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Hardware TiVo Announces New $300 TiVo HD
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - July 24, 2007 1:44 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 24 comment(s) - last by nowayout99.. on Jul 25 at 7:25 PM

TiVo HD with standard TiVo remote  (Source: The Seattle Times)
TiVo announces a new budget high-definition digital video recorder

TiVo today announced its new entry level TiVo HD digital video recorder. The new TiVo HD is TiVo’s second high-definition capable DVR and costs $500 less than TiVo’s previous HD offering, the TiVo Series 3. The new TiVo HD has similar features as the Series 3, including dual ATSC tuners and Cable CARD support. Gone from the TiVo HD is the THX certification, 250GB hard drive and front OLED display the TiVo Series 3 had.

The TiVo HD only has a coaxial input for analog and digital cable tuning. There are two Cable CARD slots on the TiVo HD for its dual tuners. However, to take advantage of both tuners, dual single-stream cards or a single multi-stream Cable CARD is required. TiVo has designed the TiVo HD for cable programming only, the DVR does not work with satellite receivers or other set top boxes. TiVo suggests the TiVo Series 2 DT for satellite and set top box users.

TiVo downsized the hard drive on the TiVo HD. While the TiVo Series 3 had a 250GB hard drive capable of recording 32 hours of HD content, the TiVo HD has a smaller 160GB drive that can record up to 20 hours of HD content. However, the TiVo HD has an e.SATA port for end-user external hard disk expansion.

The e.SATA port will not work until TiVo issues a software update to enable the feature, Vice President of Product Marketing Jim Denney said to the The Seattle Times. Previous hacks to enable the e.SATA on the TiVo Series 3 will not work on the TiVo HD, he noted.

The TiVo HD has component, composite, HDMI, S-Video and optical outputs. However, HDMI cables are not bundled with the TiVo HD, but TiVo includes component cables. The TiVo HD connects to TiVo service via Ethernet or phone lines. TiVo does not equip the TiVo HD with integrated wireless capabilities, but the existing TiVo wireless adapter will work.

Other notable features of the TiVo HD include direct downloads from movie and TV download services, online scheduling and music and image streaming from PCs.

Expect the TiVo HD to trickle into retail in early August with a suggested price of $299.99.


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Not bad pricing
By Fant on 7/24/2007 2:24:24 PM , Rating: 1
So $300 one time fee
+ $300 (for 4 years of service = $6.25/mo)
+ $1.50/mo x 2 for 2 Cablecard rentals
= $744 (over 4 years of service).

vs

(Cablevision)
$0 one time fee
+ $5/mo cable box fee
+ $10/mo DVR rental fee
= $720 (over 4 years of service)

Thats not bad at all but it limits you to current TIVO technology for the next 4 years. Any chances there will be no new innovations in the cable DVR services over the next 4 years?




RE: Not bad pricing
By Murst on 7/24/2007 2:31:01 PM , Rating: 1
You can get a HD DVR for 0$? Must be nice.

I just ordered Direct TV today... 199$ fee for the box (that I don't even own - and that's after the 100 rebate), plus monthly fees.... still cheaper than tivo though.


RE: Not bad pricing
By riddance on 7/24/2007 3:00:00 PM , Rating: 2
About a year ago I ordered the DirecTV HD service. When it came time to decide on a box the cust. service rep told me that I could purchase an HD Tivo box at Best Buy (the HD Tivo's weren't avaliable at the time through DirecTV). I did, and about 6 mo. later my service was shut off for not paying the rental fee for my Tivo, WTF? My receipt from Best Buy is a purchase receipt, no where does it mention it was only a rental. After many trips and phone calls (to Best Buy and DirecTV) I was finally given the options of keeping my service and paying the rental fee (..again?) or canceling my service. Well, I am now with Cox and I have a useless, DirecTV only, $500, rented? Tivo. I know it's not Tivo's fault, but that bad experience with the whole thing turned me off to Tivo products. (I will stick with SageTV) How many others have had similar experiences with a Tivo box rented/purchased through a third party?


RE: Not bad pricing
By webdawg77 on 7/24/2007 2:35:35 PM , Rating: 2
That's about right. I'm not sure how much I pay for the HD DVR box, but I pay $8 for the DVR service. The box rental is probably around $7 - $10. I have Comcast.


RE: Not bad pricing
By enlil242 on 7/25/2007 12:17:51 AM , Rating: 2
In Chicago, Comcast rents out the HD / DVR box for about $12 / month... no other solution can beat that. That's about 6 years that I would be paying for a Tivo HD box Plus with the Comcast box, it's guranteed to be replaced for free if it breaks. Plus I'll get the newest and greatest as it's released.


RE: Not bad pricing
By Flunk on 7/24/2007 2:39:33 PM , Rating: 2
ExpressVu in Canada is $20CDN/month for the HDPVR rental (includes cable box funcitonality). Prices see fairly consistent.


RE: Not bad pricing
By happyfirst on 7/24/2007 2:41:04 PM , Rating: 3
I don't see $300 for 4 yrs. It's $300 for 3 yrs (2 yr plan + 1 free year).

For me here in Central Florida with brighthouse it's really

TIVO:
+299
+299 (3yrs)
+3.95/mo X 2 for 2 cable cards
=882

vs

Brighthouse
9.95/mon
=358

No brainer for me. Not to mention if my box breaks, I just swap it. Plus I can still access all the ondemand stuff and it's NOT slow.

