 r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T DSL Service
 ·row44
1 edit | reply to nightdesigns
Re: This isn't surprising... said by nightdesigns:As a tivo owner, I resent your comment. I picked up a Tivo HD for $150, which is reasonable, and my monthly fees are considerably less for a DVR from my cable company. Cox wants $18/mo for a HD-DVR that only holds 20 hours. I pay $10/mo + $2 for the cable card and I have 400 hours of space. Are you joking. It makes no sense to have to pay a monthly fee to record TV shows. Why would you do that????
My Windows Media Center does everything a Tivo does and more. Also back in the day Replay TV was free, but Tivo sued them out of business because they were ruining their rip off market. Real DVRs require no monthly fees.
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| said by r81984:said by nightdesigns:As a tivo owner, I resent your comment. I picked up a Tivo HD for $150, which is reasonable, and my monthly fees are considerably less for a DVR from my cable company. Cox wants $18/mo for a HD-DVR that only holds 20 hours. I pay $10/mo + $2 for the cable card and I have 400 hours of space. Are you joking. It makes no sense to have to pay a monthly fee to record TV shows. Why would you do that???? My Windows Media Center does everything a Tivo does and more. Also back in the day Replay TV was free, but Tivo sued them out of business because they were ruining their rip off market. Real DVRs require no monthly fees. No jokes.
Lets see I'd easily pay $800 for a Dual HD tuner HTPC what would look good in my entertainment center. This PC would probably need to be replaced in 3 years.
I paid $150 for my HD Tivo and pay $10/month for service.
Lets do the math. $150 + (36*10) = $510
$510 or $800?
The PC would be easier to upgrade and have more flexibility, and could be cheaper if you went with a Linux solution. But sometimes the wife wants something easy to point and click to use without a hicup EVER.
All in all it's a matter of what's important to the end user and certainly isn't as simple as you would like it to seem. |
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
·row44
| said by Uncle Paul:said by r81984:said by nightdesigns:As a tivo owner, I resent your comment. I picked up a Tivo HD for $150, which is reasonable, and my monthly fees are considerably less for a DVR from my cable company. Cox wants $18/mo for a HD-DVR that only holds 20 hours. I pay $10/mo + $2 for the cable card and I have 400 hours of space. Are you joking. It makes no sense to have to pay a monthly fee to record TV shows. Why would you do that???? My Windows Media Center does everything a Tivo does and more. Also back in the day Replay TV was free, but Tivo sued them out of business because they were ruining their rip off market. Real DVRs require no monthly fees. No jokes. Lets see I'd easily pay $800 for a Dual HD tuner HTPC what would look good in my entertainment center. This PC would probably need to be replaced in 3 years. I paid $150 for my HD Tivo and pay $10/month for service. Lets do the math. $150 + (36*10) = $510 $510 or $800? The PC would be easier to upgrade and have more flexibility, and could be cheaper if you went with a Linux solution. But sometimes the wife wants something easy to point and click to use without a hicup EVER. All in all it's a matter of what's important to the end user and certainly isn't as simple as you would like it to seem. Why would you have to replace your PC every 3 years???
Also I built my MCE PC for under $200 and hooked it up to my LCD TV. Also my computer illiterate girlfriend has no problem using it. I do not see how it is hard to use MCE.
If you cant use MCE then you will never be able to use a Tivo or even a digital cable box.
Can you put your own downloaded movies on a Tivo? Or does that cost extra per month?
Also I could make a Dual HD tuner MCE for about $300 and one with cablecard support for about $400 to $500. All without a monthly fee.
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| Just part of future planning. We schedule computer replacement every three years or so for no other reason than moving technology.
I find it very hard to believe a quality HTPC can be built for $200 or even $500 being a Microsoft OS OEM from Newegg alone is $99, $100 per HD tuner, $80 cheap MB, $80 cheap CPU, $120 decent case, $70 HD, $60 good quiet PS, etc etc.
I don't download movies except via Netflix, but Tivo will handle Amazon movies, YouTube, and Disney.
It will also transfer pictures, music, and some video (not sure what types.. never done it) from any PC on your network to your Tivo unit to play on your TV.
