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[methodman]

Well, I'm (or my parents) are really looking at a new cable/direct tv setup for our TV. We just got an HDtv, and both of these companies offer great HD channels, so that's not what i'm asking.

Which one would you guys reccommend? I've been thinking about getting Directv for NFL-Sunday Ticket cause I've heard it is only available on it (football is pretty much the reason why we are getting cable in the first place). But then at the same time, On-Demand seems so fucking awesome. Just pick (from whatever is available) and you can watch it right then and there. So cool.

Thanks for any reccomendations guys.

 

[suaveric]

if the prices are the same, i'd go with comcast. unless you absolutly need every NFL game. you get Comcast's DVR for free while you have to pay a couple hundred for DirecTVs. Next year when Tivo is picked up by Comcast there will be no reason at all for DirecTV.

 

[IntestineBoy]

if the prices are the same, i'd go with comcast. unless you absolutly need every NFL game. you get Comcast's DVR for free while you have to pay a couple hundred for DirecTVs. Next year when Tivo is picked up by Comcast there will be no reason at all for DirecTV.

Haben sie any information as to that? The Comcast dvr is just a mess, compared to tivo. If tivo never existed, it would be fine. But tivo made it simple enough for my grandma to use, and Comcast's is just slop right now, from the standard horrible looking digital cable menu system to the microsoft enhanced one.

The only thing stopping me from shelling out the cash for the HD DirecTivo, is that I'm not sure if I can get my local HD channels off it.

 

[DarienA]

if the prices are the same, i'd go with comcast. unless you absolutly need every NFL game. you get Comcast's DVR for free while you have to pay a couple hundred for DirecTVs. Next year when Tivo is picked up by Comcast there will be no reason at all for DirecTV.

Ummm I believe the Comcast DVR has a monthly fee. Right now the DirecTivo is free with a $100 MIR it also has a monthly fee.

Oh wait you said HDTV, the HD DirecTivo isn't free with a MIR.

 

[pnjtony]

Comcast is aquiring it to use it's menu and whatnot so it's not such a mess.

 

[suaveric]

Here's the link for the Comcast/Tivo deal. The only down side is it won't be ready until this time next year

Comcast + Tivo

Right now you can use the current Comcast DVR to record HD and you get it for free (with a monthly charge) while the Directv HD Tivo you have to pay for (599!) AND pay the monthly fee.

Also, word on the street is that the HD Tivo that Directv is selling right now will not be compatible with the new HD satallites they've just launched! Their new, non-Tivo DVR will work, but you'll probably have to shell out for that.

 

[Phoenix]

The dual-tuner motos are fine IMO. Guide is above average, click record, set for series and I haven't had an issue with conflicts yet because when we're out its recording something for me AND my wife at the same time... including HD (something else the Tivos haven't mustered yet).

 

[Cooper]

I haven't had an issue with conflicts yet because when we're out its recording something for me AND my wife at the same time... including HD (something else the Tivos haven't mustered yet).

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but the DirecTV HD Tivo has dual HD tuners. I don't know much about the non-DirecTivo units though, if those are what you're referring to.

 

[suaveric]

Yeah, non-DirecTV units don't have dual tuners. I still can't believe all these years later and they still haven't come out with one that does have it.

 

[blackwind]

Had Dish Pronto For quite a while. Can't complain. Good price too.

 

[gblues]

(disclaimer, I work for DirecTV)

I would choose DirecTV in a heartbeat over any cable provider. Here's why:

- All-digital programming, so you're getting the optimal picture for SD stuff as well as HD.
- DirecTV's HD-DVR is (AFAIK) the only box out there with dual HD tuners and dual OTA HD tuners.
- The HD-DVR can record both satellite and digital OTA broadcasts
- World-class customer service. DirecTV won 5 of the 7 industry awards (JD Powers, ACSI). Dish Network got the other two. Cable got ZERO.
- No gimmicks. Dish Network advertises DVRs that "record two programs at once" but in reality it is a multi-room receiver and each room can only record one show. (they have higher-end models, but that's not what they're giving away)
- Consistent service nationwide. Even if you don't move often, it's still a huge pain in the ass to figure out who your cable company is, what channel numbers your favorite channels are on, and how much the packages are. With the sole exception of local channels, DirecTV is the same anywhere, as long as you have a line of sight.

