Product Review
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As a student, I'm very busy and often my schedule doesn't permit me to watch my favorite shows, sports, and events during their scheduled broadcast. After spending hundreds on iTunes for my favorite shows, only to endure a multitude of DRM restrictions, such as not being able to burn the shows to DVD or Blu-Ray or watch them on my TV without the expensive Apple TV hardware which does little more than allow someone to watch iTunes-purchased content on the television, I decided to get a DVR.
I entertained two options: either leasing a DVR Digital Cable box from my cable provider or purchasing a TiVo system. The DVR system offered by my cable provider does nothing more than the basic DVR tasks: record, watch, pause, and rewind live TV. I decided to go with the TiVo system for the advanced features such as sharing content with other TiVo receivers in the home, transferring content to PC or Mac, transferring videos, photos, and music from PC or Mac to TiVo receivers, and other nifty features such as Wist List searching (finding content by actor/actress, genre, and more as opposed to simply program title, network, and air date/time).
Pros:
TiVo does a fine job when it comes to recording, watching, pausing, and rewinding live television. The picture and sound are great and you have the option of the level of quality for recorded content, allowing you to maximize space on your TiVo or maximize quality of recorded programming. Finally, if you DO NOT have a cable or satellite receiver and receive your programming through over-the-air antennae or basic cable, TiVo adds some nice features. First, it has an interactive guide, something not possible without a digital receiver. As well, it enables programming information such as program title, description, air date, actors, etc. Finally, it allows you to surf programming on other channels through the on-screen guide while still watching programming on your current channel.
Cons:
The bulk - If you have cable or satellite, and your service requires a receiver, purchasing a TiVo system will add an additional box to your setup. Furthermore, using TiVo with a cable or satellite receiver is very hookup and wire intensive. Both must be plugged in to an electrical terminal. Both TiVo and your receiver will require a direct coaxial connection to your incoming cable or satellite terminal, and both must be hooked up to one another with audio cables, video cables, and your choice of an Infrared Remote sensor or data cable, so that TiVo can change the channel on your receiver. Furthermore, TiVo must be connected to the television with audio and video cables and TiVo must be connected to its server either through a phone line, or through high speed internet with a wired connection or, you can purchase a wireless adapter (another device, another cord) to connect TiVo to your home network.
If you do not have a digital receiver, the bulk and complication of hardware setup is significantly improved. Simply connect your basic cable line or your antenna with a coaxial cable, connect TiVo to a phone line or your high speed internet service, connect it to the TV, plug it in and enjoy. There is no need for two incoming cables, connecting TiVo to the receiver or connecting TiVo to your receiver's tuner.
Setup - If the hardware installation sounds complicated, getting this symphony of wires, connections, and hardware to work seamlessly together is even more complicated, if not impossible. I tried connecting TiVo to my cable receiver's tuner with the more discreet data cable, but TiVo was unable to change the channel on my receiver. I was forced to connect TiVo to the receiver's tuner with the Infrared device, which acts just like a remote control you attach to the front of the receiver. This is less sleek and visually appealing. Furthermore, if you're not using a phone line or a wired high-speed internet connection, expect more complications connecting TiVo to the internet through the wireless adapter. First of all, TiVo does not have an internal wireless internet adapter. This hardware does not come with the TiVo receiver and requires additional purchase. Despite checking, double checking, and triple checking, I was NOT able to get the wireless device to connect to my network with WPA/WPA2 or WEP network security active. I do not know if TiVo is incompatible with security features when connected to your home network through a wired connection, but I would imagine that it would be incompatible. I had to take all the security settings off my network and simply choose not to broadcast the SSID to allow the adapter to connect TiVo to my network. Many of TiVo's advanced features, such as sharing content among TiVo systems, or between TiVo and your PC or Mac require that your TiVo system is connected to your home network, either through a wired or wireless connection. So, if you're buying TiVo for these features, like me, be sure you make arrangements to connect TiVo to your home network before you buy the system. See more about the advanced features below. Finally, the overall guided setup and setup of TiVo's advanced sharing and connectivity features is very complicated. Menus and prompts are not intuitive and require a good deal of technological savvy. I do not recommend this product for those who are not familiar with the ins and outs of consumer electronics, computing, and home networking.
