TiVo TCD649180 Series2 180 Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been using this unit for a couple days now, and so far I have to say I'm very pleased.

Before purchasing this, I was using a satellite receiver with a dual TiVo DVR built into it.I loved how simple it was and I was kind of unsure about switching over to cable with a separate TiVo unit, but the ability to connect it to my PC is what ultimately drew me in (more on that later though).

Here is a summary of my review, if you would like more detailed thoughts feel free to read on.I'll try not to bore you too much.If you just want the bottom line, feel free to bypass my wall of text and skip down to the last section, Overall Satisfaction.:)

Packaging :: A+
Activation :: B-
Plan Pricing :: B+
Setup :: A+
TiVo Experience :: A
Customer Service :: A-
PC Connectivity :: A
Overall Satisfaction :: A+

Packaging (aka: Can I split a splitter?) :: A+
So I received the unit and opened it up, and for starters I was pretty impressed at the organization of the packaging.The basic installation poster was very easy to follow, the cables and items necessary for setup were neatly organized into separate bags, clearly labeled and such, it was nice to not have to suffer through any confusing instructions.One thing to note, the packaging contents does not list that it comes with a standard coaxial cable splitter (to use for the dual tuner), but it does.I bought one before I received the TiVo in preparation and didn't need it, don't make the same mistake I did!

Activation (aka: Deja Vu) :: B-
I went online to activate the TiVo service through their website and ran into my first problem.The website would accept my TiVo number (step 1) and ask my personal information (step 2), I'd click "next" and it would go right back to asking for my TiVo number (step 1!).I tried a couple of times to activate it over the internet but it would not work, so I had to call the phone number (talk to a real person, OH NO!).Upon calling, the wait time was a little longer than I would have liked, but once I got to an associate the process was very simple and took very little time.They activated my TiVo and set me up with my pricing plan which brings me to...

Activation (aka: Deja Vu) :: B-
...Just kidding.

Plan Pricing (aka: Where'd my money go?) :: B+
The only gripe I have about the pricing is that it's a little more than what I was paying before.Still, it seems like the standalone TiVo is more robust and so I'll put up the extra money for it.I won't get into the numbers though, because I think that's against the guidelines here.

Setup (aka: The TiVo bone's connected to the cable bone) :: A+
As I stated earlier, the basic setup poster that comes with the TiVo is very easy to follow.Setup for me was easy, but I was also coming from a very similar setup and am somewhat savvy about this sort of thing.My wife, being not so savvy, may have had a harder time, but I'm not convinced it would have been impossible for her.All you really have to do is hook up the TiVo in between your cable signal (basic and/or from the cable box) and your TV (or VCR if you want to be able to tape stuff from your TiVo).

TiVo Experience (aka: What ... he .... say?) :: A(overall)
So, everything's all set, I turn everything on, everything seems to be working!After looking around for a few minutes, I notice two things that are off...
1) The clock is wrong.
2) The sound is cutting in and out.
After checking all connections and determining that the sound issue is most likely something within the TiVo, I call customer service... (Oh No!!Another real person!!)...we'll get back to my TiVo experience in a moment...

Customer Service (aka: Crappy hold music...) :: A-
I call up customer service and again have to wait a long time to talk to someone.Once they get on the phone though, I get to talk to a very pleasant and helpful person.They quickly determine that the time issue is only related to the daylight saving time change and will fix itself after updating the TiVo (Go to Messages & Settings > Setting > Phone & Network > Connect; note: you may have to, as in my case, do this multiple times as it may need to install multiple updates.When you go back in there, keep an eye on the upper left where it tells you the status of the last connection, it may say "Pending Restart" in which case you will need to restart the TiVo to apply the update.To restart the TiVo go to Messages & Settings > Restart or Reset System > Restart the DVR).They also suggest that the audio problem may just require a restart of the TiVo system to fix.I restarted the system and the audio problem went away completely, so I'm not sure what was going on there.They did make a record of the problem and he was very reassuring that if I ever experienced the problem again they would exchange the TiVo unit right away.With my two problems fixed (updates and restarting took care of them both, keep that in mind if you experience similar problems), I go back to my TiVo Experience...

TiVo Experience - Part Deux
So back to my experience with my now fully operational, correct time telling, solid audio pumping TiVo.It takes me a while to go through and change all my settings (favorite channels, TV guide display, make a couple of season passes, etc.).Having come from a satellite receiver with TiVo built in, I feel right at home, although I do notice a few differences.
1) There's no button to go directly into your Now Playing list on my new TiVo remote (there was on my satellite TiVo remote), the quickest way is to press the TiVo button on top twice in a row...not a big deal, but I was so used to that button... I sure will miss it...
2) The channel changing for channels only available through the cable box has a delay to it.And here is a very important point to note.**** If at all possible, do not use the IR connector to change your cable box's channels. ****I received a cable box without a serial port on the back and brought it in to my cable service provider and requested to trade it for one that did.They were happy to do so, and I would suggest you try the same if possible.I've had experience with my father's TiVo using the IR changer and it was awful (He'd miss shows that he scheduled to record because the darn thing wouldn't work.We tried everything to get it to work right but it never did.).The Serial connection is so much more reliable, and changing a channel that is part of your basic cable is instant.But when the TiVo has to go to the cable box, it takes about 1-2 seconds to actually get there.Not too bad, but noticeable to someone coming from a system that instantly changed to any channel.
Another interesting thing to note, at one point I was moving around all the menus, making selections, changing stuff, and realized that I had grabbed my old satellite TiVo remote by mistake.I had been using it for the past 10-20 minutes without ever realizing!And it WORKED without a hitch!So if you don't like the stock remote, I'm sure there's an option out there that may accommodate you.

