Digital Video Recorders Reviews

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RCA Akimbo Video On Demand Player Featuring the Akimbo Service Best Quality

2009-12-13T01:09:00.001-08:00

I got the Akimbo & plugged it in & connected it, no problem. The challenge I have with it is that after paying a $9.99 monthly subscription fee, I really expected to see some good content. But what I've found is that all of the good, premium shows & movies cost more--a couple of bucks individually. The shows that come with the monthly subscription seem to be lower tier national geographic/short form/special interest type of programming. It doesn't grab me as worth the monthly subscription fee & I find I'm not watching it enough to justify.

The other frustrating thing for me was that after getting it all to work initially, I had to go download the content, which basically took overnight since it's coming through my broadband connection. I'm not opposed to content being downloaded, but I what I really would have liked would have been a bunch of content preloaded on the device & "just there" so that I could get started watching!

The Akimbo UI is good and intuitive. They've done a good job integrating account management controls from the PC as well.Get more detail about RCA Akimbo Video On Demand Player Featuring the Akimbo Service.

TiVo TCD540140 Series2 140-Hour Digital Video Recorder Get it now!

2009-12-12T19:10:00.001-08:00

I owned this Tivo for far too long. I have battled with countless inconveniences and my own denial. NO MORE! My nightmare has ended and I have ordered a DVR from my satellite provider which arrives tomorrow.

PROBLEM #1: Won't change channels or changes to the WRONG channel!!!!

The direct line from Tivo to my cable box gave out after 3 months. They provide an infared eye device that you can tape (thats right TAPE!!) over the eye on your cable box to basically trick the thing into changing to the right channel. Sometimes it wont change the channel or will change to the wrong channel. No fun when you get in your comfy chair to watch a show you THOUGHT you were going to watch, only to find your Tivo sent you to the wrong channel for 2 hours.

PROBLEM #2: Must have a landline telephone connection (THIS WAS THE DEAL BREAKER).

This is a hidden problem that pounces on you without notice. The Tivo must contact the mothership periodically to update the channel listings and times. If for some reason it doesnt update...you will get a "To Be Announced" notice on your TV guide. Which means that you might as well not even have that channel. Your favorite TV shows wont get recorded because Tivo doesnt know they are even on!!! This is a problem you have absolutely NO control over. If Tivo cant talk over the phone line for whatever reason....you're screwed. This did it for me. The dang thing couldn't communicate over the phone and I lost ALL of my channel lineups for weeks to come. That means the Tivo will just sit there and record nothing even if the show you want is playing.

PROBLEM #3: Forced commercials

So there you are...watching your show minding your own business when Tivo wants to change the channel to receive "Enhanced Content". Whoa that sounds important, I guess I should let it change the channel right? Well, welcome to a few hours of infomercials. Yep thats right, Enhanced Content is infomercials. If you are up at 2am, then you can override the Tivo to watch something else, but while you sleep, guess what your Tivo is doing? Bringing video junk mail to your fingertips.

PROBLEM #4: Failure to record.

After depending on a Tivo for a while, you begin to forget when your favorite shows come on. Thereby forgetting when its due to be recorded. Should you discover one of your favorite shows didn't record, you can do research on "Recording History" to find out what happened. A few times (not too often) the Tivo JUST DIDN'T RECORD IT!!! No reason given.

Do yourself a favor, skip this albatross and get a DVR from your cable or satellite company. It may cost a few bucks a month, but you are paying for peace of mind. It wont be long before this Tivo goes the way of the Beta-max, the 8 trach and Blockbuster Video stores.Get more detail about TiVo TCD540140 Series2 140-Hour Digital Video Recorder.

TiVo TCD649080 Series 2 80-Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder Buy Now

2009-12-12T10:07:00.001-08:00

I ordered the TiVo and it was shipped the next day (Friday). I received it in less than a week after I ordered it. When I got it, it was missing the remote. After contacting the seller, he ordered a new remote and had it sent to me as well as a "how-to" book just for the inconvenience that I encountered.

Very good customer service, I would order again from this seller any time.Get more detail about TiVo TCD649080 Series 2 80-Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder.

