TiVo

[Synthohol]

hello all, has anyone had good/bad exp with TiVo?
i need/want an 80 hour w/ lifetime service, any good deals out there??

[Farabomb]

I still say build a box to do it. Won't have to subcribe (I think) and you can upgrade the drives. It's a lot eaiser than upgrading a TiVo and playing with their flavor of Linux.

Probally cheaper in the long run too. :)

[NorthernYankee]

Tivo's are very user friendly and there are so many user groups out there its incredible, its like an underground Tivo Community.

It really come down to want you want...

A) buy the Tivo and have a very simple to use system and ultra reliable...but a tad expensive for what it is.

B) build your own and have not just the PVR ability but the ability to play DivX and DVD's if you put a DVD drive in it, also that is mega flexible...but it will be a bit more expensive then the Tivo unless you do it off of existing parts.

Whatever way you decide to go just depends on what you want to use it for.

--NY

[Synthohol]

i think its the bells and whistles that snagged me on the tivo, its able to record a "season" of a show even if the listing time is changed.
see, i can get a cheaper unit that will record less time, but i need to know if i can upgrade the HDD myself.
also the remote control helps for on screen progging.

[NorthernYankee]

The hard drives are a snap to replace...http://www.tivofaq.com/hack/faq.html

Now if you build your own and use an Ati AIW it come with a remote to control everything.

--NY

[Player0]

I just added a AIW 8500DV to one of my home PCs, ran some cable, and now it works like a Tivo for me. Its great :)

Oh, and youll need the software, I use ShowShifter.

Video and Software: $200

Not bad :)

[Synthohol]

hmm, .............