PC Connectivity (aka: I can finally watch "The Office" in my cubicle at my office!) :: A
So that brings me to the main reason I switched my system over in the first place.Connecting this thing to my PC.I opted for the TiVo branded wireless adapter, as I already have a wireless router in my home.It had no problem seeing my home network, and after putting in my network's password (SECURE YOUR WIRELESS NETWORKS PEOPLE!!!!), it's off and running.I download and install TiVo Desktop (available at their website) onto my PC and suddenly I'm able to see all the recordings that are on my TiVo from my computer, and can also see all my music and photos that are on my PC from the TiVo!I can get Podcasts and the weather and even movie tickets right from my TiVo.I can copy TiVo shows over to my PSP and iPod (that requires you upgrade to TiVo Desktop Plus for a one-time fee of $24.95), it's a beautiful thing!I immediately start to transfer over a recording of Scrubs and...nothing...the wireless connection is interrupted.I never did get it working, I'm not sure if the issue was with my router or the wireless adapter, but I ended up just running an ethernet cable from my TiVo to my router and it works fine now.Some day I might try to get the wireless connection working again, but oh well.Something to keep in mind though if you decide to go wireless, you may want to be sure to invest in a good router and adapter.Overall Satisfaction (aka: THIS is what TV was meant to be!) :: A+
So this is what it all boils down to.After getting everything setup and running, I have to say I'm extremely pleased with it all.I, personally, am happy with the decision to move over from my satellite receiver with TiVo built in, to a standalone TiVo unit.To summarize the important things:

Positives
++ 180 hours of recording time, very nice
++ Dual-tuners (and I tried my best to mess them up, recording different shows, changing channels while something else was recording, they worked like a charm despite what I did to try to mess them up!)
++ What you can do with your PC is excellent
++ Season Passes, pausing live TV, fast-forwarding through commercials, instant replay...If you don't have these things you're really missing out!

Negatives
-- Couldn't the monthly prices be a little lower?(Just a little??)
-- TiVo: either cut down the time people wait on hold when they call you, or get better music!
-- Wireless connectivity of the TiVo to the PC was problematic...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: TiVo TCD649180 Series2 180 Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder

Product Description:

The TiVo Series2 DT does something that only DirecTV TiVo users have enjoyed up till now--the ability to record two shows at once. This dual-tuner (DT) TiVo Series2 is the first standalone DVR that's optimized for households with cable television. Now, you'll never have to miss any of your favorite shows--even if they're on at the same time. It also offers the same entertainment services as other TiVo Series2 DVRs, including digital music, digital photos, remote scheduling, and hassle-free favorites recording. All this and the famed luxury of being able to pause and view instant replays of live television, too. TiVo DVRs record television programming directly to an onboard digital ATA/IDE hard drive, eliminating the hassles of videotape (imprecise tape searching, head cleaning, steadily degrading picture, fuzzy sound, etc.). This TiVo Series2 DT model (TCD649180) offers an amazing 180-hour recording capacity. It offers the ability to simultaneously record programming from two basic cable channels, or one basic cable channel and one digital cable channel. It also includes built-in Ethernet and USB ports, making it easier than ever to add the TiVo box to your home network. This enables you to take advantage of the TivoToGo feature, which allows you to transfer programs from the TiVo box to a Windows-based desktop or laptop PC so you can watch your favorite programs on the go or while others are watching live or recorded programing on the TV.


The Series2 has a USB port and an Ethernet connection, offering users with home networks the ability to stream photos and music to their TiVo, or send programs from one TiVo to another. This connectivity also lets TiVo subscribers access exciting entertainment services through the TiVo Home Media Features, which consists of the TiVo Digital Music Player, TiVo Digital Photo Viewer, and Multi-Room Viewing.The TiVo Digital Music Player lets you enjoy your computer's MP3 collection through your home entertainment sound system. Access and control your entire digital music collection via your TV; shuffle your music library by artist, album, or type of music; and create a custom playlist on your computer or use third-party software to develop playlists for every mood.The TiVo Digital Photo Viewer accesses digital photos stored on your computer and showcases them on your TV. View photo albums and slideshows on your TV screen, easily navigate, search, and view your computer's entire digital photo library, play and control slideshows of photo albums, and use the remote control to select and view individual photos.


TiVo's Series2 DVR allows users to view photos and listen to music stored on their computer or other peripheral device.



With the Multi-Room Viewing feature, users can pause live TV and resume viewing in another room.