Dual-Tuner - After following all the instructions very carefully, and having my cable line checked by my cable company to ensure signal integrity, I was NOT able to use the Dual Tuner. The Dual Tuner enables users to record up to two analog programs at once or one analog program and one digital program at once. Since I cannot get the Dual Tuner to work, if I am recording a show, I am not able to record or watch another show subsequently.
General Use - Once TiVo is setup according to your needs, the ease of use improves. Once you become familiar with the TiVo interface, menus, and controls, it works just fine. However, if you have digital cable, chances are channels 1-99 are analog. Analog channels are controlled by TiVo and the digital channels are controlled by the box. Changing between analog channels is quick and easy. However changing from analog channels to digital channels or between digital channels is a little slow. Finally, to use services such as on-demand television, or to browse the program guide on your cable or satellite receiver still require you to use the remote for the cable or satellite receiver.
Advanced Features - The advanced features of TiVo were the selling point for me. They are why I chose to purchase TiVo as opposed to leasing a DVR from my cable provider. However, they are very difficult to use. First of all, sharing content between your PC or Mac and TiVo requires additional software. Depending on exactly how you want to share this content and what you want to do with it (burn it to DVD, Blu-Ray, or watch it on your computer or mobile device such as an iPod) requires additional software, some of which may cost extra. Setup is complicated and cumbersome and should only be attempted by those who are familiar with consumer electronics and home networking. It took me two days to figure out how to complete this setup, and I am very technologically savvy. Furthermore, after setup was complete, there were still some features I was simply unable to figure out how to perform. Particularly, after obtaining my computer's IP address on my home network, TiVo still said the server was not available at the address I specified. Nothing about this process is automated, so buyer beware.
Subscription - A monthly, yearly, or one-time lifetime subscription to TiVo service is required.
HD - This particular system does not have HD capability. Although I have an HD television, I do not have HD service from my cable provider since it is expensive and the channels offered in HD are still too few to merit this expense. Still, despite this fact, the picture for recorded and live programming coming from TiVo is excellent. However, I'm still listing this as a con since most people with HD service would probably prefer that the TiVo system they're purchasing be HD capable.
Network Connection - TiVo will NOT work unless you are able to connect it to its verification network, to register your TiVo, verify your subscription, and download programming information. I am listing this as a con since, for most people, this will require connecting TiVo to their home network which is a complicated process requiring additional hardware and wires which contributes to the overall bulk of the system.
I entertained two options: either leasing a DVR Digital Cable box from my cable provider or purchasing a TiVo system. The DVR system offered by my cable provider does nothing more than the basic DVR tasks: record, watch, pause, and rewind live TV. I decided to go with the TiVo system for the advanced features such as sharing content with other TiVo receivers in the home, transferring content to PC or Mac, transferring videos, photos, and music from PC or Mac to TiVo receivers, and other nifty features such as Wist List searching (finding content by actor/actress, genre, and more as opposed to simply program title, network, and air date/time).
Pros:
TiVo does a fine job when it comes to recording, watching, pausing, and rewinding live television. The picture and sound are great and you have the option of the level of quality for recorded content, allowing you to maximize space on your TiVo or maximize quality of recorded programming. Finally, if you DO NOT have a cable or satellite receiver and receive your programming through over-the-air antennae or basic cable, TiVo adds some nice features. First, it has an interactive guide, something not possible without a digital receiver. As well, it enables programming information such as program title, description, air date, actors, etc. Finally, it allows you to surf programming on other channels through the on-screen guide while still watching programming on your current channel.
Cons:
The bulk - If you have cable or satellite, and your service requires a receiver, purchasing a TiVo system will add an additional box to your setup. Furthermore, using TiVo with a cable or satellite receiver is very hookup and wire intensive. Both must be plugged in to an electrical terminal. Both TiVo and your receiver will require a direct coaxial connection to your incoming cable or satellite terminal, and both must be hooked up to one another with audio cables, video cables, and your choice of an Infrared Remote sensor or data cable, so that TiVo can change the channel on your receiver. Furthermore, TiVo must be connected to the television with audio and video cables and TiVo must be connected to its server either through a phone line, or through high speed internet with a wired connection or, you can purchase a wireless adapter (another device, another cord) to connect TiVo to your home network.