The Netflix integretion works real well though. We've been pretty happy since it was a free add on. |
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 myosh
join:2001-05-03
Cupertino, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
 ·Comcast Formerl..
| reply to r81984
said by r81984:Are you joking. It makes no sense to have to pay a monthly fee to record TV shows. Why would you do that???? As the owner of two hi-def TiVos, I resent your original post and this reply. I don't pay monthly fees because I have lifetime service on both TiVos. Of course, I paid for one of my lifetime services back in 2000 (8 years ago) which was transferred to one of my hi-def TiVos.
said by r81984:My Windows Media Center does everything a Tivo does and more. Windows? Enough said. 
said by r81984:Real DVRs require no monthly fees. Tell that to the cable companies  |
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Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
| reply to r81984
said by r81984:Also I could make a Dual HD tuner MCE for about $300 and one with cablecard support for about $400 to $500. All without a monthly fee. And, that right there, you've blown the "MCE is cheaper" argument right out of the water. HD tivos are dual tuner and support cable cards. You're required to have cable card capabilities to get the digital channels from the cable company ... unless you want cable boxes to feed each encoder, and those have a monthly rental fee.
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
·row44
| said by nightdesigns:said by r81984:Also I could make a Dual HD tuner MCE for about $300 and one with cablecard support for about $400 to $500. All without a monthly fee. And, that right there, you've blown the "MCE is cheaper" argument right out of the water. HD tivos are dual tuner and support cable cards. You're required to have cable card capabilities to get the digital channels from the cable company ... unless you want cable boxes to feed each encoder, and those have a monthly rental fee. MCE is cheaper, no monthly fee and more features.
Also, cable companies are moving to switch digital video right now. It is only a short matter of time before your HD Tivo is worthless without an external box to make it work. Some markets already have switched digital video.
It makes no sense to buy an HD Tivo knowing it is already obsolete.
At least with a MCE you can upgrade it to support any new technology.
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
·row44
| reply to myosh
said by myosh:I resent your original post and this reply. I don't pay monthly fees because I have lifetime service on both TiVos. Of course, I paid for one of my lifetime services back in 2000 (8 years ago) which was transferred to one of my hi-def TiVos. What's the point of a lifetime subscription when you have to pay $200 to transfer it to a newer Tivo.
When they have true2way come out for switched digital video you will have to pay $400 on top of the price for two new Tivos.
Also, I just cannot understand why you have to pay a monthly fee or a fake lifetime subscription for a Tivo.
The TV guides are free so what does the monthly fee pay for?
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| reply to r81984
That's not entirely true.
Only Time Warner Cable has REALLY rolled out SDV.
SDV plans so far appears to have been scrapped by Comcast, instead they are just planning to rip analog channels as fast and easily as they can get away with.
COX rolled it out to portions of Arizona, but in other areas (like Oklahoma City) upgraded to a full 1 GHz cable plant to avoid it.
Cisco (Scientific Atlanta) and Motorola both have SDV Tuning Adapters ready for TiVo HD/Series3 when the cable companies that DO offer SDV get off thier a** and actually deploy them in the field at full speed. |
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Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
| reply to r81984
said by r81984:Also, cable companies are moving to switch digital video right now. It is only a short matter of time before your HD Tivo is worthless without an external box to make it work. Some markets already have switched digital video. Once again, your information about Tivos is incorrect. While the stock Tivo didn't have 2-way cable card access designed into it, tivo has released a "Tuning Resolver" that takes care of that issue. The product is being offered and installed at no charge by most cable companies.
Related to that, PCs equipped with cable cards run into the exact same 1-way communications. Your MCE PC will have the same SDV limitations as a tivo, but without a workaround. Also, per the terms of Cable Labs and Microsoft, an end user cannot build a MCE computer with Cable Card support. Only OEM manufactures have the ability to build, and certify, a system. Both are cable labs requirements for the system to work. If you find a work-around, most likely no cable companies will touch it because they are required to install and activate in approved systems only. A home-built PC, is not one.
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
·row44
| reply to SterlingJ85
There is no avoiding the upgrade.
If you want tru2way then you have to buy a new Tivo and if you have a fake lifetime subscription you loose it unless they let you switch for a lot of money.
For the price of all of that, you might as well just get MCE PC and get more for your money.
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
·row44
| reply to nightdesigns
said by nightdesigns:said by r81984:Also, cable companies are moving to switch digital video right now. It is only a short matter of time before your HD Tivo is worthless without an external box to make it work. Some markets already have switched digital video. Once again, your information about Tivos is incorrect. While the stock Tivo didn't have 2-way cable card access designed into it, tivo has released a "Tuning Resolver" that takes care of that issue. The product is being offered and installed at no charge by most cable companies. Related to that, PCs equipped with cable cards run into the exact same 1-way communications. Your MCE PC will have the same SDV limitations as a tivo, but without a workaround. Also, per the terms of Cable Labs and Microsoft, an end user cannot build a MCE computer with Cable Card support. Only OEM manufactures have the ability to build, and certify, a system. Both are cable labs requirements for the system to work. If you find a work-around, most likely no cable companies will touch it because they are required to install and activate in approved systems only. A home-built PC, is not one. Wow, thanks for admitting you have no idea what you are talking about.