Multi-Room Viewing is designed for households with two Series2 DVRs and allows you to record a show on one DVR and send it to another if your kids are watching in the living room, say, and you're watching in the bedroom. You can also start a program on one DVR and pick up where you left off on your other DVR, as well as access the Now Playing list of a connected Series2 DVR at any time.You can also find and schedule recordings even when you're away from home. With Online Scheduling, you'll have the freedom to schedule programs from anywhere you have a computer with an Internet connection. Just sign in to TiVo Central Online to access the same recording options you have at home. Broadband connected Series2 subscribers can also view both their own photo slideshows and those shared by friends with Yahoo! Photos, and check local weather and traffic from Yahoo!. Additionally, subscribers can browse and buy movie tickets from Fandango, discover new music on Live365, and listen to entertaining podcasts.The Series2 DVR is compatible with virtually every television available. It also works with VCRs, TV antennas, cable systems, and satellite systems. A patented universal remote control simplifies program recording and controls multiple TiVos within the home (2 devices can share your existing phone line). Connections include: 3 video inputs and outputs (S-video, composite-video, and RF coaxial), 1 set of stereo RCA analog audio inputs, and 2 sets of stereo audio outputs.


TiVo service requires a monthly subscription fee; currently $16.95 per month. Other benefits of TiVo service include but are by no means limited to: Season Pass (TiVo automatically finds and records every episode of a series all season long, even if the network schedule changes), WishList (TiVo finds and records programs that feature your favorite actor, director, team, or even topic), Smart Recording (TiVo detects line-up changes for you and suggests programs to match your interests, if desired), and Showcases (exclusive entertainment plus recording shortcuts from some of the most popular networks on TV). You can even train TiVo to autorecord more shows you'll love when you use the Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down buttons on the supplied remote. Parental controls let you lock channels or set ratings limits based on content.


What's in the Box
180-hour TiVo Series2 DT (TCD649180) DVR, user's manual, 1 stereo analog audio/video interconnect, 1 RJ-11 phone "Y" splitter, 1 dual IR blaster cable, 1 AC power cord, one 25-foot RJ-11 telephone cable, 2 AA batteries, 1 RG-6 coaxial cable, 1 DB-9 serial cable, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's great qualtity for the price. I had an EVGA dual tuner TV card prior to buying this one. The 500 MCE gives you a better picture and more connectivity. The colors are vibrant and the decoding is excellent. The only short coming is that MPEG decoder software is not included in the package and you'll have to purchase your own.

Word of wisdom: If your picture is choppy check if your hard drive speed is up to par. I wasted almost a week; formating my hard drive 3 times, replaced my tuner card twice and swapped my CPU. I was about to buy a new mother board before I realised my hard drive was the problem. I Bought a new SATA drive and it was smoooooooth sailing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC)

Product Description:
Watch one and record another TV channel on your PC with the dual tuner WinTV-PVR 500 MCE. Yes the WinTV-PVR 500 MCE has 2 tuners on board to optimize MCE 2005.

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TiVo TCD658000 HD XL Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're too lazy to do more research aside from looking at this page, then you may be a bit surprised when you open the box. Here's what you need to know:

1) This TiVo requires a CableCard. It does NOT work with your cable box. It in fact replaces your cable box, so things like On Demand won't work anymore. Cable TV companies are required by the FCC to give you a CableCard on request, but they will likely charge fees for installation and for using the CableCard. It also (at least for me) can be a giant pain to get to a representative who can actually help you. I wasted hours trying to deal with my cable company. Also, try to get them to let you install it yourself, as it's really, really easy and shouldn't cost you twenty bucks to have someone else slide a card into a slot. Seriously, your blind, senile great-grandmother could do this.
2) The TiVo DOES have an Ethernet jack on the back along with the telephone jack. If you can use a wired network connection, then you don't need to shell out extra for the wireless adapter. I'm now returning mine to Amazon for a refund.
3) Lifetime service (totally worth it in my opinion) now costs $399 up from $299, but you can get it for only $299 with a multi-service discount if you already have another TiVo. Even better, you can resell your TiVo in the future with the lifetime service and transfer the service to the new owner. You can't do that with a monthly or yearly plan!
4) The remote is awful compared to the old remotes. Plus, they switched around the buttons! It also now uses 4 AAAs rather than 2 AAs. However, old remotes should work with this TiVo, too. (I haven't bothered trying.)

Nonetheless, don't let this scare you off. The TiVo HD XL is a really solid product, and TiVo is definitely still the king of DVRs. The XL is a bit pricey, but if you do the math, you'll realize this is actually the best way to go. You really won't save money or time by rolling your own or by buying the cheaper one and attaching an external hard drive.

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Product Description:
TiVo HD XL - You're ultimate HD cable experience.Discover a whole new universe of entertainment - in crystal-clear THX sound and picture-optimized for digital cable.It's all the digital entertainment you want, whenever you want it!With the Emmy Award-Winning TiVo service, plus movies, music, and videos from the internet, TiVo HD XL makes the most of broadcast and broadband.

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TiVo TCD748000 Premiere XL DVR (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is finally a worthy successor to the Tivo Series 2.While there have been 2 previous HD Tivos before, their relative cost and the lack of available options for lifetime subscription made them unattractive financially compared with the cable company DVR.If you purchase directly from Tivo, there is a (...) lifetime subscription option to those with a previous lifetime subscription.That makes this a worthwhile deal, even if it takes about 30+ months to break even.

If you've not used a Tivo before, I would say it is head and shoulders above Comcast's ugly, ill-conceived interface.If you've used Verizon, it will be a step up, but not nearly so dramatic.If you've used Tivo before, you'll feel right at home.It's basically the 8 year old Tivo interface that's been spiced up here and there, with supporting links to Netflix & Blockbuster for streaming movies.

