What exactly does Tivo do?
07-17-04, 08:42 PM
#1
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What exactly does Tivo do?
This has probably been discussed many times before but I couldn't find any threads that answered my question exactly.
07-17-04, 08:45 PM
#3
DVD Talk God
It's more like, what doesn't it do? 
It's basically a VCR, but it uses a hard drive instead of tape. It records the shows on the hard drive.
You can do everything with this as you can a VCR.
However, there are a ton of uber cool feature. Most impressive is the "Season Pass" feature. Once you pick a show you like and want to continue recording when it's on, you put it on your Season Pass. It'll record the show whenever it's on. Repeat or new, you can adjust the settings to meet you needs.
The coolest thing is that you can watch TV on your own time. There's no more rushing to get home to watch a show. Dependent on the size of the HD inside, you can record anywhere from 35 hours to hundreds of hours of broadcasting.
It's basically a VCR, but it uses a hard drive instead of tape. It records the shows on the hard drive.
You can do everything with this as you can a VCR.
However, there are a ton of uber cool feature. Most impressive is the "Season Pass" feature. Once you pick a show you like and want to continue recording when it's on, you put it on your Season Pass. It'll record the show whenever it's on. Repeat or new, you can adjust the settings to meet you needs.
The coolest thing is that you can watch TV on your own time. There's no more rushing to get home to watch a show. Dependent on the size of the HD inside, you can record anywhere from 35 hours to hundreds of hours of broadcasting.
07-17-04, 08:50 PM
#4
DVD Talk Limited Edition
If you're interested in one you can get a refurb pretty cheap right now.
http://www.tivo.com/2.0.1.asp
http://www.tivo.com/2.0.1.asp
07-17-04, 08:52 PM
#5
DVD Talk God
The other cool thing is if you get a dual tuner one, you can watch live TV while it's recording another show.
Or it can be recording two shows, and you can watch another one that has been previously recorded.
Also, you can pause live TV if you have to get up and do something.
Or it can be recording two shows, and you can watch another one that has been previously recorded.
Also, you can pause live TV if you have to get up and do something.
07-17-04, 08:56 PM
#7
DVD Talk Gold Edition
You can order (totally free) a sample what TIVO can do for you DVD. here: http://www.tivo.com/1.5.orderdvd.asp ( It looks like it still is available-7-10 day delivery). I rec'd the DVD awhile back and it is good to learn what is does. Essentially a glorified VCR!
They have a flash site to see what it does here:
http://www.tivo.com/1.0.demo.asp
They have a flash site to see what it does here:
http://www.tivo.com/1.0.demo.asp
07-17-04, 10:47 PM
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Originally posted by Deftones, Esq
The other cool thing is if you get a dual tuner one, you can watch live TV while it's recording another show.
The other cool thing is if you get a dual tuner one, you can watch live TV while it's recording another show.
While you are checking out Tivo, I suggest you check out ReplayTV also. Depending on your needs, it is a superior product IMO. Automatic commercial advance, Internet show sharing, and networkability of ReplayTVs are unmatched by Tivo. Either way, as das Monkey wrote, a Tivo or ReplayTV will change your life (or at least the way you watch TV). I rarely watch live TV anymore and hardly ever watch commercials (and generally don't have to lift a finger to make that happen).
07-18-04, 07:27 AM
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I must echo the sentiments of das-- it changes your life.
It's hard to explain all that it does or, most importantly, how it changes your life because there isn't any point of reference for it. Calling it a VCR with a hard drive, although somewhat accurate, doesn't begin to describe how different it really is.
When polled, more TiVo customers said that they would rather give up their cell phone than their TiVo.
It's hard to explain all that it does or, most importantly, how it changes your life because there isn't any point of reference for it. Calling it a VCR with a hard drive, although somewhat accurate, doesn't begin to describe how different it really is.
When polled, more TiVo customers said that they would rather give up their cell phone than their TiVo.
07-18-04, 08:55 AM
#11
DVD Talk Special Edition
One of my favorite uses for TiVo:
Most sporting events, I prefer to watch "live" but with TiVo, I might now start watching a football or basketball broadcast maybe 45 minutes or an hour into it. This way, I can zoom past commericals (and halftime) and I work it in a way that I get caught up with real-time by the fourth quarter.
Love it!
Most sporting events, I prefer to watch "live" but with TiVo, I might now start watching a football or basketball broadcast maybe 45 minutes or an hour into it. This way, I can zoom past commericals (and halftime) and I work it in a way that I get caught up with real-time by the fourth quarter.
Love it!
07-18-04, 09:16 AM
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Originally posted by JM
While you are checking out Tivo, I suggest you check out ReplayTV also. Depending on your needs, it is a superior product IMO. Automatic commercial advance, Internet show sharing, and networkability of ReplayTVs are unmatched by Tivo.
While you are checking out Tivo, I suggest you check out ReplayTV also. Depending on your needs, it is a superior product IMO. Automatic commercial advance, Internet show sharing, and networkability of ReplayTVs are unmatched by Tivo.
That said, Tivo is the best electronics product I've ever had.
07-18-04, 01:08 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
What exactly does Tivo do?
Cooks breakfast for me and late at night... tivo... she offers herself to me. Alluring little minx. All those sexy menus and options...I specially enjoy the Happy Ending option.
07-18-04, 09:01 PM
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I just gave one to my 80 year old grandparents. I was a little hesitant as they've never been able to use things like computers or email, but they've picked up the Tivo quickly and love it.
The point is, do not fear Tivo.
The point is, do not fear Tivo.