The only potential downside is the annual commitment, which is now a 2-year commitment for the advanced products (HD, DVR, HD-DVR), but this isn't any different than when you sign up for cell phone service and get either the freebie phone or a deep discount on a bells & whistles model.

The only thing Cable's good for is Internet service. $29.99 for CableOne.net + $19.99 for Vonage = adios Qwest.

Nathan

 

[golem]

if you love football and have HD, you probalby need DirecTV

*edit* nathan, spill the beans on the mpeg4 transition ;P

 

[suaveric]

- DirecTV's HD-DVR is (AFAIK) the only box out there with dual HD tuners and dual OTA HD tuners.
- The HD-DVR can record both satellite and digital OTA broadcasts

I'm currently with DirecTV and I like the service a lot, but I still feel the need to point this out- Comcast (probably other cable providers as well) does have dual tuners for their HD DVR service, which includes local channels (so no need for OVA tuners). And DirecTV's current HD Tivo sells for 500+ dollars plus the monthly fee vs. Comcast's free HD DVR and a mothly fee. That last part alone is reason enough for me to drop DirecTV next year when I move and I upgrade to HD.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Unless you need NFL Sunday Ticket, I would definitely go Comcast.

 

[TheDuce22]

- World-class customer service. DirecTV won 5 of the 7 industry awards (JD Powers, ACSI). Dish Network got the other two. Cable got ZERO.

You have got to be kidding. Their customer service is a joke. I will provide you with four examples, and these arent the only problems ive had.

I had to return one of the peice of shit samsung hd recievers (it would not output any audio) through the mail. I sent it off, a couple weeks later i get a bill from them saying i owe 300 dollars because they never recieved it. They tell me i need to pay them unless i can provide a traking number. After spending about 2 hours digging through my files i finally produce the number and call them back. Now that i have the number all the sudden everything is fine and they DID recieve everything they needed. What kind of bullshit scam is this? I feel sorry for the people who threw away the tracking number.

The guys who installed my direct tv did a halfassed job and ended up weakening the signal to my cable modem to the point where it was dropping offline when it got too hot in the attic. I had to call the cable company out, cost me 50 bucks, to get it corrected.

The other day I was trying to find out if I had the NFL network in hd and what channel it was on. After about 45 minuets of being given the run around they told me the NFL network would not be in HD untill the season started for some unknown reason. Half the shows on that damn channel say "presented in HD", so someone, somewhere must be watching them in HD during the offseason. My only option is to wait till the season starts and call back, maybe then they wont have any excuses.

I bought a new direct tv tivo box from bestbuy. A couple weeks later i got a letter saying i owed direct tv another 100 bucks because i supposedly never activated it. It was hooked up and running at the time.

I had Cox cable before direct tv and never had any problems at all. Unless you cant live without nfl sunday ticket, go with digital cable. The free hd dvr you get with cable is the icing on the cake. Oh and you cannot record one show and watch another with direct tv unless whoever installs your service runs extra lines off the dish. I didnt know this untill after they were long gone, now if i want it i need to pay extra to have someone come back out and install it.

 

[suaveric]

I had Cox cable before direct tv and never had any problems at all. Unless you cant live without nfl sunday ticket, go with digital cable. The free hd dvr you get with cable is the icing on the cake. Oh and you cannot record one show and watch another with direct tv unless whoever installs your service runs extra lines off the dish. I didnt know this untill after they were long gone, now if i want it i need to pay extra to have someone come back out and install it.

That blows, I've always known to have both lines installed and so have my installers (I've moved a lot).