This Tivo requires an M-Series cable card if you're not recording from an antenna.If you're not sure, call your cable company to see if they support it.Verizon did struggle with this question, although eventually I found someone to confirm the Verizon cable card supports multi-stream.However, the Verizon tech they sent was helpful and had the job complete in about 15 minutes.

Although the Tivo supports resolutions up to 1080P, it is only available at 1080p/24, so if you have a slightly older set that only supports 1080p/60, you'll have to drop back to 1080i.That isn't spelled out anywhere on Tivo's site, although it probably doesn't make much of a difference.

This Tivo networks nicely with older Tivo's allowing you to transfer video between them, although it's not possible to transfer from an HD Tivo to a SD Tivo, although the reverse works nicely.You can also use the Tivo Desktop (a free download) to transfer to your PC.You can even save it to watch later or on your portable (Google "kmttg tivo").

I won't write a review of the Tivo interface.More people have done it better than I could, so Google for reviews.You should know, although the new menus are in high definition, once you get away from the primary menus, it drops back to the old 480/SD menus.The only reason I can tell is the screen on the TV flips a bit until it resyncs with the lower resolution.

This version of the Tivo has a backlit remote, although by default that isn't turned on.It also supports separate volume and muting with an A/V receiver, although it doesn't give you the ability to turn it on with your remote. My A/V receiver did not work with the codes provided, but a chat with Tivo pointed me to a page on their support site where you'll find the new Tivo has a "learning" remote. That did the trick.

If you use Tivo's Chat support, the agents are well-informed and patient.

I've had one brief incident as I messed around with various menus where the HDMI lost sound sync with the TV.A quick resync through the A/V receiver got me back and running in a few seconds.Time will tell if that was a one-time glitch or a problem.

Previous Tivos have worked with Amazon video on demand (which works reasonably well).Now there are additional options to select high-def material, and you also have options to download from Blockbuster and Netflix.Keep in mind there is a charge for this type of on-demand movie, similar to what you'd expect from your cable company.However, this function is integrated beautifully into the overall search function.As an example, let's say you're interested in a program such as "Chuck".As you search for the program, not only will it find the upcoming episodes on TV, but will also present you with the complete episode guide, giving you the options to either record from cable/antenna, or for shows that aren't available you can download them to your Tivo to watch. That's very clever and convenient.

Overall, it's an expensive purchase, but Tivo does their best not to make you feel stupid for buying it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TiVo TCD748000 Premiere XL DVR (Black)

Product Description:
TiVo® Premiere is more than a DVR. It's your cable box, movie box, web box, music box, all-in-one, easy-to-use box. It brings broadcast together to give you even more entertainment options. With TiVo Premiere XL you have an entire universe of on-demand movies, TV shows, web videos, and music at your command – all in one place, all just a few clicks away. And with 150 hours of HD capacity and THX video and audio certification it's going to rock your entertainment world.
KeyFeatures

Save up to 150 hours of HD programming (1 terabyte hard drive)
Access the world's largest library of videos on demand: movies, TV shows, music videos, web videos and more
THX® certified for exceptional sound and video quality
Find your favorite shows at once while watching a third
Schedule recordings remotely and take them with you on your laptop or mobile device
Controllive television with pause, rewind slow-mo and instant replay
Full HD support, including 1080p and 1080i HD formats
Connects to your cable service and replaces your cable box
Works with cable and antenna; does not support satellite
What's in the box: TiVo Premiere DVR, TiVo programmable remote control, Quick Start guide, manual, HDMI cable, composite cable, phone cord, 4 AAA batteries

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Moxi 2-Tuner 500GB HD Digital Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Despite the fact that I am very nearly the perfect customer for a DVR, I have held off the purchase of one, a decision mostly revolving around the monthly subscription fee versus the relatively few amount of things I avidly watch on television.With the brand new, subscription free, MOXI HD DVR sitting on my entertainment shelf, all that has changed ... I get to watch what I want and when I want to with a much better picture quality than provided by Comcast hardware (see below) without tacking on more costs to the ever rising price of having cable in the first place.

First off, the MOXI HD DVR is very attractive box and came with a complete set of cables, many of which you may not even touch if you are using the HDMI interface.Setting up the MOXI was, overall, a painless experience, if not a little time consuming.At first boot up, the device was contacting the mothership with instructions to find any updates to the MOXI software, which it found, downloaded, and installed.One minor nitpick here is that it did not provide the unit ID that is used to register at the website until after this 30 minute process was over.It would have been nice to be registering while I was waiting for the update.

Next came the M-Card install (multi-streaming cable card, allowing dual feeds for the device), and overall, went off with relative ease, despite a little trepidation on both my part as well as the Comcast@ customer service rep.He was not familiar with the MOXI brand and we both got a little nervous when the MOXI wouldn't recognize the card for a channel scan (but did get the card's ID info) until the customer rep was astute enough to suggest that I remove the card and try it again while the device was powered on.

Following that, there was what I can only assume was growing pain as the MOXI took several minutes to scan the channels and then start displaying me digital gibberish (a fascinating display of colored squares from improper decoding) for a few panic filled moments before finding it's place in the digital stream and displaying a perfectly wonderful HD image of the selected channel.

In fact, the image was so good, I started comparing it back and forth between my Comcast HD receiver unit to only confirm my suspicions, that the MOXI decodes both 4:3 content and HD content with far better quality than the Comcast unit does (which is very poorly if you ask me).Unless I am mistaken, the Comcast DVR is based on the same unit that the HD receiver is built on, so this is one place where initial price tag of the MOXI pays off.

