 "Great But Caveat Emptor!" | 2008-10-01 |
| - Reviewed By rjoseph@erols.com |
I am an early adopter and bought the HD Series 3 when it first came out. For programming, it can't be beat. Tivo, and particularly the online scheduling feature, make the cable company provided DVR's look pathetic. Picture quality is great, everything great. However....
You must be aware that some cable companies broadcast certain HD channels in what is called Switched Digital Video (SDV)format. This is a two-way format designed, in theory, for interactive operations between the viewer and the channel. Tivo does not support SDV! That means that on my cable system, Cox, I cannot receive many HD channels including NFL Network and about 6 or 7 more.
Tivo has created and is testing a device that will interface between the Tivo USB port and the cable line to solve this problem. It was supposed to be available early this year. However, as of this writing (October 2008) it is still being tested according to Tivo tech support.
So buy an HD Tivo by all means. You'll love it. But be prepared not to be able to receive certain HD channels until the dongle is available if your cable provider broadcasts those channels in SDV. |
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 "Great DVR! But NOT for the budget-conscious..." | 2008-09-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: A365WSBYOCEEPL |
From the reviews I have read, TiVo Series 3 HD is the best TV experience. So far, I agree. But be prepared to open your wallet. TiVo box, TiVo subscription, etc. My alternative was Comcast DVR, which most reviewers have panned, so I ruled it out early on. I have never personally tried Comcast DVR.
With the Series 3, you *absoLUTEly* need TWO CableCARDs, regardless of card type (MCard or SCard). This is cited from the TiVo website. So be prepared to fight with CC (and their 3rd party installers) about this requirement. AND pay a monthly CC fee for the second CableCARD. I have two MCards installed in my TiVo.
You will also need the DVR Expander, which is avail from amazon for $150. This is essentially a 500GB hard drive with a E-SATA interface. Triples your HD TiVo storage from 30 HD hours to 90 HD hours. Don't be confused by the SD recording hours. No one buys the Series 3 to record SD.
Oh yeah, don't forget the TiVo-specific wireless network adapter. This plugs into a USB port on the TiVo box. Connects to your home wireless network. If you only have a vague idea what I am talking about, sorry, I can't help you.
Also, you need to KEEP your existing cable converter box, if you want to keep On Demand. Things like Howard Stern are ONLY available On Demand. If you don't care about On Demand-specific stuff, my understanding is, you can use the TiVo box as your converter box, and save the box monthly fee. I am not clear on those details.
IT J.
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 "Brand new TiVo was DOA (Dead on Arrival)" | 2008-09-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: A37JCIF9D5N89J |
| I received this item from Amazon, unpacked it and plugged it in. The result was the the item would not even power on. I would have returned the unit to Amazon but I called TiVo and they mistakenly told me to return it to them. Unfortunately, I received a refurbished unit in return. This was not Amazon's fault, but the fact that the first unit received from them did not even power on is the reason for the low rating. |
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 "Glad to have my TIVO back, but miss the bleeps" | 2008-08-28 |
| - Reviewed By poacher69 |
I have been without Tivo for over two years, and I have to say it has been painful. I relocated to Beijing two years ago and just moved back to the US this summer. When I left I didn't have an HD TV, but I bought one almost as soon as I returned. So I needed to upgrade to a new DVR, stupidly I assumed Comcast would have made some progress since I left and I ordered an HD DVR from them as part of my cable set-up.
When I lived in the US (Redmond, WA) I also used a Comcast DVR and Tivo. At that time Comcast, at least in my area, was doing a trial with Microsoft using their IPTV back-end infrastructure, and their DVR was based on that technology. It had a number of annoying bugs, but in general was quite useful. Since I have returned they appear to not be using Microsoft technology anymore and the new HD DVR from Comcast is just plan terrible.
