I have the Time Warner DVR being installed this weekend. How does it compare?

Ahh, my mistake. You are, of course, correct regarding the older models.

I've used just about every DVR you can name (TiVo Series 1, Replay Showstopper, DishNet 500, Time Warner DVR, and currently DirecTiVo).

If you want an honest answer: the Time Warner DVR was the worst of the lot. It had multiple software bugs ranging from shutting down at random times, to stopping a recording in the middle, to plain old not recording at all.

The unit starts having even worse problems the closer you get to harddrive capacity.

The screen guide starts two hours in the future the minute you open it up ( ).

I could go on.

Granted, that was nearly 6 months ago and they have, hopefully, improved the software by now.

That is how my Scientific Atlanta digital box works as well. Who in the world decided to do this needs to be committed. Fortunately, I run one of my Replays through the box now so I just use the Replay channel guide.

I think i read years ago that they do that due to contractual obligations with the TVGuide network (or whatever network that is) that shows the currently running shows.

I'm guessing that if the cable company's guide was "current", it would compete against the TVGuide channel and lessen their "market share", hence the 2 hour "delay".

Still dumb, of course.

When I had Americast (Ameritech-now Wide Open West) they had the 2 hours delay for that reason (although they were vague about the reason). My current Digital cable from TW has the current time on the program guide. It would be odd if it went back to the 2 hour delay just for the DVR.

Well, so far I love it. Dual Tuners-plus watching prerecorded program while taping 2, Picture in Picture, great picture quality, records DD 5.1...all for less than $7. I've had none of the listed troubles and the guide goes right to the correct time. It may not have all the bells and whistles of Tivo, but I was never going to get a Tivo anyway. The hardware cost plus the $15 monthly fee plus single tuner = no sale. Plus I can't stand Digital Satelite. I hate the channel surfing delay and the program grid not to mention the bad weather blackouts. I haven't had cable go down in years.

I didn't see it posted but I always felt this was a good comparison.....tivo vs replay

Word is that the next models of ReplayTV's will no longer include the commercial skip feature.

Here's a follow up to my original question on this post. It's kind of a long story, but I'll try to keep it short......

I purchased the Replay 5040 (from the great deal Sonicblue had listed on their site). When it came (about 3.5 weeks later) I was psyched- put it together right away, only to find out the remote control doesn't work. I tested the TV function of the remote on all of my TVs (3 different brands) just to be sure, then called them. After spending more than 90 minutes talking to a CSR (who had me unplugging cables to test my remote!!!!), I demanded to talk to a manager, who was just as useless. An hour later, I hung up in frusteration, and decided to call back the next day.

The next day I called back, and right away asked for a manager. I spoke to a guy who actually seemed to know what he was talking about, and agreed with me after 5 minutes that the remote was bad. At this point I wanted my money back. This guy seemed pretty cool, and I gave them another chance (since I wanted this thing so bad!!!). To speed things up since they are so back-logged on orders, he said he would ship me an entire new unit, since it would be faster than sending only a remote. So I agreed. Along with the new unit would be an airbill to return the old one.

Exactly one week later, my wife calls me at work to tell me the new one arrived. As soon as I get home, I open the box. The ONLY thing inside the box is a new unit; no remote, no cables, no manuals. So now I have TWO Replay units, both of which are useless to me since I have ONE remote!

Needless to say, I called and spoke with the same manager, who seemed to feel horrible and was bothered that there could be such a screw-up. ...but I'm still getting my money back. I'm pretty bummed, since this was such a good deal, but due to the service I got and all the time wasted, I have a bad taste in my mouth for Replay.

I'm going Tivo.

Sorry to hear that. Was this SonicBlue customer service? I had to deal with Replay's customer service before (to resolve a dialing/modem problem) and it was one of the best experiences with a CS dept that I ever had. Didn't even need to pick up a phone. They answered my e-mail describing the problem within 2 hours. Their instructions worked perfectly.

The Replay remote problem is significantly updated in the new software release... when I first got my Replay last week (same online deal) the remote had horrible lag, but it disappeared after a software update.

That being said, Tivo does seem much more intuitive and easier to navigate. I'll give it time though... it may just be because I've been using Tivo for a couple of months now. It's weird having to learn a whole new setup.

Yeah, I've had Tivo for a couple years, now, but just got a Replay from that deal. I so far have found the Tivo much more user-friendly. I'm hoping it is just because I am so used to Tivo, so I'm going to give it a few more weeks.

It was the same way for me (my former roommate had 2 TIVOs) , but I quickly found that Replay was more user friendly since your recorded shows and to-do list are in the same spot. Plus I quickly found that the channel guide was far easier to navigate (especially in the newer Replays), especially when you learn the shortcuts.

Add my comparison test:

I've owned a Tivo Standalone (original) for several years with a lifetime subscription. Recently, I purchased a Replay system. I added the lifetime to it too.