If you do not have a digital receiver, the bulk and complication of hardware setup is significantly improved. Simply connect your basic cable line or your antenna with a coaxial cable, connect TiVo to a phone line or your high speed internet service, connect it to the TV, plug it in and enjoy. There is no need for two incoming cables, connecting TiVo to the receiver or connecting TiVo to your receiver's tuner.
Setup - If the hardware installation sounds complicated, getting this symphony of wires, connections, and hardware to work seamlessly together is even more complicated, if not impossible. I tried connecting TiVo to my cable receiver's tuner with the more discreet data cable, but TiVo was unable to change the channel on my receiver. I was forced to connect TiVo to the receiver's tuner with the Infrared device, which acts just like a remote control you attach to the front of the receiver. This is less sleek and visually appealing. Furthermore, if you're not using a phone line or a wired high-speed internet connection, expect more complications connecting TiVo to the internet through the wireless adapter. First of all, TiVo does not have an internal wireless internet adapter. This hardware does not come with the TiVo receiver and requires additional purchase. Despite checking, double checking, and triple checking, I was NOT able to get the wireless device to connect to my network with WPA/WPA2 or WEP network security active. I do not know if TiVo is incompatible with security features when connected to your home network through a wired connection, but I would imagine that it would be incompatible. I had to take all the security settings off my network and simply choose not to broadcast the SSID to allow the adapter to connect TiVo to my network. Many of TiVo's advanced features, such as sharing content among TiVo systems, or between TiVo and your PC or Mac require that your TiVo system is connected to your home network, either through a wired or wireless connection. So, if you're buying TiVo for these features, like me, be sure you make arrangements to connect TiVo to your home network before you buy the system. See more about the advanced features below. Finally, the overall guided setup and setup of TiVo's advanced sharing and connectivity features is very complicated. Menus and prompts are not intuitive and require a good deal of technological savvy. I do not recommend this product for those who are not familiar with the ins and outs of consumer electronics, computing, and home networking.
Dual-Tuner - After following all the instructions very carefully, and having my cable line checked by my cable company to ensure signal integrity, I was NOT able to use the Dual Tuner. The Dual Tuner enables users to record up to two analog programs at once or one analog program and one digital program at once. Since I cannot get the Dual Tuner to work, if I am recording a show, I am not able to record or watch another show subsequently.
General Use - Once TiVo is setup according to your needs, the ease of use improves. Once you become familiar with the TiVo interface, menus, and controls, it works just fine. However, if you have digital cable, chances are channels 1-99 are analog. Analog channels are controlled by TiVo and the digital channels are controlled by the box. Changing between analog channels is quick and easy. However changing from analog channels to digital channels or between digital channels is a little slow. Finally, to use services such as on-demand television, or to browse the program guide on your cable or satellite receiver still require you to use the remote for the cable or satellite receiver.
Advanced Features - The advanced features of TiVo were the selling point for me. They are why I chose to purchase TiVo as opposed to leasing a DVR from my cable provider. However, they are very difficult to use. First of all, sharing content between your PC or Mac and TiVo requires additional software. Depending on exactly how you want to share this content and what you want to do with it (burn it to DVD, Blu-Ray, or watch it on your computer or mobile device such as an iPod) requires additional software, some of which may cost extra. Setup is complicated and cumbersome and should only be attempted by those who are familiar with consumer electronics and home networking. It took me two days to figure out how to complete this setup, and I am very technologically savvy. Furthermore, after setup was complete, there were still some features I was simply unable to figure out how to perform. Particularly, after obtaining my computer's IP address on my home network, TiVo still said the server was not available at the address I specified. Nothing about this process is automated, so buyer beware.
Subscription - A monthly, yearly, or one-time lifetime subscription to TiVo service is required.
HD - This particular system does not have HD capability. Although I have an HD television, I do not have HD service from my cable provider since it is expensive and the channels offered in HD are still too few to merit this expense. Still, despite this fact, the picture for recorded and live programming coming from TiVo is excellent. However, I'm still listing this as a con since most people with HD service would probably prefer that the TiVo system they're purchasing be HD capable.
Network Connection - TiVo will NOT work unless you are able to connect it to its verification network, to register your TiVo, verify your subscription, and download programming information. I am listing this as a con since, for most people, this will require connecting TiVo to their home network which is a complicated process requiring additional hardware and wires which contributes to the overall bulk of the system.
