Comcast/TiVO Units Arrive

Why would I want to pay more for TiVo DVR when the current DVR option from Compast works just fine.

You have never used a Tivo, have you...

Vastly superior to any other DVR interface!!!!!

Tivo users are like Mac users, it's like belonging to a cult.

In reality Tivo, like any other DVR, is just a glorified VCR.

BTW: I am a Tivo user, I just don't think its that big of deal.

Have you ever used a cable co DVR... You'll see how superior they are.....

A friend has 2 Tivos, including the Series 3. The interface is better, no doubt. BUT - I can record everything I want with the Comcast supplied Motorola DVR. Why should I pay extra. It doesn't record the shows I want any faster. And playback is the same. And it has dual tuners recording while watching a 3rd recorded show.

If I didn't have to pay more, I'd get it. But the added functionality isn't worth the extra money to me or many others. And to the negative side, real Tivo hardware(not for Comcast software version) uses cablecards, which have been nothing but a huge headache for my friend. Problems getting them working, and a couple of failures since then.

I also have a series3 with cable cards, but through Cox. Have never had any problems with them.
Sorry that your friend does...

Yes, The normal Cable Co DVR works fine,

Bur I love the Tivo and the way it organized and prioritized recordings...

I have 50+ things in my "Season pass" list and can prioritize them so in case more that 2 are on at a time it will record the ones that are higher up...

my SA8300HD doesn't do anything remotely similar....

My Motorola dual tuner DVR with Comcast has always had this feature. Nothing ground breaking there.

I hope this means Cox might be getting Tivo's soon too. (I heard they were) I have a SD Tivo that we use for some shows. I have used Cox's horrid SA DVR and damn that thing sucks. I canceled it a few weeks after I got it.

Tivo is gonna be available on Motorola Boxes long before they are ready on SA boxes....

I had a Tivo and swapped to Comcast DVR because of HD. The Comcast DVR pales in comparison to the Tivo. I can't wait until the software comes along.

Luckily I'm in New England

I have a Comcast/Moto DVR and haven't used a TIVO. How is the TIVO better? I'm not doubting that it is, I am just curious about how.

Tivo actually makes an effort to keep guide data up to date, it will suggest shows for you to watch based on your preferences and a host of other options. Go visit their website.

You'll watch more tv because of Tivo and it's great and finding things you like or might like and keeping it there to be watched. It takes the greatest advantage of it's available space to keep you supplied with tv content. And not at the expense of what you really want recorded.

Differences can many
1. Network to home PC
2. Offload content to a PC to burn to DVD or use as extra storage
3. Some believe guide is superior(I am on the fence)
4. Season Pass options
5. Higher picture quality then some
6. Set programs to record via internet or cell(Verizon has the ability not sure of others)
7. Modification to increase storage internally.

Keep in mind differences will depend on how much Comcast incorporate. I currently have a Moxi through Charter. I like my Moxi with Mate. Moxi Mate allows viewing of Content on many unit at another location.

I'd be surprised if any of those other than 3. and 4. are present on the Comcast version.

All features should be active on comcast tivos. We wouldnt spend a chum load of money on a deal with tiVo to get a slightly prettier version of our current dvr's...

Thas not an official statement of course, but i havent heard anything but positives about the branded tivos...

Def No Tivo to go....

Which is #2

No way for Moto DVR to access home network....

MOT boxes have the feature built in, it's just not enabled. The MOT boxes are happy to talk to each other and the external net, Comcast just needs to enable. I'd pay extra to watch box 1 recording off Box 2 television and vice-versa. I forget the keystrokes, but you can see the box's MAC address and it can pull an IP address off a router, if only it were.... enabled.
JOE

It's not a branded TiVO (as for example Directv used to use). It's just TiVO software running on the existing DVR hardware. That's why you will only get software-only features, and even then only if Comcast want them.

Well, DIRECTV seriously locked down thier TiVos... think: No Home Media Option, Internet video, etc.

Comcast Tivo will be software only. Not separate Tivo hardware boxes. So, some of those advantages you list won't be available.

Im a techno-consumer of long standing. I have for the last year used BOTH a TiVo series 2 AND a Comcast Motorola 2 channel DVR. Why do that? Because the TiVo EXPERIENCE is orders of magnitude easier, more pleasant, and better able to serve my TV watching needs than the poorly concieved nightmare that is in the Comcast/Motorola solution.
I tolerate the buggy Comcast solution only because it allows me (with considerable increase in my blood pressure) to record specific programs in HD. I do not trust it to actually succeed in recording a program in HD so I ALWAYS tell TiVo to record it also in normal definition. Does that tell you something? I have 35 years of experience in the computer business as an engineer. It is not for lack of understanding that this difference exists. TiVo is simply orders of magnitude better crafted than the other solution.
Now that TiVo has an HD box that is affordable ($299), I'll probably get one of those and use the Motorola hardware as a boat anchor.

Wow, I don't have Tivo, but I do have the DVR on the SA8300. It is easy to use, and always works perfectly. It records in HD, and can record 2 shows at once. To record a show, you simply go to the guide, highlight the show, and press the select button, then the accept button to record it. I can't believe you are having trouble doing that???

I had a SA8300 and it was crap. It crashed alot, had problems playing back recordings, and worst of all, I could not record PPV shows. The interface was poorly designed and so was the remote layout.
The only redeeming feature it had was the ability to record 2 channels at once, but even that was not enough to save it as I sent it back to the cable company and built a MythTV box. It has been a few years and I hope the SA software has gotten better, but if they can't even compete with free software, then what good are they?

I have had my 8300HD for about a year and it's easy to use and has never had a problem. I just wish it had a larger drive inside - 80GB doesn't allow you to save that much HD content.