I have my own story about returning broken things- my Tivo broke at the end of May so I called up DirecTV.. and they said they'd send me a new one, for 50 bucks! Great. So they sent me one, but it wasn't new. it was refurbished. and still broken! So they had to send me another (no charge this time).

In the mean time I sent back my original broken Tivo and I was also charged another 250 for not returning it! THe replacement they sent me had a free shipping label with it to send my broken one back, but it also had instructions with it that said DO NOT use that label, instead take the info off the slip and use a new label when you drop it off at Kinkos. Which I did. But according to DirecTV I "didn't follow directions" and was charged the full price because they didn't have a record that I sent it back. I provided them the tracking number and then they removed the 250 dollar chargfe from my account, acting snotty the whole time.

 

[Doth Togo]

Comcast On-Demand.

 

[borghe]

if they are the same price for service, you will save with Comcast because of that DVR cost from DirecTV. Though consider yourself lucky. For most people, DirecTV is much cheaper than cable. Just to be sure I would go over the amounts again. Also remember when figuring out cable costs that there are federal access fees on everything. DirecTV the only additional fee is your local tax. Also there is likely a box fee for every box with Comcast. With DirecTV the box fee is only on boxes after the first one.

 

[borghe]

You have got to be kidding. Their customer service is a joke. I will provide you with four examples, and these arent the only problems ive had.

Despite your anecdotal evidence, he is right. DirecTV has placed first 5 out of the last seven years and in the top two for all seven. They would have been first this year but WOW! Cable and Internet beat them for first.

Oh and you cannot record one show and watch another with direct tv unless whoever installs your service runs extra lines off the dish. I didnt know this untill after they were long gone, now if i want it i need to pay extra to have someone come back out and install it.

you had an idiot contractor. this is not directv's fault and you should have complained. any Tivo install is automatically two lines to the location. If you get two tivos, they will run 4 lines. Their standard Tivo install installs both tuners (and a phoneline to each box).

 

[Snookie]

Well I know the NFL ticket is somewhat important but after all the research I did I ended up going with Dish Network over DirecTV. I had HD through cable but it was just to expensive. The other thing about Dish is that they carry the VOOM channels as well. The only problem with going satellite with HD in mind is that you can't get your local channels in HD with the dish. You need to buy a separate air antenna, and connect it to the receiver. I ended up buying a Wineguard SS-2000 and it works awesome. I get all of my locals in HD and can pick up other locals from other major cities. Dish also has a deal that you get up to 4 receivers. 1 HD, 1 DVR, and 2 standard receivers. Free HD for 6 months Free HBO and Showtime for 3 months which include there HD channels.

Anyways I'm happy I went with Dish.

 

[Phoenix]

Also there is likely a box fee for every box with Comcast. With DirecTV the box fee is only on boxes after the first one.

No, that's the same with Comcast as well. First box is free and all the others are a fee.

A HUGE problem I had with satellite and the reason I abandoned DishNetwork to go back to cable was the absurdity of absolutely needing to have a box on every TV set. I have a large house and wanted a lot of TV sets:

1) Master
2) Living Room
3) Family Room
4) Guest Bedroom
5) Guest Bedroom
6) Kitchen
7) Computer Feed
8) Excercise Room

and still saw a possibility for more.

To get this with either Dish or DirectTV would have resulted in my house looking like a satellite farm and having to run more wiring into my house. Just to get the boxes themselves was ridiculous since most of them only needed to be showing basic channels. Now I have (2) dual tuner Comcast PVR (master and family room), a regular HD box in the living room and everything else is "basic stations" and it didn't cost me a penny in wiring.

 

[Nerevar]

depends on where you live. If you live inside a big city 9 times out of 10 cable is the better option. As you move out, satellite is usually the way to go.

By the way, I'd hold off for a year on DirecTV until they do the switch to Mpeg-4. Eventually (3 years down the road or so) all the current equipment will become incompatible with the current system. I'd hate to pay $500 for a DVR and have it stop working in a few years.

