I've had Dishnet for over 6 months and couldn't be happier with it. I haven't yet found any site which does a real comparision of feature-for-feature of all the available recording systems. As I see it, they all have their advantages and disadvantages. None are perfect, but they certainly have made the VCR almost obsolete.

One of the things I like about Dishnet is that you rent the equipment (not sure if you can buy it). I've been burned so many times before, buying tech equipment/systems, and finding out after a few years that it has become outdated or obsolete, and almost impossible to sell. I'm sure the current Tivo-type systems will go the same way before very long (replaced by recordable CD type receivers?).

 

I would definitely go with the new ReplayTV box. It's called Sonic Blue and it sounds bad@$$! They are actually running a special for preorders on the new system until the 15th of November. There are four models. They are all the same as far as features go, but the storage is the only difference. I think they are offerred in 40, 80, 160, and 320 hours storage levels and the product number is all in the 4000 series like 4040, 4080, 4160, and 4320. And this box has no monthly fees. It works with your satellite or cable box.

The special offer is pretty sweet. If you preorder the system online, you won't have to pay for it for 6 months. The only thing you have to cover is the shipping of the box. They will also install the box for free. You do need a broadband internet connection in your house to use this box, but the free installation includes wiring it to your hub, wherever that's at in the house.

I'm looking at the comparison sheet now and here's the highlights...

-record and pause live TV
-no monthly fees
-up to 320 hours of capacity
-auto skip commercials
-send shows to freinds and family over the web
-download broadcast quality TV shows over the web
-progressive output for great video quality
-store digital photos and view them on your TV
-share programs between DVR's in your home
-control the DVR when you're away via the web
-ethernet port for home networking
-high-speed internet connectivity

I don't know if this is all up to date with Tivo services, but this is the only options they list for them in the comparison guide...

-record and pause live TV
-$9.95 per month or $249 one time fee
-up to 60 hours of capacity

I thought the coolest feature on the ReplayTV unit is the fact that you can log onto a "MyReplayTV" website and program what shows you want recorded from any computer in the world. Because the unit is hooked up to the web with the ethernet connection, this is possible. And the fact that you don't have to pay monthly fees is nice.

I'd say the only downside is that in order to do the 6 month no payment plan, you have to get the 80, 160 or 320 versions. The 40 hour one isn't eligible. And the price isn't that cheap. The 80 hour unit is priced at $999.00. The 40 hour one is $699 which is cheaper but still pricey. I guess not having to pay until May will give me time to put the money aside to pay for it.

Here's the link to the special offer that's good until November 15th.
SonicBlue ReplayTV Special Preorder Offer

Oh, and I think they said that the units will deliver at the end of November/early December. And you will also have a 30 day money back guarantee if you aren't satisfied with the product.

 

One thing that pushes me towards the TIVO is that it is based upon Linux. There are a bunch of hacks out there for it. My buddy bought one a couple of months ago. Currently he has it streaming video over the net (similar to what the new Replay TV boxes can do), he has added a 2nd hard drive for a whopping 160 Gig of HD space, can remote control the TIVO over the net, has it doing caller ID for his phone to display the incoming phone numbers on his TV, and may have done other hacks that I don't know about. If you're a techie hacker type the TIVO may interest you for this reason. Oh, and you can disable the viewer tracking feature with a hack too .

 

I dunno. It just cost too much money. I will live with my PC next the TV. And, the PC is armed with GeForce 3 with Personal Cinema. It is everybit capable of ReplayTV and Tivo. Also, it comes with Remote, and I can play 3D games and Dance dance revolution.

 

Personally, I think the TiVo is the best thing since the VCR became commonplace. I fully expect all higher end (32" and up) TVs will include TiVo functionality from the manufacturer within 5 years.

I have a Phillips 30 hr system which comes with a 30 GB hard drive. I added a 100 GB hard drive to it for $250 and an hour's worth of work and I have 145 hrs at basic quality or 42.5 hrs at best quality.

I've seen 20 hr TiVos going for $99 for the box and then you are charged $9.95/month or $250/lifetime. Add a bigger hard drive to the 20 hr box and you're set.

TiVo makes no money on the boxes. Sony and Phillips sell the hardware. TiVo only makes money on the subscription. You can use the box without the subscription, but many of the functions don't work without the tv guide. They also put up nag screens saying you should subscribe as per the license that came with the hardware.

Also, keep in mind that the hr rating is at lowest quality and is not something you would want to record with. At high quality, divide the hours in 2 and at best quality divide by 3.

I have a cable box as well and the TiVo comes with an IR transmitted that you tape to the front of the cable box. It works flawlessly.
[QUOTE][B]Just a quick note.

 

I just read Tivo's privacy policy. It has some minor problems but overrall it's pretty consumer friendly. They even offer you the option of opting out of their collection of data. It's certainly much better than the Replay TV privacy policy, which I reviewed earlier today. I'll be modifying my original post accordingly.

 

Tanq,
I have had TIVO for about a year. I really love the Service. I have a Phillips unit which crapped out after about 6 months (out of warantee), but the fixed it for 1/2 price ~$50.
The unit works well with cable. If you have a cable box it will work with the "IR blaster" to change stations.
I have dish and cable and an OTA antenna feeds. The problem with using the Dish/TIVO unit is that it does not record CATV or OTA. My understanding is that it will only record Dish Feed.
It is truly a great service, now if it would only record HD, aaahhh, now that would be wonderful.
I would definitely choose TIVO over Replay, just on the financial standings alone. I think that a PVR is a PVR, the services might differ slightly, but in the ebd you are recording and/or watching the feed from some other source.

 

The new ReplayTV box is going to be awesome. I'm sure Tivo will come out with something similar or better, since these two companies always seem to leap frog eachother with every release they put out.

 

I just suffered a "brain fart" and missed recording the second part of the season premiere of the X-files! I have been very "gassy" lately and am now thinking seriously about a PVR. Sony has a new model out ( called the 2000 or something like that) It has a retail of 399 with a $100 rebate. It is a 30 hour unit, I noticed that this is good for about 15 hrs in the middle mode. How good is this quality? VHS quality? Beta Quality? Laser Disc? I'd assume that the best quality is equal to DVD.

For those in the "know" is this the beat time to make a move? Or is the new introduction of ReplayTV's new machine going to drive prices down on these "older" Tivo units.

Finally, it seems like the "lifetime" plan is for the life to the box, not the customer. It also appears to transfer if the box is sold, meaning you need to buy it again if the unit "dies" or you decide to upgrade. Is this correct? Thanks for your help on this, funny, I'm an old Consumer electronics veteran, but being out of the business for the last 6 years means I need help from others...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Strike
[B]I just read Tivo's privacy policy.