From here, it has been a fun journey of playing with all of the features of the MOXI HD DVR, some of which are great and others are fascinatingly not very good at all. The interface overall is very nice, and more so once you get used to it.It is obvious that MOXI has taken the user interface design as a serious consideration.Recording shows and series is a breeze, playback even more so, and I love the various channel categories (all HD, all Movies, etc.), which admittedly the Comcast DVR has as well, but in a far less attractive menu system.I may have missed how to do it, but it would be great to be able to move through the channel guide display one page at a time rather than navigating one channel at a time (with hundreds of channels, I constantly use the page up and page down buttons on the Comcast remote).On that thought, I really like the MOXI remote as whole.

For the most part, recording has gone well in both standard and HD resolutions, with one exception of several playback errors encountered from a recording of Mission Impossible III (HD).At several points during the movie, it failed on the decoding of the recorded movie so badly, that it kicked me to TV once, rebooted the device once, and several times required that I attempt fast forwarding, pausing, restarting, etc. in order to get a video stream back.

Other than this yet to be repeated recording experience, most things have played back error free and with great quality.The few other errors during recording that I have encountered result in a visual line of noise at the top of the screen that looks like an old VHS tape alignment problem, but the shows themselves have been intact otherwise.

Recording series is brain dead simple and my only complaint here (and there might be a way to do this that I haven't found) is that I find myself changing the default settings for recording a series every single time.In theory, this device is should be able to hold over a couple hundred hours of non-HD and well over a hundred of HD content, yet the series recording options are set to the almost the most spartan, space conserving settings that require you get to your recordings within a couple days.In my case, this is almost never the case and might even be a couple weeks before I have a couple hours to sit and watch some of it.

Another great feature to mention is scheduling recording from the Moxi website.I haven't used it outside of testing, but I like the idea a great deal and bet it will be helpful the handful of times I know in advance I want to watch something, but will not be home in time to see it.

This very feature filled device would be beyond fantastic if they did one, brain numbingly obvious thing ... give me access to a web browser for that love of GOD!!!!Here are a few reasons:

A> I want Pandora, not Finetunes (which I never did actually ever find a way to create a play list on ... which either says I am missing something so obvious that my great intellect glanced over ... heh)

B> I want Picasa slide shows, not Flickr (which also was slow and sometimes only semi-functional).

C> The big wide world of the Internet ... aka ... freedom of choice.DRM issues aside, it is no longer acceptable for networked devices running full PCs under the hood to try and corral me into their business partnerships.

Some might point at platform stability as good reason to avoid an open browser use on a dedicated device as the MOXI HD DVR, but one of the other problems I have encountered a couple of times is the seemingly random rebooting of the device.So, that is to say, I doubt letting me run a browser in kiosk mode and flash apps such as Pandora within would do much to make the platform less stable.

One last note worthy mention is the PCLink to Windows Media Player, which involved some voodoo to get working (even after the security changes ... still uncertain what the final incantation was to make it work ... might have been the chicken blood and candles), I had access to all images and audio in my desktop machine's library (which is not much, since I use Winamp).So far, this has been a much better experience to use than Finetune or Flickr on the MOXI and I think this was a decent feature to include.As, it seems is common in the DVR world, it will not however let you playback video files over the PCLink, which is a somewhat baffling decision and one that I can only presume are related to copyright protection or the potentially problematic playback of a user's video collection of various formats (mov, mpg, avi, mp4, divx, wmv for example) and codecs (an endless sea of possible codecs) being problematic on a black box device.Still, I would love to be able to play at least common formats, or if nothing else, divx would be a welcome standard.

I feel like I have given the MOXI HD DVR a tough time of it in this review, and this is where the rubber meets the road folks.I have no other experience with DVR's on the market, but the MOXI has gotten me pretty hooked on the use of one.Overall, the MOXI HD DVR has been a joy to use and has been no more finicky than the Comcast HD receiver, but does provide far superior picture quality.That fact alone has me happy with the device, but the multi-stream HD DVR, absence of subscription costs, and ease of use of the MOXI makes it a product worth considering.

At a street price of around $800 and iffy, service specific side features, it is a somewhat tougher argument for the tech savvy, as building a PC based DVR system gets nothing but easier.For everyone else, the MOXI should satisfyand not having to add another monthly payment onto your ever tightening paycheck will make this unit popular for many, and in the long run will save you money despite the heavy upfront costs.

I think the MOXI folks need to do a little more finessing and re-tooling the "extra" features, but even with a steep initial investment and some quirks, I give this device a thumbs up for the DVR hungry.Just remind yourself that the lack of a monthly fee will pay off in the long run and you will enjoy your sexy new entertainment center black box!

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ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)ReplayTV is well worth adopting early and often.It took a while to set up the system correctly -- due, I confess, to my anathema toward manuals no matter how simply written (and ReplayTV's is quite lucid).The customerservice couldn't be better.They took at least a dozen calls as I workedmy way through the setup and each time answered the phone quickly, knewwhat to do, and to a person exhibited a cheerful Job-like patience with meand the process.Wish that all customer service personnel were so welltrained!
Others have already commented on the features... the biggestdraw for me is the ease of use and the ability to create theme channels.Ifound VCRs to be fussy monsters ("plug and play," my arse).Thisis one technological advance long overdue.I can't wait to see what otherinnovations lie in the pipeline.
I took away a star because the screengives off a blue triangle in the lower right hand corner whenever I play arecorded show.It's not a huge distraction, but worth noting.
postscript:AOL bought out TiVo, yet another reason to choose ReplayTV.