And the Comcast DVR does suck, but it's essentially free (I think it's like $4 more per month over the HD box in my area), so you get what you pay for.

edit: make sure you check up on your cable's HD channel availability in your area. I get pretty much every non-VOOM HD channel, so cable is worth it. A lot of other people don't, though, which sucks. DirecTV also does downsample their HD broadcasts (they lack the bandwidth to do it all), so you do get slightly lower quality (although you hvae to have eagle eyes to notice it).

 

[Phoenix]

And the Comcast DVR does suck, but it's essentially free (I think it's like $4 more per month over the HD box in my area), so you get what you pay for.

Why does it suck? Its given me a suck-less experience thus far.

 

[borghe]

as far as DirecTV MPEG4 goes, they have already stated essentially that they will swap out equipment for free when MPEG4/HD locals are rolled out for an area. So anything you buy now WILL be compatible, in a sense, when MPEG4 is rolled out.

As for your comment Phoenix about a "satellite farm", the thing is you STILL need cables running to each location even with cable. The only difference is needing a box with DirecTV. But with new boxes costing under $50 and being not much larger than a new release hardcover, I hardly see this as a problem. IMHO of course.

but as with the theme of this thread, every location will have to research, because every cable co is different.**

** which is another reason I love DirecTV. You always know what you are getting no matter where you live.

 

[AB 101]

No, that's the same with Comcast as well. First box is free and all the others are a fee.

A HUGE problem I had with satellite and the reason I abandoned DishNetwork to go back to cable was the absurdity of absolutely needing to have a box on every TV set. I have a large house and wanted a lot of TV sets:

1) Master
2) Living Room
3) Family Room
4) Guest Bedroom
5) Guest Bedroom
6) Kitchen
7) Computer Feed
8) Excercise Room

and still saw a possibility for more.

To get this with either Dish or DirectTV would have resulted in my house looking like a satellite farm and having to run more wiring into my house. Just to get the boxes themselves was ridiculous since most of them only needed to be showing basic channels. Now I have (2) dual tuner Comcast PVR (master and family room), a regular HD box in the living room and everything else is "basic stations" and it didn't cost me a penny in wiring.

Damn Phoenix. You need to get out of the house more.

No TV in the utility room?

Garage?

 

[Phoenix]

as far as DirecTV MPEG4 goes, they have already stated essentially that they will swap out equipment for free when MPEG4/HD locals are rolled out for an area. So anything you buy now WILL be compatible, in a sense, when MPEG4 is rolled out.

As for your comment Phoenix about a "satellite farm", the thing is you STILL need cables running to each location even with cable. The only difference is needing a box with DirecTV. But with new boxes costing under $50 and being not much larger than a new release hardcover, I hardly see this as a problem. IMHO of course.

but as with the theme of this thread, every location will have to research, because every cable co is different.**

** which is another reason I love DirecTV. You always know what you are getting no matter where you live.

Well according to the folks at Dish and DirectTV, they would have had to run additional wiring because only one wire runs to each of the outlets in the house and they needed to run two distinct wires from the dish for their PVR so they would have to go from my wiring box outside and drill through the brick to run those new wires up two floors and then through the sheetrock to have the second wire at the plate.

Were they retarded? In either event, that was all I needed to here to cancel my satellite and move over to Comcast. Now all the stations that I watch normally are all in HD except for SciFi and Cartoon Network so I see absolutely no real advantage to satellite anymore. Once SciFi and CN are HD - pfft, I'm cable for life yo

 

[GamePnoy74]

Another thumbs up for DirecTV here too. SD picture quality looks so much better than cable IMO, I'll be switching to HD when the new MPEG4 boxes come out.

And for your Filipino folks they now offer The Filipino Channel package, can now consolidate all your satellite TV programming through one box if you're interested (I think cable usually just offer 1-2 channels but DirecTV offers up to like 4-5 TV channels and 2 radio channels like the independent staellite providers).