It is probably one of the poorest designed UI's I have used in a long time. The guide is very nearly unusable, the DVR functionality is terrible. The only redeeming quality is the On Demand, but that really has nothing to do with the DVR. After suffering through the Comcast DVR for about two weeks I decided to get the Tivo Series 3. There seemed to be a lot of confusion online regarding which to pick Series 3 or HD.
The new Series 3 has worked great. The CableCard installation was a breeze, although I still need to get a second card so I can use dual tuners. When I went to Comcast they said I could only have one CableCard until I returned my DVR, which still has some shows on it I need to watch.
My only real complaint with the Series 3 has been some dropped audio, occasionally during a program (seems to happen more with HD) you will get a short period of video with no sound. Usually only last 3-5 seconds and not very often, so it really isn't a significant problem.
I would highly recommend getting a Series 3 Tivo if you watch even a small amount of TV.
I really miss with bleep-bleep sound when you fast forward. That was a Tivo audiomark and should never have been removed.
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| "Oh Tivo, how I love thee." | 2008-08-23 |
| - Reviewed By metalmeredith |
Even though I have to send units back a few times, even if Comcast can't get my crap straight, even though you crap out and make my recording life hell sometimes, I can't get away.
I love your graphics and cute little mascot. I haven't had any bad customer service and I still am OK with it.
You have changed my life. Sometimes we are over the moon. Sometimes, I am in the worst relationship ever. But you make me so happy, I can't get away. |
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| "Excellent DVR." | 2008-08-18 |
| - Reviewed By alanh42 |
After our local cable company "upgraded" the firmware on the DVR we were renting from them, it became obvious that it was time to look at alternatives.
After reading many reviews, I decided to get the Series3. It is an excellent DVR. TiVos in general have been covered in many reviews, but here are the big things I've noticed:
Plusses:
* Swivel Search is really nice and lets you find programs pretty easily.
* It learns what you like quickly and starts recording extra suggestions.
* The interface is fast except when you re-shuffle some of your recording priorities.
* The front display is excellent: It's really neat to be able to see what it's recording at all times.
Minues:
* Some programs (e.g. The Daily Show/Colbert Report) don't set the new/re-run status, and TiVo records the extraneous during the day showings.
* the cable company DVR had the ability to keep a program playing in a window(either live or recorded) while looking at the list of recorded programs. With recent firmware, the TiVo can do this with the program guide (as an overlay, not a window), but doesn't seem to do it with the Now Playing list or parts of the UI.
* My cable company won't let me have most of my HD channels unless I rent either their HD-DVR or their cheaper cable-box, despite the fact that I have the TiVo and CableCards rented.
Other things to note:
* It's a little disconcerting to not have an on/off switch.
* The TiVo-To-Go works, but it doesn't seem to send copyrighted shows (i.e. 99% of content) to the PC. The other way (PC -> TiVo) works great. This might be user error on my part, I haven't investigated thoroughly. It does automatically convert into iPod format and load it up onto my iPod.
Overall, it is an excellent device. It is a little expensive though. |
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| "TIVO USED WITHOUT TV CONNECTION" | 2008-08-09 |
| - Reviewed By scohn@home.com |
| I purchased the unit for organizing my videos and connecting to utube. I have directtv service so I cant use the tv options. I now have all my audio, video and music files stored on the unit. Access has never been easier.It does a perfect job and with the $200 discount well worth the money. All my media is organized perfectly. |
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| "No complaints" | 2008-07-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHP4VXV70W8VO |
| After owning a Series 1 SVR2000 for over 9 years that still works great (and regretting not having purchased the lifetime membership) I finally decided to buy this Series 3 to be able to record HD programming. It delivers the same straightforward experience I was used to with my Series 1, and the universal remote now has more features. My big concern was getting the 2 cablecards working since I had read many online horror stories before getting the Tivo and was bracing myself, but either the cable compaines have improved or I got lucky because the dual cablecard setup was painless and took under 15 minutes. IMO, the Tivo Series 3 is not a device you can't live without, so I'd wait until there's a special price for either the device, the lifetime membership service or both. |
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| "I'm overjoyed with the Series 3 capabilities" | 2008-07-08 |
| - Reviewed By greghdfw |
I've owned a TiVo for over 8 and a half years and can no longer live without one. It's what I've wanted all my TV-watching life. I recently bought an HD TV and needed to upgrade to an HD TiVo in order to take advantage of the new HD resolution.
