Tivo vs. Time-Warner DVR

For those who have problems with The Daily Show, I solved my problem by deleting the Season Pass and creating a Wishlist Search http://www.nofactzone.net/?p=2735, which I learned from the TiVo newsletter: 1. Go to Find Programs, and create a new WishList(r) search. 2. Enter the show title as your first Keyword: Daily Show with Jon Stewart. 3. Select “Done entering Keyword.” 4. Next, select Keyword again, this time entering the generic program description (the following is the generic descriptor for Daily Show): A humorous slant on top news stories. 5. Now give it a Thumbs down. (By default, your first Keyword gets a Thumbs up.) 6. Set the WishList to “Auto-record” with “First-run only.” 7. Delete the old Season Pass recording for Daily Show. (It's Comedy Central's fault; they don't provide correct/unique guide data.)

Around here (Cincinnati) there is uniformly bad word of mouth for the Time Warner DVRs. However I don't see a flock of people making the switch to TiVo. Only you will know if the extra bucks are better than dealing with the pain.

I would say a TiVo is worth the monthly cost if you use the extra features, namely transferring shows to/from your computer through TivoToGo, using the advanced search features to record programs (Wishlists), or any of the on-TiVo extras (games, Rhapsody music, etc). While the TiVo interface is fantastic, I'd be fine with paying less for a cable DVR that records individual shows, season passes, and will play/fast forward/rewind without hassle. The other "benefit" to a leased cable DVR is that if it breaks down you can generally just call up and get a replacement box. As you can tell by my use of the official TiVo uppercase/lowercase spelling, I'm definitely a fan - but that's only because I bought the lifetime subscription several years ago (and transferred it once with a fee). Once my current Series 2 dies, I will be hard-pressed to pay the up front and monthly fees for a new TiVo when cable and satellite companies offer lower priced options.

I'm not sure why your tivo would only get the first 100 channels. I have two series 2 tivos and both work fine with the digital cable offered from Comcast. You just have to pay for the digital cable box and then hook it up through the Tivo. According to the Tivo site, there may be some issues with using the http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/compatibilityhelp/TW_navigator_issues_with_S2_and_S2DT.html, but it seems to be mostly resolved. Check with your local cable office and see if they have the smaller digital cable boxes that don't automatically include the dvr. It's really about what you are willing to put up with. I've never heard anything good about the dvrs from cable and satellite companies, or rather, compared to my Tivos they never sound all that good to me. But then again, I can't imagine life without my tivos so I'm kind of biased.

Aside from being a little sluggish occasionally, I'm very happy with Time Warner's DVR. After hearing negative reviews from many, including my installation person, I wasn't expecting much. Do beware, however, as they distribute at least two models. I have the Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC.

I'm a new TiVo user. I've had DVR's under a number of companies, like Mediacom and Comcast and DirectTV. While TiVo isn't the worst, it's not the best. I definitely prefer the TiVo interface over that of Mediacom/Comcast, but still messes up doing, you know, the only thing it's really supposed to do: record shows. Not that this is entirely the fault of TiVo: guides change, times, change -- but when I'm paying them $12 a month, can't they at least make sure that the guide is correct? And why is it so hard to only record NEW episodes of the Daily Show (even though I have it set to record new only, no re-runs)? Every day I have to delete at least two or three re-run episodes. That's inexcusable. The best goes to DirectTV. Their menu/interface was stellar, I never had duplicate recordings. All around great. All in all, the TiVo isn't bad, but had I not signed a contract I probably would have just gone back to Comcast's DVR since it's half the cost and does basically the same thing, with the same faults, with a slightly less than impressive interface.

Also keep in mind with TiVo you don't get to take advantage of the cable company's on-demand service. Sure, you can use things like Amazon Unboxed through TiVo, but you're STILL missing out on all the free options through on-demand.

I liked the TW DVR until they changed the freaking interface. Now I really dislike it, but I hate TiVo more, so I'm sticking with TW. And I realize that that's not very helpful. Sorry. A switch for me wouldn't be worth it if I couldn't get the BBC on my DVR.

Yeah, you'll definitely be able to get more than 100 channels. I have a TiVo HD that goes up to the 700s, since I get HD over it, but even before that, with a normal S2, it's capable of going up and over 100. I love TiVo, frankly, because I hear other boxes crash, fast forwarding and rewinding is cludgy (they don't do the auto-bounceback that TiVo does), the interface is balls and basically, they flat out miss shows some time. Plus, TiVo HD at least, can play YouTube and run Rhapsody, which are both great bonuses. I haven't ever experience guide data issues in about 5 years of owning a TiVo, and it works exactly as expected for me.