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Product Description:
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TiVo TCD746320 Premiere DVR (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a TiVo owner since 2003 and this is their best TiVo to date. But it isn't perfect. It's a shame that the new HD user interface is still a work in progress. It is buggy and slow. You still have the option of using the old user interface, which is what I do. The processor in the TiVo Premiere is more powerful than the TiVo HD. But the extra processing power is mainly for the new user interface. It has the same recording abilities that the TiVo HD had with the exception of also supporting 1080p. It would have been nice if TiVo would have added a third tuner. Like the TiVo HD, the Premiere only supports cable TV and OTA antenna programming. The Premiere is almost an inch shorter than the HD and is more energy efficient. The main reason I bought the Premiere wasn't to upgrade from my existing TiVo HD, but I wanted another TiVo for the kid's playroom. If you already own a TiVo HD and you are looking to upgrade, you might want to save your money for the next TiVo series. If you don't already have a TiVo or you don't have an HD-capable TiVo for your HDTV, this is a great purchase. While the upgrades from the TiVo HD are lacking, it is still the best DVR on the market.

We use our TiVo with a large antenna in the attic and a $9 per month Netflix subscription. We have more than enough to watch between the DVD's we get in the mail, streaming Netflix to our TiVo from the Internet, and the 30+ digital channels we receive OTA. Actually, TiVo makes using an antenna acceptable for us. It records all the shows we like no matter when they are on and we watch them in our time. I was able to buy the TiVo Premiere and a lifetime subscription with the money we saved over the past year by dropping cable. TiVo also supports Internet video rentals from Amazon and Blockbuster, but we prefer using Netflix because it's cheaper.

This TiVo can record up to 45 hours of HD programming.That sounds like a lot, but you'll be surprised by how quickly it fills up.You can add an external drive Western Digital My DVR Expander 1 TB eSATA Desktop External Hard Drive WDG1S10000VN (Black) to add more recording space.The one big caveat with this method of adding recording space is you'll lose all your recordings on the external drive and your TiVo if you decide to remove it later.The other option is to purchase the Premiere XL TiVo TCD748000 Premiere XL DVR (Black).It will allow you to record up to 150 hours of HD programming and comes with a backlit remote.I upgraded the internal hard drive in my TiVo HD myself and kept the original drive as a backup.I'm waiting to hear from others before I attempt to upgrade the internal hard drive in my TiVo Premiere.To date, no one knows if it can be done or not.

FYI: TiVo has a couple of specials going for existing TiVo users. You can either get $200 off the lifetime subscription for a new Premiere (if you already have a lifetime subscription) or receive a 20% discount off the Premiere itself (if you don't have a lifetime subscription). I believe you must purchase your TiVo directly from TiVo to get the discounts. TiVo offers free shipping, but you'll have to pay taxes on the hardware.

According to a TiVo press release, TiVo is coming out with a wireless N network adapter in May with a retail price of $89.99.They are also coming out with an optional slide-out QWERTY TiVo remote later this year.The remote will utilize a Bluetooth USB dongle that will plug into the back of your TiVo HD or Premiere.

Update 4/18/2010:

I did give the new interface another shot for a couple of days. I like where they are going with it, but as I said before it isn't a finished product. It locked up on me twice while flipping through the menus. As others have mentioned, if you drill down into the menu system you will eventually end up in the old menu system. They have a new option to list Oscar winning films. So I select a movie and it says it's available from Blockbuster. Cool, but I haven't been a member of Blockbuster for years so I go back and configure my TiVo not to search Blockbuster (nice feature). I then go back to the list of Oscar winning films and it still shows the same movie. I select the movie again and this time it tells me it's not available for me to watch. So why would I want to see a partial list of Oscar winning movies that currently aren't available for me to watch on my TiVo?

For people who have rated the TiVo Premiere one or two stars because of the new user interface, well I can't argue with them. Perhaps TiVo should have sold the Premiere with the old user interface enabled with the option of using the new beta user interface. I'm sure TiVo will push out updates in the future to fix the issues, but we're not talking about a few minor bugs here. I think TiVo released the new user interface way too early.

I've been using my TiVo Premiere for 3 weeks now with the old user interface.I've had no issues with it and it's as stable as my TiVo HD.However, I see little difference between my TiVo HD and my TiVo Premiere while using the old user interface.I would still rate the TiVo Premiere as 4 stars with the old user interface. But as I mentioned in my original review, it isn't much of an upgrade from the TiVo HD. One thing that the Premiere has over the HD is the ability to run the new user interface (which isn't ready for prime time).