Also, if you're a big football fan, DirecTV + Sunday ticket is pretty much the way to go.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I'll add my vote to DirecTV. I've had it for several years, and it's been great. I also have Sunday Ticket, and as a HUGE football fan, I'd never want to go back to watching football without it again. I also have the DirecTV Tivo and love it as well.

BTW, if you have DTV now and want to switch to the HD-DVR, they are actually selling them for a lot less through customer retention. $299 and a $100 mail in rebate. For $199 you get a kick ass DVR with HD capablities. They are also offering some discounts on HD packages right now as well. Very good deals to be had. I'm going shopping for an HDTV this weekend to take advantage of them.

 

[Nerevar]

Why does it suck? Its given me a suck-less experience thus far.

a few reasons, mainly that it doesnt' have an option to set priorities on shows (so if you have multiple series recording at the same time, it seems to pick two at random and record those), it is incredibly slow and oftentimes freezes for 30 seconds or more, the interface in general is asstacular, and the unit lacks a lot of hte nice "tivo" features that I've seen on my friends' boxes (like being able to record something off seeing the commercial, without having to navigate to the show and recording it on your own).

Plus it just acts like it's possessed sometimes, which can be quite annoying in its own right.

All that said, I like having the DVR and clearly put up with everything since I'm dropping less per month on it than I do going out for lunch at the office on any given day. But it's certainly a lower-end product. Like I said, you get what you pay for.

edit: the very fact that it allows my gf to record all her god damn cooking shows so she can watch them when I'm doing something else (instead of forcing me to watch them with her) is a godsend in and of itself.

 

[borghe]

Were they retarded?

if you just wanted a non-DVR signal going to each location, it is only a wire per location. Any location you wanted a DVR at would be two wires. Also a wire for each phone line. But the phone line is obviously minimal and hidden, and each cable is as obtrusive only as a cable.

To get all of this from the dish (with DirecTV at least) you would just run the 2/4 lines (round/oval dish) into a multi-switch in the basement (at least what I'm doing for my 6 runs) and run from the basement to each location. they have up to 4x16 multi-switches so that would support up to 8 locations with DVRs. they actually have even more, but more than that and you might need a bigger dish for a stronger signal to accomodate the massive splitting.

In the Milwaukee area, if you own a house you should own a dish. Our local TWC charges typically (after hardware and franchise fees) around 15-20% more than similar service from DirecTV. and that's a fact.

oh yeah, and what Kung Fu Jedi said... existing customers either who have been with DirecTV for a long time or are near the end of their contracts can get an HD DVR from customer retention for $299 BEFORE $100 mail-in rebate. $200 for an HD Tivo is hard to beat. I am running a 500GB unit with 63 hours of HD space and full digital ripping (over network) capability, from satellite AND OTA locals.

 

[Ponn]

Comcast On-Demand is fucking awesome. Especially if you get a couple premium channels then you can watch HBO movies and series anytime you want without even having to DVR anything. It's also cool if you like anime and or adult swim or other shows they pop up there for free and change quite often. Thanks to On Demand I got to experience the short movie Doggy Poo. Oh and I just watched The Freshman on their free movies list.

 

[Phoenix]

a few reasons, mainly that it doesnt' have an option to set priorities on shows (so if you have multiple series recording at the same time, it seems to pick two at random and record those), it is incredibly slow and oftentimes freezes for 30 seconds or more,

You need to call and have your firmware upgraded. When they first came out they did indeed have some freezes (never seen random recording) but I have no complaints at all it now. I also can't say that its incredibly slow - maybe we have very different models or something, but compared to my Series 2 Tivo - its just as fast.

the interface in general is asstacular, and the unit lacks a lot of hte nice "tivo" features that I've seen on my friends' boxes (like being able to record something off seeing the commercial, without having to navigate to the show and recording it on your own).

Unfortunately that's not globally available and generally only for shows that are being promoted by the various networks for recording. For the vast majority (i.e 90%+) you still have to navigate to and set the recording on your own.

