doorstopper. I was lucky to get out from TiVo & setup a Media Center PC...so, I am no longer paid for the TV program update.
True, the box is useless without a sub for series 2 & 3. "Lucky", I''m not sure what that means. Ahhhhh, you have pc skills to setup a media center.
That works for you, however, a lot of users have multiple un-talented users that might not be able to use your Media Center PC, so, TiVo works for the rest of those that can't build a media server.
And how do you get cable's HD channels on your media center pc? Do you use IR emmitters? Cable Card? This is what's holding me back .
Most store bought Media Center pcs have cable card slots. Nicer MC use RF remotes.
If you don't like paying monthly fees to TiVo, check out the Moxi HD DVR. They claim to be just as good as TiVo and there are no monthly fees. MSRP is only $800. You can do you own math and compare that price to the $185 TiVo HD. http://moxi.com/us/home.html
FriendlyPeon said: johnny98 said: FriendlyPeon said: Uh, why don't you just buy the lifetime subscription on eBay for around $220? $185+$220 = $405....
I don't see any sellers on eBay for $220. Can you provide a link?
I was pretty close $270 - $40.5 Bing CB (15% right now...would be nice if it was 35% again...) = $229.50
Thought I saw a couple series 3 HD units with a lifetime subscription you could snag for around $400 with the CB as well.
That is a bidding auction, not fixed price. Does Bing CB work for auctions now? Also, that auction says the lifetime subscription cannot be used for refurbished Tivos.
There are older TiVo models with dvd drives on them from Toshiba. But you can also buy DVD recorders with HD's & with free tv guides & commercial skip buttons. Comcast & AT&T have DVRs you can rent. So there are alternatives to TiVo, but I can't believe that they are still pushing ads on them. TiVo does HD though & that's nice.
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