Recent Comments:
Netflix instant streaming demoed on PlayStation 3 (updated with more video!) {Engadget HD}
Nov 6th 2009 3:02PM The 360 has the "prettiest" interface graphically, but for usability I prefer the Netflix interface on Tivo. The Tivo interface is the only one that presents a list of titles as text. I personally find it easier to recognize movies by name than by picture.
Forget HDTV and 3D, when is Ultra HDTV / Super Hi-vision coming home? {Engadget HD}
Nov 4th 2009 5:35PM These predictions are ludicrous. We can't even get current HDTV content delivered at reasonable bit rates today except via OTA and blu ray. There's no way anything that requires more bandwidth will get "flipped on" in the next 10 years. 22.2 audio spec? Give me a break, almost nobody is going to install that many speakers.
Best Buy partnering with CinemaNow to stream first-run DVDs to 'all web-connected devices sold' {Engadget HD}
Nov 3rd 2009 11:09AM Yay, poor quality over-compressed video everywhere.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 30th 2009 1:19PM @ Behemoth:
Actual Tivo HD power consumption has been measured in the 33-35 watt range.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 6:56PM Moxi "has no monthly fee" because you pay for it up front. Tivo gives you that option as well, it's called "product lifetime service". Lack of recurring fees is not a valid reason to choose Moxi over Tivo. There are other tradeoffs and differences between Moxi and Tivo that should be considered. There is a good comparison matrix posted on avsforum for anyone who is interested.
Note also that the future of the Moxi standalone DVR product is uncertain at this time, since the company was recently bought out.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 6:43PM @Matt:
"12.95 for tivo service PLUS $2-$5 to rent a cable card = about $17 a month."
You resort to a worst-case example in your effort to argue that Tivo is bad, so you are showing a bias here. The reality is that cablecard rental often costs $0-2/month, it just depends on the service provider. If someone has a service provider that charges $5/mo for cablecard rental (which is rare), than Tivo may not be cost effective for them. Fine. That doesn't mean that Tivo can't be a good solution for someone else.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 6:25PM @ Matt: Cablecard rental fees are provider dependent. Sometimes there is a fee, sometimes there is not. Comcast, for example, normally provides one cablecard per digital outlet for no additional fee.
As far at what makes Tivo "better", it is generally regarded as being more reliable at recording your scheduled programs. It is also generally regarded as having a better/easier UI. And it has added features that a rental DVR does not, such as the ability to transfer recordings to/from a PC, wishlists & suggestions to help you find programming, etc. How about a simple thing like removing channels that you don't want from the Guide? Can your cable-supplied DVR do that? My understanding is that most can not.
If you don't care about these differences, and granted some people don't, then a rental DVR is probably a better solution for you. I'm not arguing that Tivo is perfect or is best for everyone. It is certainly not. But it can still be a great solution for people who appreciate what it has to offer.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 4:16PM "In the grand scheme of things when you "make your money back" in two years, was it really worth it?"
Imho, yes it is. With Tivo you also got to enjoy a better DVR for the 2-3 years it takes to break even. I think it really depends on whether you can afford the upfront investment in Tivo. As blackacex2 said, if you don' t have the money for Tivo, then just rent.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 4:10PM Your Comcast HD DVR is not $8.95 per month. You are also paying an additional "HDTV" fee for an HD-capable box. That fee is generally about $8/mo, so you are probably paying $16.95+taxes per month to rent that HD DVR from Comcast. With Tivo you do not pay that additional HDTV fee. Tivo is the cheaper solution in the long term if you can afford to pay for it up front:
Cost of Comcast DRV rental for 3 years: $17 x 36 = $612
Cost of Tivo HD + 3 years service: $250 + $299 = $549
Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 4:01PM That's not a valid decision criteria. Cost of Media Center PC + dual cablecard tuners > Cost of Tivo + prepaid lifetime service.