Any location you wanted a DVR at would be two wires. Also a wire for each phone line. But the phone line is obviously minimal and hidden, and each cable is as obtrusive only as a cable.

Yep. Basically they would have to run more wires behind the sheetrock and around the house to at least 2 locations. In addition I'd have to have someone come out and run new phone jacks as there aren't jacks (at least not where the box would be located) in a variety of the rooms where I'd want to connect.

All in all, the satellite route required more of an upfront cost in wiring in order to be able to enjoy it....

and it lacks the goodness that is On-Demand.

 

[theo]

- All-digital programming, so you're getting the optimal picture for SD stuff as well as HD.

this is the biggest bullshit myth ever. all digital doesn't mean better picture. Directv compresses both their SD and HD signals significantly so you get a ton of artifacting on any decent tv.

 

[borghe]

and it lacks the goodness that is On-Demand.

I thought we already had a thread about this?

Tivo Suggestions and scheduled recordings > OnDemand

 

[Ponn]

I thought we already had a thread about this?

Tivo Suggestions and scheduled recordings > OnDemand

No way. For one I don't have to pay for OnDemand.

 

[Phoenix]

I thought we already had a thread about this?

Tivo Suggestions and scheduled recordings > OnDemand

OnDemand DOES NOT compete with Tivo, they are two totally seperate things.

Tivo Suggestions and scheduled records competes with comcast PVR at which point its a toss up as I run both systems at home and in my normal use the Tivo features currently provide me a marginal upside on the comcast dual tuner PVR. They are a lot better than the single tuner variant however.

Satellite has nothing competent which competes with OnDemand... not even close.

 

[borghe]

I don't pay for Tivo either (free with highest D* subscription) And even if I did it is only $5/month which is worth it considering how MUCH better it is than OnDemand.

OnDemand gives you a variety of shows to watch at the press of a button without you needing to do anything. Tivo Suggestions gives you a variety of shows to watch at the touch of a button without needing to do anything. How do they not compete?

The difference is OnDemand gives you shows from what OnDemand wants to give you from the selection that that OnDemand network has. Tivo suggestions gives you shows based on your viewing habits and preferences from show from every channel you receive.

 

[Phoenix]

For one - OnDemand offers an entire library of programming from networks that aren't even available as regular networks on either Comcast or the satellite networks.

 

[borghe]

That is a very small amount of OnDemand. Most of it is HBO, Cartoon Network, etc. Also, it is still a limited selection and still based off of what they are able to provide you. Suggestions is based off of every channel, including channels you might not normally watch. So the Anime Network onDemand is nice, but I am more interested in recordings off of Encore Action, AZN, Starz, etc.

And Suggestions and OnDemand ARE exactly the same thing. A selection of on demand material available to you outside of what you ask to record. As I said, the difference is OnDemand is what THEY want to give you. Suggestions is essentially what you give yourself.

 

[Phoenix]

And Suggestions and OnDemand ARE exactly the same thing. A selection of on demand material available to you outside of what you ask to record. As I said, the difference is OnDemand is what THEY want to give you. Suggestions is essentially what you give yourself.

(fitness, anime network, cooking, and random G4 tv shows actually)

One of which eats up drive space for shows that you're likely to never watch and the other is streamed to you. Tivo suggestions is nice, but out of the many years I've used Tivo - Tivo has only picked 2-3 things that I have ever actually watched. I've watched more things off OnDemand in the past year than I ever have watched Tivo suggestions or their Infomercial promotions from advertising partners - many of which are now going to become pop-up ads as I forward through commercials on my Tivo.

The difference is when I go home I can go to on demand and see what I want to watch from the portfolio. With Tivo (and I have 2), I get home and get to see what Tivo guesses I want to watch..... ooooh HouseHunters.... thanks Tivo - you've guessed wrong AGAIN

Its not that I dislike Tivo, but suggestions has never been useful for me.