While waiting for the HD TiVo to arrive, I got an HD cable box recorder from Time Warner. It did the job but was difficult to use and I filled it up half way in about a week. But it worked in a pinch. It's like comparing an old cell phone with an iPhone. They both make calls, but there's no comparison beyond that as far as ease of use. No one can compare with TiVo for that.
My existing Tivo was old technology, but I had upgraded it with larger hard drives (started with only 14 hour capacity but now have 300 hours) and an internet connection for downloading TV shows through various hacks. Still, I have been missing out on the latest TiVo technology.
The HD Tivo is amazing! I'm glad I was able to wait until the Series 3 HD version was available. HD capability is a must for me now, and the Series 3 lets you add an extra hard drive for more capacity without having to hack it! In fact, the new TiVo does almost EVERYTHING I used to do with my old hacked TiVo--and more--without the need for hacking.
You are legally allowed to download TV shows from your TiVo to your computer and convert them for your iPod or even burn them to DVDs (for your own use!). You are also allowed to UPLOAD your own movies or TV show episodes to your TiVo for easy viewing)! And you can rent movies and have them loaded onto your TiVo for you. It will also show photos and play music from your computer. You can schedule recordings for your unit from the TiVo web site from any web browser. This is everything you would want, and more--and all without hacking! And it all works on my Mac (PCs, too, of course).
Also, I didn't know what I was missing by not having a dual-tuner recorder all this time. I have very few recording conflicts now and usually shows record without me even knowing that it's happened. With two cable cards installed from my cable company, I no longer need my cable box (that saves me about $8/month). The TiVo can run everything and change channels instantly--no more IR blaster hanging in front of the cable box to change channels (or miss changing, occasionally). There's a little display on the front of the unit that shows the name of the TV shows currently being recorded, along with a clock. Neat!
There are even a few games on the TiVo you can play using the remote!
Best of all, the lifetime subscription is available again (at a discount if you already have a TiVo). And the price of the recorder has dropped substantially ($200 rebate coupons are regularly available). This makes it very affordable for the function. After all, this is a device that I use every day and it's working for me 24-hours a day, searching for shows I may like -- suggestions to fill any free space it may have. There's ALWAYS something good on TV with the TiVo on the job. And now, it's in high-def.
The HD video takes up quite a bit more space than standard definition, however. The 30 hours of HD (or 300 standard) weren't going to be enough for me, so I also got the expansion drive for about $150, which gives about 60 more hours of HD. I haven't needed it, but probably will soon (once you connect it, it's there for life--so I'm waiting until I'm full).
Anyway, I don't see how you can go wrong with this. I wish my old TV had broken earlier so I could have lived in this luxury sooner. I've had mine for a couple of weeks now and I'm just overjoyed with it. |
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| "High-tech marvel !!" | 2008-07-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2GB1VH12KRU4G |
This box is simply outstanding. As a Tivo enthusiast I was already familiar with the great service features and my old Series 2 has served faithfully. I'd researched before buying the Series 3HD but still I was unprepared for just how cool this thing really is. With two CableCards installed and both Tivo boxes wireless networked I can watch a recorded program, transfer a program, and record a favorite -- simultaneuosly!!
The video quality is greatly improved coming through the 3HD -- even regular TV looks better.
My one gripe is that I was forced to by the Tivo wireless USB adapter.
I had a perfectly good Linksys G but the Series 3 box only supports its own adapter(a discounted $40 @ Amazon, by the way).
All in all I am very pleased with Series 3 HD and glad that I started building my new home theater system with it as a key component. |
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