That's a $528 difference. In fact with the kids now wanting to tape their own shows, it's still cheaper for me to get TWO brighthouse boxes.


RE: Not bad pricing
By Netscorer on 7/24/2007 4:57:00 PM , Rating: 2
I am with you.

I don't see a point in TiVo anymore. Once they (and ReplayTV) were innovators and had the entire early enthusiast market to themselves. But now, when Cable companies give their boxes for free (and worry-free - exchange any time) TiVo will only sell their boxes to very small fanbase. They may have slightly better features and maybe release fixes bit more often then cable providers, but this does not matter for 99% of consumers who can't even spell the word firmware.


RE: Not bad pricing
By BMFPitt on 7/25/2007 6:53:33 AM , Rating: 2
The TiVo UI is far superior to any cable company DVR I've ever used (I currently have a Scientific Atlanta from Comcast and it's abysmal - no search functionality whatsoever and it takes 3 button presses to bring up the program guide.) If the monthly fees were more reasonable or they still offered lifetime service, I would get this box in a second.

I wish they would just license their software to DirectTV like in the good old days so when I get a house I can get that again.


RE: Not bad pricing
By michal1980 on 7/25/07, Rating: 0
RE: Not bad pricing
By BMFPitt on 7/25/2007 11:29:19 AM , Rating: 2
Cable box is $17 a month ($5 for the box, $12 for DVR service) where I live.

If I didn't intend to dump Comcast the minute FIOS becomes available here, the box would be well worth the extra expense to me.


RE: Not bad pricing
By Eris23007 on 7/25/2007 12:49:37 PM , Rating: 2
I have FiOS. The internet service is FANTASTIC!!! The TV service is ok but not great (not too heavily compressed in comparison to some of the other options)

The Motorola HD DVR box that they use is HORRIBLE... but it is also a standard digital cable box (I think Comcast uses the same one, or similar, though with a different UI).

The good news: I *think* (though I'm not sure) that FiOS supports CableCARD though!


RE: Not bad pricing
By Slaimus on 7/24/2007 3:02:28 PM , Rating: 2
Man, I remember when lifetime service for TiVo was only $300.


RE: Not bad pricing
By crimson117 on 7/25/2007 10:04:59 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, but keep in mind it wasn't your lifetime, it was the lifetime of your Tivo box. So if you ever got a new box, you had to re-subscribe and start paying monthly fees again.


if only....
By ncage on 7/24/2007 10:26:50 PM , Rating: 2
After i seen this announcement i looked into it but i'm still probably not going to do it. I think the subscription rates are too high. Maybe if it was 10-12 a month. I used to have a directivo when i had directv and loved it but no matter how much my HD-DVR from insight sucks its cheap and its good enough. I am not going to pay $600.00 up front so i can get a descent monthly rate.

Now for the subject. I wish Vista & Cablecard support would come into maturity. Sure the hardware cost would be a lot more but there would be no monthly subscription rate which would be awesome. You could also watch it with xbox 360 when you use it as an extender but if you go out there and look most people that have tried it most of them have ended with disaster. Maybe as it matures i will look into it more right now my crappy Motorola HD-DVR will get my by.

Oh a side note i have always said that TIVO should just liscence thier software out to DVR companies and they would make more money and we all would have great DVRs.

Ncage




RE: if only....
By ncage on 7/24/2007 10:30:07 PM , Rating: 2
I forgot to say all of this HEADACHE is caused by DRM. They don't realize. It makes everything for all us obey the law a disaster and everything that uses DRM more expensive. Damn RIAA and movie industry.


RE: if only....
By nowayout99 on 7/25/2007 7:25:04 PM , Rating: 2
If you buy the box from a B&M store or an online retailer (NOT tivo.com), you just have to pay the $300 upfront and then $12.95/mo service fee. Are you going to miss that extra dollar?


did anyone notice this...
By abaddon504 on 7/25/2007 9:33:28 AM , Rating: 2
"The e.SATA port will not work until TiVo issues a software update to enable the feature, Vice President of Product Marketing Jim Denney said to the The Seattle Times. Previous hacks to enable the e.SATA on the TiVo Series 3 will not work on the TiVo HD, he noted."

that is lame. its quite obviously a ploy to get people to buy the TiVo at a reduced price in hopes that they can upgrade, but the option to upgrade is still at TiVos discretion. youre leashed until they release the update. gee...how great. thanks TiVo. i wont be buying one until that update is released at the earliest.




RE: did anyone notice this...
By crimson117 on 7/25/2007 10:18:51 AM , Rating: 2
Very cell-phone-company-esque.

Artificially disable built-in technology in order to limit your customers' options.

Greeeaaatttt.


Dish Network
By darthwhit on 7/24/2007 3:24:58 PM , Rating: 3
I use the 622 HD-DVR from Dish Network. I paid $200 for it and got a rebate of $20 dollars for 10 months off my bill effectively making it free. I own it. When my service contract is over and if someone offers better service then I can sell it on Ebay.




Bittersweet
By Cobra Commander on 7/24/2007 2:40:23 PM , Rating: 2
I'm thrilled it's finally here, but am still bitter the Series 3 was ever launched in the first place. I love Tivo but have serious questions behind its longevity and direction.




aaagggghhh
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