 

[borghe]

(fitness, anime network, cooking, and random G4 tv shows actually)

One of which eats up drive space for shows that you're likely to never watch and the other is streamed to you. Tivo suggestions is nice, but out of the many years I've used Tivo - Tivo has only picked 2-3 things that I have ever actually watched. I've watched more things off OnDemand in the past year than I ever have watched Tivo suggestions or their Infomercial promotions from advertising partners - many of which are now going to become pop-up ads as I forward through commercials on my Tivo.

The difference is when I go home I can go to on demand and see what I want to watch from the portfolio. With Tivo (and I have 2), I get home and get to see what Tivo guesses I want to watch..... ooooh HouseHunters.... thanks Tivo - you've guessed wrong AGAIN

Its not that I dislike Tivo, but suggestions has never been useful for me.

have you ever used the DirecTivo? Part of the problem with stand alone Tivos is that they only have one recording. Particularly if you do a lot of recording, there is limited availability for the one tuner to record anything. On a dual tuner DirecTivo, the unit is essnetially ALWAYS recording something on both tuners, or damn near it. More oppportunities to record stuff you watch.

As for the eating up hard drive space, all Tivos today support LBA48, and adding a second 250GB hard drive takes about 15 minutes including disassembling and reassembling the unit. that's $113 for an extra ~240 hours of space (32 hours HD)... I can live with a few suggestions on that.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Uh, I have both OnDemand and a Tivo. I like them both equally for totally separate reasons. I don't see how you could argue that either of them compete. That is flatout retarded. OnDemand gives you a backlog of movies/shows, some of which might not be playing at all that week/month/whenever on cable. You don't have to wait for them to air so your tivo can record them. You can watch them at anytime. It's a great service, especially when you're also running a Tivo. Best of both worlds.

 

[borghe]

The reason for the argument comes down to the fact that currently you can't have both. You can't have a (dual tuner) Tivo with suggestions AND Comcast or any other cable provider. DirecTV offers the only dual tuner Tivo in existence. So which is better, having OnDemand or having suggestions recording on dual tuners?

Once Comcast implements the Tivo UI (and especially with DirecTV moving away from the Tivo UI) then Comcast may very well have the best of both worlds. But until then, IMHO Suggestions that are more than likely what I want to watch to me seems better than an entirely random mix of programming with little rhyme or reason.

 

[Crimson Dragon]

a few reasons, mainly that it doesnt' have an option to set priorities on shows (so if you have multiple series recording at the same time, it seems to pick two at random and record those), it is incredibly slow and oftentimes freezes for 30 seconds or more, the interface in general is asstacular, and the unit lacks a lot of hte nice "tivo" features that I've seen on my friends' boxes (like being able to record something off seeing the commercial, without having to navigate to the show and recording it on your own).

Plus it just acts like it's possessed sometimes, which can be quite annoying in its own right.

All that said, I like having the DVR and clearly put up with everything since I'm dropping less per month on it than I do going out for lunch at the office on any given day. But it's certainly a lower-end product. Like I said, you get what you pay for.

edit: the very fact that it allows my gf to record all her god damn cooking shows so she can watch them when I'm doing something else (instead of forcing me to watch them with her) is a godsend in and of itself.

Wow, I would have thought that Time Warner's DVR's and Comcast's DVR's would be compairable. I have multiple series recording at the same time and all I have to do is make sure the 2 I want recorded the most are higher in the list than the others. And it never acts possessed... hrm.

I'm all for the cable route. Road Runner, Digital Phone, DVR, On-Demand and no damn phone line makes it all worth it. Plus, you should see the stuff they are coming out with in the future. Caller ID coming up on your TV and stuff like that. The phone rings and you don't even have to get the phone to see if it's anybody you even want to talk to! Okay, I'm lazy, lol.

 

[borghe]

Tivos (through a simple hack) have had onscreen callerid for a while now. The only reason I don't use it anymore is because I don't have a land line anymore.