Click Here to see more reviews about: TiVo TCD746320 Premiere DVR (Black)

Product Description:

TiVo® Premiere is more than a DVR. It's your cable box, movie box, web box, music box, all-in-one, easy-to-use box. It brings broadcast together to give you even more entertainment options. With TiVo Premiere you have an entire universe of on-demand movies, TV shows, web videos, and music at your command – all in one place, all just a few clicks away. Key Features· Save up to 45hours of HD programming (1 terabyte hard drive)· Access the world's largest library of videos on demand: movies, TV shows, music videos, web videos and more· THX® certified for exceptional sound and video quality· Find your favorite shows at once while watching a third· Schedule recordings remotely and take them with you on your laptop or mobile device· Control live television with pause, rewind slow-mo and instant replay· Full HD support, including 1080p and 1080i HD formats· Connects to your cable service and replaces your cable box· Works with cable and antenna; does not support satellite· What's in the box: TiVo Premiere DVR, TiVo programmable remote control, Quick Start guide, manual, HDMI cable, composite cable, phone cord, 4 AAA batteries

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TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder: Complete, hands on video review of the new TiVo HD box. Includes set up, scheduling and recording programs, watching Live TV, broadband extras such as Rhapsody, and Amazon unbox. Brought to you by The Digital Lounge (www.TheDigitalLounge.com). Please rate and comment on this video. Your feedback is appreciated!

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Product Description:
TiVo HD is a smart addition to any high-definition TV, combining the clarity of high definition with the smart, easy-to-use TiVo Service?. It works with any cable set-up. It connects to any home network, so you get access to the best of both broadcast and broadband content. It downloads the latest movies straight from the Internet to your living room. It can pause, rewind, and slow-motion your favorite moments with razor-sharp HD clarity. Plus, TiVo HD connects to virtually any cable service via CableCARDs1, so it replaces your existing cable box.
TiVo HD Features
Search for HD movies and sports: With our intelligent search features, you can easily find a specific director, actor, player, or team among the world of both broadcast and broadband content. Prefer to see a movie in high definition? Do a WishListTM search and the TiVo service will automatically record the HD version and place it in your Now Playing List.
Record movies in HD: When recording with TiVo HD, you have the option of capturing shows in standard or high definition. Plus, when you play them back, you can easily pause or rewind HD instant replays without ever sacrificing their original razor-sharp HD resolution.
Download movies from the Internet: Don't see any great movies in your cable program guide? You can easily select a classic or new release from the world's largest movie library, order them with a click of your remote control, and have them downloaded directly to your TiVo box.
Access your music library with the remote: When you connect your TiVo DVR to your home network, your HDTV can connect right to millions of songs and playlists available over the Internet. You can now enjoy digital music on the best sound system in the house.
Schedule an HD premiere: With TiVo, you can do your TV scheduling from any computer when you are away from home. Log onto TiVo.com, click on a show, and you're done.

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TiVo TCD649080 Series 2 80-Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)After years of sticking to a single-tuner model (except for the DirecTv versions), Tivo has finally released a dual-tuner model. For the most part, the only difference between this model and previous Series 2 Tivos is the ability to record two channels at once.

The box keeps the look of the more recent series 2 Tivos, except for a black-accented faceplate. The connections in the rear are laid out largely the same as past versions, with the exception of an ethernet port that has been added for wired networking.

The software has minor changes, particularly slight modifications to the menu background images and the newer "tivo introduction skit" that appears when the tivo is powered on. The software and hardware work smoothly. There seems to be a faster processor included, as navigation through the menus is quick and smooth.

The dual-tuner functions work well. Having grown accustom to the single-tuner model, it took me some time to get used to the ability to change channels while recording (and that what is on screen is not necessarily what is being recorded). It was also pleasant to schedule 25 season passes without a single conflict-such is the benefit of being able to record two shows at once.

But the dual-tuner function needs some explanation. The people who benefit most from the DT function are those who have analog cable without a cable box (as I do). I simply plug in the coax cable into the tivo, and it is ready to go. (Note: there is only one coax input-the signal is split internally and sent to the dual tuners.) If you have a cable box or digital cable, things start to get a bit trickier. In fact, in order to use the dual-tuner feature, you MUST be able to receive at least some channels through an analog cable connection. This means that if you have purely digital cable that requires a digital cable box, you will NOT be able use the dual tuner functions, as there is only one connection allowed between the cable box and tivo. I suggest you go to tivo's website and download the product manual for the DT tivo and read the part about connecting tivo to your cable. If it seems like too big of a hassle, you might want to wait for the series 3 tivos that will include cable-card technology (which allows you to use digital cable without the cable box).

One additional note, tivo has stopped supporting over-the-air antenna tuning with this model. If you hook up an antenna to tivo, it will only receive channels 2-13. Any broadcast channels above 13 will not be received.

And for those who are thinking of "upgrading" this tivo to a larger hard drive-the DT tivo is upgradeable in the same ways that past series 2 models were. I used the standard methods (which are published all over the internet) and replaced the 80GB hard drive with a 250GB one. Upgrading, however, voids your warranty (which is only 3 months anyway).