07-18-04, 09:54 PM
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it really does change your life. Replaytv was my best purchase of the last 5 years hands down. it's hard to believe i've had it nearly 5 years now...it's really a shame that replay and tivo have had such a difficult time getting them to catch on. if i were them i'd mail everyone a unit to try for 30 days...i can't imagine many people sending theirs back.
07-18-04, 10:05 PM
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I agree with everyone who said that it will change your life. In particular it will literally change the way you watch tv for the rest of your life. You no longer have to worry about getting home in time for your favorite show. You also don't have to worry if you remembered to tape your favorite show.
07-19-04, 04:01 AM
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Originally posted by FuzzyBallz
Set it, and forget it.
Set it, and forget it.
07-19-04, 05:05 AM
#20
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Originally posted by Booth
When polled, more TiVo customers said that they would rather give up their cell phone than their TiVo.
When polled, more TiVo customers said that they would rather give up their cell phone than their TiVo.
-k
###
07-19-04, 12:05 PM
#21
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Originally posted by JM
While you are checking out Tivo, I suggest you check out ReplayTV also. Depending on your needs, it is a superior product IMO. Automatic commercial advance, Internet show sharing, and networkability of ReplayTVs are unmatched by Tivo. Either way, as das Monkey wrote, a Tivo or ReplayTV will change your life (or at least the way you watch TV). I rarely watch live TV anymore and hardly ever watch commercials (and generally don't have to lift a finger to make that happen).
While you are checking out Tivo, I suggest you check out ReplayTV also. Depending on your needs, it is a superior product IMO. Automatic commercial advance, Internet show sharing, and networkability of ReplayTVs are unmatched by Tivo. Either way, as das Monkey wrote, a Tivo or ReplayTV will change your life (or at least the way you watch TV). I rarely watch live TV anymore and hardly ever watch commercials (and generally don't have to lift a finger to make that happen).
Unless you DirecTV (or the ability to get it), ReplayTV is the way to go.
07-19-04, 12:13 PM
#22
DVD Talk Hero
• Red Dog •
Unless you DirecTV (or the ability to get it), ReplayTV is the way to go.
Unless you DirecTV (or the ability to get it), ReplayTV is the way to go.
If you have DirecTV, DirecTiVo is the only solution you should ever consider.
If you do not, then it's based on your preference. Many discussions around here have revealed that it comes down to feature preference, and neither Replay nor TiVo is inherently superior. Personally, if I didn't have DirecTV and had to roam with you inferiors
, I'd probably still go with TiVo. While flawed, it matches my needs better than Replay.das
07-20-04, 04:15 AM
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i have some tivo questions too:
1. what video format does it store shows in and how good is the quality? doesn't it introduce artifacts into your "recorded" shows.
2. why does everyone think season pass is so cool? it sounds like the exact same feature vcrs have had since the 80s where you tell it to record every day or every week at the exact same time/channel. has everyone been manually recording their daily soaps or something with vcrs?
3. why did tivo catch on even? i never understood why because it sounds like a vcr but worse since you are limited in storage space. a vcr can use tapes so you can build a huge collection of say every x-files episode, where tivo constrains you. and i assume they don't make it easy to grab the video off it to transfer to your computer, but i don't know. and to boot you apparantly have to pay for this service? WTH! the only good thing i can think of is that it will be better quality than a vhs tape. but then of course their is d-vhs now.
maybe i just don't understand something about tivo, but it seems real unimpressive to me and always has. not to mention way overpriced! a vcr doesn't charge a service.
1. what video format does it store shows in and how good is the quality? doesn't it introduce artifacts into your "recorded" shows.
2. why does everyone think season pass is so cool? it sounds like the exact same feature vcrs have had since the 80s where you tell it to record every day or every week at the exact same time/channel. has everyone been manually recording their daily soaps or something with vcrs?
3. why did tivo catch on even? i never understood why because it sounds like a vcr but worse since you are limited in storage space. a vcr can use tapes so you can build a huge collection of say every x-files episode, where tivo constrains you. and i assume they don't make it easy to grab the video off it to transfer to your computer, but i don't know. and to boot you apparantly have to pay for this service? WTH! the only good thing i can think of is that it will be better quality than a vhs tape. but then of course their is d-vhs now.
maybe i just don't understand something about tivo, but it seems real unimpressive to me and always has. not to mention way overpriced! a vcr doesn't charge a service.
07-20-04, 07:09 AM
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
1. what video format does it store shows in and how good is the quality? doesn't it introduce artifacts into your "recorded" shows.
2. why does everyone think season pass is so cool? it sounds like the exact same feature vcrs have had since the 80s where you tell it to record every day or every week at the exact same time/channel. has everyone been manually recording their daily soaps or something with vcrs?
1) SP will record shows not on the standard time (specials, etc)
2) SP will record your show even if it's on a different channel (HBO, HBO2, etc)
3) You can set SP to not record repeats
4) You can record as many episodes of a SP unattended as space permits. VCR you're restricted to the size of the tape (2-6 hours normally)
3. why did tivo catch on even? i never understood why because it sounds like a vcr but worse since you are limited in storage space. a vcr can use tapes so you can build a huge collection of say every x-files episode, where tivo constrains you. and i assume they don't make it easy to grab the video off it to transfer to your computer, but i don't know. and to boot you apparantly have to pay for this service? WTH! the only good thing i can think of is that it will be better quality than a vhs tape. but then of course their is d-vhs now.
You're correct that they don't make it easy to transfer video to your computer, but that should be resolved this fall when they introduce Tivo To Go, which does exactly what you're looking for. As far as having to pay for the service, I agree- $12.95/month is a bit steep for any service that does not conclude with a happy ending.
maybe i just don't understand something about tivo, but it seems real unimpressive to me and always has. not to mention way overpriced! a vcr doesn't charge a service.
