Dear Bill, I mean Jack....

I see what you mean and agree re Microsoft. I'm just jealous of Mr. Gates and his ungodly wealth! :)

But anyone who says TiVo is difficult to set up and problematic must have gotten a bad unit. It's simply not so. TiVo RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree, TiVo and Ultimate TV practically set themselves up. In fact, Ultimate TV (TiVo probably too but I haven't seen it myself) even prompts you to call DirecTV after setting up reception and even goes so far as to show you the number to call. You really could be a chimp and set the thing up...

Bill Gat... ooops... Jack Fetter

Yep, I've set up both UTV and DTivo. Both were a piece of cake.

The original poster who complained about DTivo was probably a business which only sells UTV.

I chose Tivo for myself since I have no faith in M$ (sorry, Jack), but my father is quite happy with his UTV from RCA. Now I just need to get myself some more cable to get a 2nd line down there.

Can't we all just get along??? :-)

Unix, Windows, each has its place! ... I enjoy them both (2K and XP on the Win side anyway).

OK, I'm sure somebody now is going to specify what these places are ...

You need to read a history book or two. There is nothing noble about Microsoft as you imply. Some of there products may be acceptable but there dominance has only choked out the competition which has and will continue to effect the quality products we deserve.

This message was edited by Orygun on 04/13/02 14:56.42.

What am I missing? Why do you guys like tiVos? Am I seeing responses from guys who got lucky and got working units, and the ones who hate them have not bothered to write here?

Don't get me wrong. I love the way they work. When they work. For as long as they work. After the insanely stupid amount of time, start to finish, that it takes to set them up.

The distributors I used to buy TiVo from have stopped carrying them. One says they get too many returns. The other says Philips no longer makes TiVo. (Sure enough, the Philips site no longer says YiVo and the TiVo site no longer says Philips.) I take both of these facts to be less than ringing endorsements.

The TiVo setup is indeed easy, with a couple of exceptions --

If you are an installer, the amount of time needed for download and "cudchewing" (20 minutes of download, up to three hours of processing) of the data makes it very hard to set up a TiVo. The DSS needs to be up and working before you start. In my typical installs, this means I am nearly done with the install, then need to hang around for the TiVo to slowly do its thing, or hand it over to the client.

I can't remember the exact situation, but some change (IR code on an RCA DSS?) that turned out not to work exactly required the whole damn setup again.

The last time I installed a TiVo over my own objections for a client who HAD to have one, it died three weeks later. I saved the installation by changing her over to a Replay, but she liked the way the TiVo worked much better. I literally lost the client because I would not eat the unit and go buy a replacement at retail (it was a Philips and they had just quit making them). Oh well. Let's say I do not support TiVo just now.

On the other hand, I have installed the Sony DSS/TiVo combination units (T6000, I think) and they set up in moments. Of course, they would not TiVo-ize the cable that ran through them, and two out of the four units I bought were dead on arrival or soon after. My distributor does not carry them any more, either.

Call me disenchanted. Tell me what TiVo product is a hell of a lot quicker, start to finish, to set up, including all dialing and cudchewing, and I might start to sell them again. Oh, yeah, it has to work longer than it takes for a raw egg to start stinking.

Ernie

Ernie,

I guess there is a difference between how a do-it-yourselfer and someone who is on the clock views "a long set-up time". I already had direct TV installed (by a professional) and told him he could leave and I'd finish up. I wondered why he seemed so appreciative! ;)

I can't disagree with the fact that there was some setup and cudchewing time, but I simply walked away and cut the grass or something while it did it's thing.

I still wouldn't trade it for anything AND it has been working smoothly for quite some time (again, its probably a relative thing).

Thanks for another view on the subject.

Larry

Thanks, Larry.
I have another three clients who want TiVos, and it's up to you guys:
is there one out there I can recommend to them? One of these clients may not need to TiVoize cable broadcasts, so the TiVos with DirecTV built in would be okay for them, but I need name, rank and serial number :)
One of my previous client's Philips decided to get stuck, and she had to try to go all the way through the setup again.

The UNIX zealot who raves about the robustness of LINUX shows a pattern of narrow thinking.
In the Chicago market you can't even buy Tivo HD Recievers for DirecTV anymore from the major retail outlets. UltimateTV, on the other hand remains in full supply.
I've played with both services extensively and both have their merits. The nod probably goes to TIVO for completeness of UI, but with the major retailors abandoning Tivo recievers in favor of UTV, I went with Microsoft, who I know will be around long after TIVO is dead or had been bought. Haven't had a problem with it either.
The fact that UTV receivers have 2 USB ports that will one day be enabled gives me hope that broadband Interent seamlessly presented on my TV will be shortly coming. Since the TIVO devices lack such ports, upgrading hardware will be the only solution. Too bad for the zealots blinded by OS religion. Tivo is nice, but will it last?

The new Series2 Tivo has two USB ports as well. Folks are connecting it with a $10 USB>Ethernet adapter to their LANs and using their broadband connections for the nightly updates and occasional software downloads.

what about the DISHNETWORK PVR501???

anyone tried that ????

cool part is...absolutely NO ADDITIONAL SUBSCIPTION FEES like TIVO and ULITMATETV.

It's figured into the initial price. Go Tivo
It's even eiser to learn on the pronto than Bill's uggtamate tv .

The setup should be done before you start buttoning the job that way its a little more fluid.
Or you could (if the customer is there) let them get familiar with it by setting it up .
Can it be any easier its on the screen . Press proceed key > enter area code > call waiting > bla bla bla

This message was edited by kabster on 07/18/02 03:11.08.

Several points on Tivos, some of which have already been made at various stages of this long thread. In no way am I saying the other 2 types of sat/PVR combos are bad (well, maybe a couple comments), I am simply commenting on Tivo. Both good and bad on Tivo.

1) DTivos are EOLed. There are few still remaining and they are now expensive. Good luck getting one. Retailers have not "abandoned" Tivo, see #2.

2) DTivo Series 2 are coming. They are supposed to come 3rd quarter, 2002. We are hoping for sometime this year. Yes, it is stupid on the mfgrs' part to stop Series 1 so long before Series 2 is available. Nobody is happy with this.

3) There are repair/swap deals for Tivos from the mfgrs. Above people have mentioned problems with them dying. These are solvable without buying new ones. Read the mfgr's info, people.

4) Best feature of Tivo missing on UTV or Dish 501/721 is the season pass. Combined with Wishlists, this is a very powerful feature.

5) All 3 DTivos (Philips, Sony, Hughes) are the same. The Sony remote is somewhat different, apparently better. But the machine is the same.

6) Only real difference between series 1 DTivos is the early ones had 2 hard drives, the later ones had only 1 drive. Both units had a total of 40GB. This only matters to those looking to upgrade their DTivos with additional hard drive space.

7) Robustness of an OS is a VERY good reason for choosing a product. Note that the UTV has a robust OS, not just the Tivo, so this may not be a good reason for choosing either over the other, but it certainly is compared to the Dish 501.

8) Philips has finished their deal with Tivo. Unclear whether they will be making Series 2 units or not. Doesn't mean Tivo has gone away, just means they will be using other mfgrs for DTivo Series 2.

9) You may be able to get a DTivo now from some online retailers if you are a new subscriber to DirecTV. I'd wait for Series 2 if you are already a subscriber. (like me, I NEED another Tivo and am impatiently waiting)

This message was edited by Spiky on 07/23/02 17:52.14.