Overall, I am happy with the DT tivo, but that is in large part due to fact that I receive analog cable without a cable box. Many of you who have been using antennas, cable boxes or digital cable will likely be somewhat less satisfied with this model.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TiVo TCD649080 Series 2 80-Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder

Product Description:
The TiVo Series2 DT does something that only DirecTV TiVo users have enjoyed up till now--the ability to record two shows at once. This dual-tuner (DT) TiVo Series2 is the first standalone DVR that's optimized for households with cable television. Now, you'll never have to miss any of your favorite shows--even if they're on at the same time. It also offers the same entertainment services as other TiVo Series2 DVRs, including digital music, digital photos, remote scheduling, and hassle-free favorites recording. All this and the famed luxury of being able to pause and view instant replays of live television, too. TiVo DVRs record television programming directly to an onboard digital ATA/IDE hard drive, eliminating the hassles of videotape (imprecise tape searching, head cleaning, steadily degrading picture, fuzzy sound, etc.).
This TiVo Series2 DT model (TCD649080) offers an 80-hour recording capacity. It offers the ability to simultaneously record programming from two basic cable channels, or one basic cable channel and one digital cable channel. It also includes built-in Ethernet and USB ports, making it easier than ever to add the TiVo box to your home network. This enables you to take advantage of the TivoToGo feature, which allows you to transfer programs from the TiVo box to a Windows-based desktop or laptop PC so you can watch your favorite programs on the go or while others are watching live or recorded programing on the TV.


The Series2 has a USB port and an Ethernet connection, offering users with home networks the ability to stream photos and music to their TiVo, or send programs from one TiVo to another. This connectivity also lets TiVo subscribers access exciting entertainment services through the TiVo Home Media Features, which consists of the TiVo Digital Music Player, TiVo Digital Photo Viewer, and Multi-Room Viewing.


The TiVo Digital Music Player lets you enjoy your computer's MP3 collection through your home entertainment sound system. Access and control your entire digital music collection via your TV; shuffle your music library by artist, album, or type of music; and create a custom playlist on your computer or use third-party software to develop playlists for every mood.


The TiVo Digital Photo Viewer accesses digital photos stored on your computer and showcases them on your TV. View photo albums and slideshows on your TV screen, easily navigate, search, and view your computer's entire digital photo library, play and control slideshows of photo albums, and use the remote control to select and view individual photos.





TiVo's Series2 DVR allows users to view photos and listen to music stored on their computer or other peripheral device.






With the Multi-Room Viewing feature, users can pause live TV and resume viewing in another room.


Multi-Room Viewing is designed for households with two Series2 DVRs and allows you to record a show on one DVR and send it to another if your kids are watching in the living room, say, and you're watching in the bedroom. You can also start a program on one DVR and pick up where you left off on your other DVR, as well as access the Now Playing list of a connected Series2 DVR at any time.


You can also find and schedule recordings even when you're away from home. With Online Scheduling, you'll have the freedom to schedule programs from anywhere you have a computer with an Internet connection. Just sign in to TiVo Central Online to access the same recording options you have at home. Broadband connected Series2 subscribers can also view both their own photo slideshows and those shared by friends with Yahoo! Photos, and check local weather and traffic from Yahoo!. Additionally, subscribers can browse and buy movie tickets from Fandango, discover new music on Live365, and listen to entertaining podcasts.


The Series2 DVR is compatible with virtually every television available. It also works with VCRs, TV antennas, cable systems, and satellite systems. A patented universal remote control simplifies program recording and controls multiple TiVos within the home (2 devices can share your existing phone line). Connections include: 3 video inputs and outputs (S-video, composite-video, and RF coaxial), 1 set of stereo RCA analog audio inputs, and 2 sets of stereo audio outputs.


TiVo service requires a monthly subscription fee; see tivo.com for current rates. Other benefits of TiVo service include but are by no means limited to: Season Pass (TiVo automatically finds and records every episode of a series all season long, even if the network schedule changes), WishList (TiVo finds and records programs that feature your favorite actor, director, team, or even topic), Smart Recording (TiVo detects line-up changes for you and suggests programs to match your interests, if desired), and Showcases (exclusive entertainment plus recording shortcuts from some of the most popular networks on TV). You can even train TiVo to autorecord more shows you'll love when you use the Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down buttons on the supplied remote. Parental controls let you lock channels or set ratings limits based on content.

Rent or Buy more than 50,000 Titles from Amazon Video On Demand

With Amazon Video On Demand (available in U.S. only) TiVo customers can now instantly watch more than 50,000 commercial-free movies and television shows, including hit new releases and the latest episodes available in HD.


Using an intuitive interface, customers can order movies right from their couch and enjoy instant playback without waiting for lengthy downloads or annoying commercials. Prices start as low as $.99 and no subscription fee is required

Find
Choose from thousands of movies and TV shows by browsing in the Amazon Video On Demand section on your TiVo. Access and add to your virtual library of purchases via Amazon Video On Demand's Your Video Library and re-watch anytime on the TiVo Player, your PC or Mac and other compatible devices (U.S. only).

Rent or Buy
Renting and purchasing titles is a snap with the power of Amazon's 1-click purchasing. Order new release movies and the latest TV shows right from your couch and you're watching within seconds. Prices start as low as $.99.

Watch
Using your TiVo Player, enjoy Amazon Video On Demand's high quality video on any TV. Videos playback instantly, without waiting for a download. Purchases and rentals are added to Your Video Library and stored online by Amazon so you can conveniently watch them on your TiVo Player, PC or Mac, and other compatible devices.

What's in the Box
80-hour TiVo Series2 DT (TCD649080) DVR, user's manual, 1 stereo analog audio/video interconnect, 1 RJ-11 phone "Y" splitter, 1 dual IR blaster cable, 1 AC power cord, one 25-foot RJ-11 telephone cable, 2 AA batteries, 1 RG-6 coaxial cable, 1 DB-9 serial cable, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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