Maybe being a former Adelphia area has something to do with the box performing without any flaws. The vod interface is very slow though, but that has more to do with Comcast than it has to do with the box.

Maybe - I have only seen the Motorola, which is a piece of junk. Remote freezes, forgets shows you have recorded, no To-Do List, no way to remove channels you don't want, goes by time and channel rather than name, forgets the guide data when you have to reboot it by unplugging the thing, remote is a confusing nightmare, remote isn't strong enough to control it without aiming directly at it, no automatic 8-second rewind after 60x fast forward, and a 5-line Guide data of which the 5th line is an AD that you have to click over each time. And to switch tuners you press a tiny button at the bottom that was originally for the PIP features. No internet scheduling, no querying and looking at the Now Playing List from your computer via the web interface, no downloading of recorded shows to your computer, no uploading of photos, videos and audio tracks to the DVR, it weighs a ton, and tends to overheat.

Entering a character string for a search involves using four "widgets", one for each of the first four letters, which each contain the alphabet. TiVo uses a "Ouijaboard" technique with all the letters on a grid, and you can enter as many as you want, including Boolean operators.Can you display ONE screen that has all your upcoming "shows to be recorded?" Can you remove channels that you don't want to see in the Guide? Can you see more than 4 channels per page in the Guide?

Orders of magnitude better? Laugh.

The moto dual tuner HD-DVR does have its issues (poor software) I've not once had issues with reliability in recording series/programs. I've used 2 in my homes since they were implemented years ago.

And though $299 is "affordable" for some things, a HD DVR box that is essentially free through other providers (DISH, Comcast etc) is not. $0 vs. $300.

Though I do know someone that has issues on not getting things recorded properly... my wife. Does that tell you something?

My HD DVR box is not free. It costs 9.95/month and I have had it since Jan 05. So I have paid $308.45 for it so far. I got an offer for buying a Tivo HDVR and converting my lifetime service agreement for a total of $500. If I use it for 4.5 years it will pay for itself, when I compare it directly to my cable DVR box. If you are into the DVR long term buying one is not so bad a deal.

The beauty is... that you don't. You can keep your current DVR.

seems that Comcast keeps finding ways to take your wallet and make it thinner? will they do away with the DVR recorder and eventually force you to use the TIVO?

god i hope they do...but with no cost increase. this is absolutely a money grab, they are replacing an inadequate supplier (whoever wrote the software for the current monstrosities) with a superiour one, but they should not make getting FUNCTIONAL software a paid "add on"

"why would i want to pay more for X when my current Y works just fine!"

"why would i want to pay more for a JAGUAR when my current GEO METRO works just fine!"

"why would i want to pay more for a HAIRCUT WITH A BARBER OR STYLIST when my current FLOWBEE VACUUM HAIRCUT SYSTEM works just fine!"

this is fun!

It won't change your world, but it sure is a noticeable improvement in usability. Keep in mind, it won't cost much extra per month, probably just $2.79.

Can you transfer captured files off it? If so, ill sign up. If not, whats the purpose of having a recording device that you cant offload videos to DVD-R?

NOTE: Dubing to VHS or DVD RW unit using S-Video cables is a piss poor low res option for people living in the freaking 1980s!!

You can transfer file from 1 tivo to

1. PC
2. Another Tivo in the network
3. Tivo over internet

also
Convert Tivo to portable format
Convert internet video to Tivo format and view it on your favorite TV
Download from Amazon and watch shows/movies

Nope. Not with the Comcast Tivo.

software is the chit man..lol seriously I would choose tivo software over cable... cable or anyone wont come close to tivo since they pretty much own the rights of almost every leet feature

I agree Moto freezes up on occasion but it's really not that bad of a DVR. Allows me to prioritize shows, record 2 at the same time and in HD, I can specify additional time outside the shows scheduled window (good for sport events).

I may be a light user, from the sound of some of you there may be dozens of shows you watch. Wish I had that much time.

It's just a dvr. Just like Yugo and Lexus are just cars. HA!!! All you Yugo drivers can stick with your Yugo since you don't know what you're missing!

We are giving comcast a chance after a couple of years with DirectTV/Tivo. So far we are very frustrated with the poor performance of the standard and HD motorolla DVRs that Comcast provides.

Here are the things I absolutely hate:

1) We have daily problems with the unit not recognizing remote commands in realtime for rewind/fast forward. Sometimes there is a delay of up to 30 seconds before the remote command takes effect, which makes it very frustrating when you fast forward through a commercial and it races for twenty minutes worth of content. We also miss the quarter segments that Tivo provides, allowing you to quickly skip to the 15/30/45/60 minute time slots on a show.

2) The guide stupidly labels all episodes as new, even when it is being shown as a repeat. This leads to a cycle where we watch a show, and delete it, and the DVR records a repeated showing of the same episode within the same week.

3) The DVR frequently thinks it is 100% full, when it is really only 30% full. This causes it to miss recording shows for no reason.

4) When watching live TV or playing back a recorded show, the sound will mysteriously quit working. You have to change the channel to make it come back.

5) About once a week the unit will just freeze, forcing us to power it down to get it to work again.

6) We've had problems where the unit started to record a 30 minute show, and failed to stop recording, filling up the disk space with 10+ hours from the same channel. We've also had another problem where the first 5 minutes and final 15 minutes of a show were all that recorded. The middle part was garbled and caused the system to quickly jump to the 45 minute mark.

The worst part is the attitude that comcast has. When you explain these problems to them all of the technicians say they deal with the same problems themselves, and they just expect us to deal with an inferior product.

Arrive where? No one has one. Pure BS.