You can build a MCE cable card PC right now. You do not have to buy it from OEM manufactures.
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Reviews:
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| said by r81984:Wow, thanks for admitting you have no idea what you are talking about. You can build a MCE cable card PC right now. You do not have to buy it from OEM manufactures. Then enlighten me and show me where I can find the parts. What I've seen has shown me otherwise, but maybe I'm wrong. Prove me wrong then.
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b10010011Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA Reviews:
·Comcast Formerl..
| reply to r81984
said by r81984:My Windows Media Center does everything a Tivo does and more. Really? Does it record shows from premium cable channels like HBO without using a cable box? My cableCARD equipped Tivo does that. I also do not pay a monthly fee since there are lifetime subscription options for Tivo. My cableCARD only cost $1.50 a month from Comcast. Their DVR was $15 and and HD cable box was $10 a month. |
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b10010011Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA Reviews:
·Comcast Formerl..
| reply to nightdesigns
said by nightdesigns:said by r81984:Wow, thanks for admitting you have no idea what you are talking about. You can build a MCE cable card PC right now. You do not have to buy it from OEM manufactures. Then enlighten me and show me where I can find the parts. What I've seen has shown me otherwise, but maybe I'm wrong. Prove me wrong then. Yes show me where I can get a cableCARD equipped PC tuner card with out having to buy a pre-built system |
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r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
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·row44
| You people are pathetic.
These are on Ebay all the time.
»cgi.ebay.com/ATI-TV-Wonder-Digit···294%3A50
»cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ATI-TV-WONDER-D···294%3A50
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 mech1164I'll Be Back
join:2001-11-19
Lodi, NJ
·Optimum Online
1 edit | Lets see on a third party auction site we need to buy these. Do you perhaps have these in you home built MCE and it is working with cablecards? I highly doubt it. First you need Vista Ult 64, then you need a main board that is certified with OCAP from CableLabs. There have been no Main boards advertised with OCAP certification in the wild. If there are they are either refurbished or stolen electronics.
As what M$ has stated publicly, the only systems able to have Cable Card support in Vista. Are ones built by OEM's. Last I looked those systems they're were all over 1K. Now you maybe able to configure one on Dell for less but you get less.
If you can do all this by all means show me I've been trying to do this for over 2 years now. |
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 Jmartz
join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ | reply to r81984
said by r81984:My Windows Media Center does everything a Tivo does and more. Also back in the day Replay TV was free, but Tivo sued them out of business because they were ruining their rip off market. Real DVRs require no monthly fees. Wait until your cable company gets rid of all analog channels and starts encrypting the digital QAM stuff. Your Windows Media Center PC will be worthless unless you have a CableCard. |
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| reply to Uncle Paul
I run a home brew DVR.
I took a older computer. It's siting behind my tv. make almost no noise
Celeron 1.5 gig system with a 5700 Nvidia card 500 gig Hard drive. 1 gig of ram. I run GBPVR gbpvr.com (FREE) which is a windows based system.
I added a Happenauge 1600 card to it. 59 bucks!
Now I just pay a yearly fee of 20 dollars for convenience of getting the EPG to update without input from me.
Currently I have the software to hold ALL of my mp3's so that my fiancee can listen to her music on the stereo in the living room. It also has Weather on it to let me know what the coming week is going to be with a Doppler radar already built in. It also has Net Radio which allows me to have a ton of channels from the internet streaming.
It allows me to access it remotely and setup a recording from anywhere in the world and after said recording is done I can download it to whereever I am to watch it.
Oh and I have a wireless card in it. |
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miscDude
join:2005-03-24
Hendersonville, NC | reply to r81984
said by r81984:Also, I just cannot understand why you have to pay a monthly fee or a fake lifetime subscription for a Tivo. The TV guides are free so what does the monthly fee pay for? Actually... The guide data isn't free.
Yes... there are places online you can get your guide information without paying for it, but if you bother to read the licensing agreements, it is "for non-commercial uses" only.
Company's like TiVO... or Even the MSO's, have to pay licensing fees to the company's they get their guide data from. A good portion of that monthly fee you pay to TiVO, or even for your box-rental fee from the cable company, actually go to cover cost of providing the guide data. |
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