TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder
by TiVo
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List Price: Our Price: $139.99 You Save: $360.00 (72%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Receiver or Amplifier See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder
Customer Review: Puts the Motorola DCT6412 to Shame
Summary: 5 Stars
We bought our TiVo Series 3 to replace a Motorola DCT6412 issued by Comcast. Both devices handle their basic functions competently, but the TiVo has the advantage of having been designed by someone who devoted more than a half-second of thought to the user interface. Thus, the TiVo is loaded with simple but invaluable features such as the ability to remember your previous menu selections so that frequently-repeated commands require a minimum of navigation, or the fast-forward feature that anticipates how far a user is likely to skip past the desired point and restarts play-back a few seconds earlier than the point where the user stopped fast-forwarding.
The TiVo remote is 1000% better than the Motorola's. It is designed far more sensibly, with buttons that are easy to reach and easy to distinguish in the dark, and a separate on/off button for the TV. (The Motorola remote has a single on/off button, requiring the user to activate the TV function before pressing the off button, lest he accidentally turn off the DVR.)The TiVo remote is much better at communicating with the TV; the Motorola remote often failed to work unless it was aimed at a precise spot (even with new batteries).
The Motorola DVR has also been very buggy, though that improved over the past year (presumably through software updates received from Comcast). Once these bugs were fixed, my opinion of the Motorola box improved to the point where I'd recommend it for someone looking for a low-budget DVR solution. For someone who is willing to pay a bit more (and note that the TiVo Series 3 has come way down in price over the past year), you do get what you pay for.
Customer Review: Bugs have been fixed
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had my Series 3 for over one month now. I was hesitant to buy it at first due to the previous reviews noting limited functionality (TiVo To Go, etc.), but, noting the age of the other reviews (from 2006), I did some more research. I found newer articles (from late 2007, early 2008) stating that the problems have been resolved, so I decided to evaluate it during the 30-day trial period. And they really have been resolved :)
All of the bugs mentioned in other reviews have been fixed, including TiVo To Go and all the other features you don't get with your cable company. However, I should qualify this by saying that, with digital programming, sometimes the company puts "blocks" that prevent you from transferring the recording; that's an anti pirating problem sweeping throughout the entertainment industry, and not a TiVo problem. When TiVo obeys the law by stopping you from transferring something to your hard drive, it clearly states why.
I checked all the other negatives posted (except the one about hard drive expansion because I don't have or need an external drive) and I don't have problems with any of them.
I wouldn't pay full price to take the series three over the new, less expensive HD Series 2 (there aren't that many differences between them that an external hard disk can't solve), but with the huge Amazon discount in conjunction with the TiVo rebate, the difference in price is not that much and is worth it.
Now, if only TiVo would make a unit with three or more tuners... primetime has too many shows playing simultaneously for me to record all the ones I like!
Customer Review: Great DVR
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, it's expensive.
Sometimes you get what you pay for. This is one of those times.
We bought a Tivo Series 1 about six months after it was introduced and loved it. Even my wife, who made fun of me when a bought "another guy thing", told me that it was great two weeks after I bought it. TWO WEEKS. That's a record. Most people understand that you can use it to record shows. What they don't understand is that you use it all the time, even when you're not recording. Phone rings? No problem, pause the show you're watching and answer the phone. A character say something you didn't understand. Just go back and listen to it again. It's kind of like the phone. I don't know my wife's office phone number; I just know it's number 1 on the speed dial. Tivo is the same way. I don't know what time Friday Night Lights is on (great show btw), I just know that Tivo records it.
What's this got to do with the Series 3? Simply this, we waited to upgrade to HDTV until there would be a Tivo that could handle it. Now, strangely enough, we don't feel the need for the HDTV. The Series 3 gives two big improvements over our old machine. First, because it uses cable cards, it can record shows off of two channels at once. Very cool. Second, because it has a large hard drive, I can record SDTV shows at highest quality and not worry about running out of space. The old Tivo tended to pixilate fast movement which could be irritating. This is not a problem with the new system.
The only downside to this device is that it is overpriced but hey, some things are worth it.
Customer Review: Great DVR! But NOT for the budget-conscious...
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Finally TiVo in HD
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been waiting for this product for quite some time and it is finally here. It has all the great TiVo functionality and ease of use with stunning sound and video. No longer are there artifacts when recording digital cable channels, the picture quality is spectacular, and the ability to record two channels at once exactly what I have been looking for. It has been a long time in coming, and it isn't inexpensive -- but the software is far superior, TiVo lets you transfer your lifetime subscription (for a not insignificant fee) to this new device, and it is loaded with unexpected niceties. The CableCard order was the hardest thing, but I received the units before the TiVo and it only took a few minutes of my time to have the cable company provision my card and I was up and running. Also paying $1.50 a month for each card beats the $13.95 I was paying just for the HD cable box -- without a DVR and no hopes of ever purchasing one at any price and thus always being at the mercy of the cable company and their yearly equipment rental fee increases. All of the DVRs I have seen other than TiVo are less than user friendly and lack adequate storage -- and whenever the cable company decides to change the software you loose all of your programming, parental controls, etc. TiVo gives you great software support as well as a superior product, despite the price it gets an A+ from me. Also given the future potential expansion with the external SATA interface this is a product that cannot be beat.