Cox May replace its own DVRs with TiVos 223
Controlio writes "According to a posting by user BrettStah on the TiVo Community Forums, Cox Cable is currently circulating a survey to gauge customer's interest in TiVo services. From the survey, 'While Cox currently offers its own DVR service, the Cox DVR may soon be powered by TiVo, and include the features that TiVo owners have come to expect. If Cox were to offer digital cable service with a TiVo branded DVR for about the same price as you are currently paying for satellite service each month, how likely would you be to switch from satellite TV to Cox cable that featured this TiVo branded DVR service?'"
Now way, unless I could purchase it, and it was HD (Score:3, Informative)
No thank you, I will keep my current Satellite Tivo, which I own, and can do whatever I want with (like upgrade the hard drive, add web interface, etc..)
Now if I could purchase the Tivo from Cox for X amount of dollars, and the unit supported HD TV recording, I would maybe consider it.
Come to expect what? (Score:4, Informative)
1) The Tivo will download "recommendations" (which I have yet to ever use). Advantage: Tivo (I guess)
2) The DVR has a way better guide that has a nice preview screen (Advantage: DVR)
3) The DVR has two-channel capability (watch one show while the other records). Advantage: DVR
4) The Tivo has to use the serial input, which makes channel changing slow, versus the DVR which is integrated with the cable box. Advantage: DVR
5) The DVR can do HDTV. Advantage: DVR (those I suppose these new Tivos might do it)
6) The user interface on the Tivo is way simpler. Advantage: Tivo.
All in all, I'd say my existing DVR is way better than the Tivo, though if they added what's good about the DVR, maybe it would be OK. I suppose my point is that the Tivo isn't so far ahead of the DVR that it's going to make some huge difference.
Re:Come to expect what? (Score:5, Informative)
1) same
2) Subjective
3) tie
4) tie
5) tie
6) same
So the only catagory the DVR might be better at would be the guide interface. As a long time user of Tivo I use the my recordings a lot more than guide and like ther overlayed look. The Direct Tivo's can do a picture in a window similar to your DVR but thats personal preferance though having the option is good. Now for the rest of the features.
Tivo can move recodings off the tivo onto the server.
Tivo can talk to other tivo's in the same house and move recodings around.
Tivo can access content on your pc for playback on your TV. (Think rip all your DVD's and never have to touch them again)
Tivo allows you to access 3rd party applications.
Tivo will stream internet sources and MP3's
Re:I would switch. (Score:1, Informative)
My 9yo daughter can record, replay and watch tv with significant aplomb. Hard to me imagine how Tivo would be much better, but maybe I have a weak imagination.
Err... What about ReplayTV (Score:2, Informative)
ReplayTV, perviously SonicBlue, has always come with an ethernet port. It doesn't need a phone line to update if you have a broadband connection, and you can watch or backup your shows from your computer on the LAN.
I don't care (Score:3, Informative)
I'll admit that I havn't really played with a tivo, and I'm sure there are many services that it has which I might like, but honestly, I'm very busy and Cox's DVR does everything I want, anything more would add to the indulgence.
What I WOULD like to see from Cox is an improvement to their video on demand. Its flaky at best. The few times that I tried to order a movie from them, the movie died out and no one from their side could figure it out and I've given up from doing that again, which sucks because the convienance is incredible. I don't have time to go to blockbuster/hollywood video (actually I long since gave up on them for many reasons). And I loved using netflix, but now I don't have time to watch as money movies as they send me, so its a waste. I just want to pick a movie every now and then and just pay for it, and video on demand is exacly that.
Before Cox decides on switching Tivo (can't wait for the price to increase, joy), they need to fix what they already have.
Re:I would switch. (Score:3, Informative)
I have DirecTV's TiVo box, and it has the exact same feature. You can add anywhere from 1 minute to 3 hours on to the end of a show, which is awesome for recording sporting events that may go into overtime.
TiVo is great. The only complaint I have is that the response times are very very slow. The slowness of the channel guide is particularly maddening, although the ability to filter out all the shopping, PPV, and non-subscribed channels is a huge plus for me. I hated having to page through tons of channels I didn't receive on my cable system just to see what was on. But then, my cable company was CableONE, so that was the least of my complaints with them.
Re:Is it TiVo vs. DVR...or cable vs. satellite? (Score:5, Informative)
1. I call Comcast. They tell me that an HD tuner and service is already in my plan, and all I need to do is pick one up at the office. When I show up (It's a 20 minute drive), they tell me that they're out. But they'll call me when they come in.
2. I check in after a couple of weeks. The person at Comcast says, "Oh - no, they're not gonna call you. You have to keep calling us." "Great. Hey - does my office have these HD tuners in yet?" "Yes!" Except when I get there, it turns out they don't, and haven't for days. I pitch a hissy fit, and they give me an "all in one" box (HD + DVR), promising not to charge me for the DVR part. I leave, mollified. The box doesn't work.
3. Guy from Comcast shows up... 8 days later. "Yup, it's broken," he says. He swaps the DVR out with a brand new box. Beautiful high-definition television, complete with DVR functionality! It works! For a few hours, anyway. That evening, the hard drive (or something) on the device starts making a clicking noise. The DVR part no longer works.
4. Guy from Comcast shows up... another TWO WEEKS LATER. He starts to swap out the box, discovers that the new one he has doesn't work at all, and puts the old one back. "It's a real problem," he admits. "All the techs just had a meeting about it. We unplug the units from the network to take them out, something changes in their config, and they have to be taken back to the office." Great. "Call to schedule another appointment in a couple of weeks."
5. I schedule another appointment. I call out from work to be there. Then someone leaves a message on the answering machine saying... they're out of set-top boxes again, and I've stayed home for nothing.
Fuck Comcast, right in their fucking eye.
Re:A Deal that's No Deal (Score:3, Informative)
Wow! How do you pack so much misinformation in one sentence?
You can enable 30 second skip on all models they have ever sold.
Tivo has never forced anyone to watch commercials.
If your Tivo is out of disk space it will remove the oldest recording that it is allowed to delete and reuse that space. If all of your recordings are marked "Keep until I delete" it will warn you (in advance) that it might not be able to record a scheduled program unless you delete some things.
Re:No Hacking for new customers (Score:2, Informative)
It's not necessarily a bad thing. Leasing the equipment will always guarantee you free replacement hardware and upgrades in the future. So instead of dropping $500 on a box you spend $5 a month (or whatever)... that's much more cost efficient! It'd take you around 8 years to get a return on your purchase of the equipment over just leasing it! How many of you out there still have working 8 year old TiVos?