Having been using the Tivo, I'm spoiled and missing several of the features of that unit. The Replay guide isn't pretty and not as organized as Tivo. Navigating screens on Replay is more difficult. There is no time line found on Tivo though there is a counter at top. To check the current time, you have to press another button besides display. Displaying guide obstructs the show you're watching. If you start watching a portion or middle of a recorded show, when you watch the recording it defaults in the position you last viewed, not the beginning. You have to go to another submenu to start from the beginning. No suggestions. No rating shows. Good only if you don't want anyone knowing what you watch. I like those features. Guide is choppy on Replay. It displays everything as a grid and show descriptions are incomplete unless you highlight the show. Tivo has a special menu highlighting what is on premium channels like HBO. Replay doesn't. You have to pick a category and wait and wait for slow searches of shows that can be on any station.
Onto recordings...Replay doesn't know if a show has moved. Tivo does and records accordingly.

That are some of the differences I've noticed after using Replay for about a month.

Replay's advantage over Tivo are the commercial advance which doesn't work nearly enough. I skips too far or too soon. You never know. Going back a few seconds to the beginning of a program after commercial advance has goofed is slow and can be a pain. It has built-in networking. That is probably the biggest selling point which I haven't used yet. But Tivo has added this feature for a price. Also nice that you can turn a Replay off. Don't know why this wasn't incorporated in the Tivo 1 which gets warm and I'm guessing could lessen its life. Replay also has a few extra connections light component out and optical connections.

For everyday functionality, Tivo wins hands down over Replay. And frankly, I miss the little Tivo sound when you click on items. Replay is dead quiet. The blue light is cool though.

TiVo rules, man!

Just read the lengthy (but great) comparison on that site... and yours as well, whoppa.

I didn't realize that Replay will only record a show that moved if it's within an hour or two from it's normal timeslot. That's a pretty big deal, at least to me, as it's nice to be able to set a Tivo season pass up even if the show's not on yet.

I also didn't realize that there was such a big difference in the channel changing time too... since I was using the IR blaster with Replay on my digital cable box (as opposed to analog cable directly to TIVO) I thought that was the problem. Not that I watch much live tv anyway.

I do like Replay's guide data setup, though... much more like TV guide, and it's easier to navigate. I never realized how little I used the TIVO guide, and only used searches. It's also a much, much better way of seeing whats on then using that dumb digital cable guide...

I also didn't realize how much I love Suggestions... even if it's just for curiousity's sake.

The off button: I've heard bad reports of people leaving their Replay on, having it's buffer filled, and that causing problems when watching live tv. So I guess it needs an off button, where Tivo really doesn't. Also, the live buffer stopping when watching a recording is a big deal to me too.

Anyway, I'll keep it for a few weeks, until I ship it off to my dad in hawaii. Can't wait to hook it up in the living room and test out all those DVArchive features, though...

If you set up a program as a theme channel, it will record it whenever it is on.

yeah, I was too, Red Dog. No- this CS wasn't with Replay; it was with SonicBlue. Hold time was awful, inept reps... I just don't have anything good to say about them. I've wasted too many hours of my life on hold with those people in the last 2 weeks!

If mine had lag, I could deal with that, since it would at least be working. I couldn't even click on "Select" during the initial setup, or turn on or off my TV....

Actually my good dealings were with SB. You may have experienced problems since SB's assets were bought out by D&M (one reason why they had such a good deal on those 5040s).

I had my first experience with ReplayTV the other day. A friend of mine got one for a gift, and I went over to play with it out of curiousity. I really didn't like it. Not nearly as user-friendly as a TiVo, for all of the reasons mentioned above in this thread. Even my friend agreed after he came over to my place and played with my TiVo.

Needless to say, my bud is returning his ReplayTV and going TiVo.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. Personally, I don't want bright colors, cutesy graphics, and hand holding. I want a standard grid-style channel guide, commercial advance, in-home streaming between units, and better picture quality. That's why I have a ReplayTV.

Granted, Tivo is great for first-timers to the PVR experience but I've been using it for over a year and the traits that make it simple and intuitive are its strengths.

Fujishig mentioned the buffer. I left that out. Replay won't buffer a show if you're watching a recorded program so you can't go back and forth. TiVo really doesn't play out this point but it's great to have.

Picture on Replay does seem better than on my Tivo 1 both of which I set on high quality. Tivo has more artifacting which may be due to the higher quality connection I'm using on the Replay.

D&M need to incorporate a wider grid to eliminate the broken program listings. The way the menu is structured now, shows like The Amazing Race can be reduced to The A until you highlight the program.

How do you go immediately from a recording to a station you were watching? So far, I've had to press a button for the guide and select to get back into a channel. On a Tivo, all you have to do is press on Live TV. There is a LiveTV button on Replay but that seems to only work when you're already on the channel to take you from the buffer to the live feed. Another annoyance I'm finding on the ReplayTV.

On the 5000 series remote control, press the "Jump" button.