Sony SVR-2000 Digital Video Recorder Order Now

2009-12-12T01:07:00.001-08:00

Be aware that there are SOME SVR 2000's that allow manual recording without a subscription. If you do NOT have the older software version, without a subscription the SVR 2000 is little more than a doorstop or paperweight.Get more detail about Sony SVR-2000 Digital Video Recorder.

TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder Decide Now

2009-12-11T19:07:00.001-08:00

The TIVO HD is a piece of junk. It's sluggish, channel changes are slow, and the Internet features work poorly.

What's worse: I bought it, returned it, canceled the Tivo service (if you don't call to cancel they will keep charging you $14/mo!), but they kept charging me even though I haven't owned the hardware for 5 months! I called to cancel again months later and they want to charge me a $150 early termination fee. For what? They gor their hardware back 5 months ago and I'm paying for nothing! Avoid. Go with DirecTV HD DVR!Get more detail about TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder.

TiVo TCD649180 Series2 180 Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder Right now

2009-12-11T10:06:00.001-08:00

When I went over to High Def, I purchased a Tivo HD XL unit to take advantage of HD. But if you're not planning on the investment and hassles of upgrading all your equipment, the Series2 180 hour Tivo is an excellent choice. You may think 180 hours is a lot, but I, for one, record baseball games, and I've had to add one hour to each recording (otherwise the game would time out just at the top of the eighth inning). Do this for a while and you'll be bumping up against the ceiling of 180 hours without any effort at all. I am in love with the Tivo service, and consider the DVRs the cable companies offer to be very poor by comparison. Tivo keeps a record of what you watch, and then offers you alternatives it thinks you may like. This service has led me to some very happy experiments. (BTW, Tivo erases its suggestions before touching your preferred shows.) Setting up to record your favorites is easy and intuitive. Some shows that have changed their time slots, and Tivo catches up with them. You don't even need to know when or on what channel your show is! The two-channel feature allows you to record two shows at once, even if they overlap, or watch live tv with full Tivo functionality (freeze frames, going backwards to hear a line again, etc.) while another program is being preserved for you. Also, I can download movies from Netflix and Amazon, and they're ready to watch instantly (and with NetFlix, for free). Tivo is simply a different experience in viewing pleasure. You'll love it!Get more detail about TiVo TCD649180 Series2 180 Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder.

Lowest Price Blackmagic Design H.264 Format Video Recorder

2009-12-11T01:06:00.001-08:00

This could be useful to convert analog video to a MAC, but it won't directly import to I movie or final cut. This means two imports - first to desktop and then to I movie so it takes twice as long.Get more detail about Blackmagic Design H.264 Format Video Recorder.

Low Price Energizer Family Battery Charger

2009-12-10T19:06:00.001-08:00

this product does not work as it should. you would need to fumble with it several times to get it to work. new batteries, right out of the package, were inserted to be charged and the device states it was bad batteries. readjusted it and it was ok. but it still took a while to have it working by readjusting the batteries so it could charge. you still need to check on it constantly so it could charge properly.Get more detail about Energizer Family Battery Charger.

Save EasyCap Model 002 - 4 Channel USB 2.0 DVR Video Audio CCTV Capture Adapter

2009-12-10T10:06:00.001-08:00

Works on Vista 32, but not 64! other software records only on 2 channel. Hope this helps!Get more detail about EasyCap Model 002 - 4 Channel USB 2.0 DVR Video Audio CCTV Capture Adapter.

Discount Moxi MR-1500T3 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-12-10T01:06:00.001-08:00

I did not mind paying top $$ for a DVR box with all of Moxi's features. The problem is execution. The interface and functionality are not very responsive to the remote and often freeze. Channel surfing experience was real bad. You click through the channel up button and there is a delay. The box would then try to catch up, skip and or freeze on the last channel you select. Again... really wanted to like this box. It has so much potential. For 800.00 the expected experience should be near perfect. Get more detail about Moxi MR-1500T3 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Cheapest Roku HD-XR Player PLUS Premium Cable Pack

2009-12-09T19:06:00.001-08:00

First let me say I own a Roku and LOVE it! NetFlix and Roku are a marriage made in heaven as far as I'm concerned, and they are saving me tons of money and treks to the video store. The picture, ease of use, wireless capabilities, quality of video content... everything is great!

But it's important to understand the differences between the 3 Roku offerings so you can make an informed decision on your purchase. It does seem odd that Roku has simply not put out one device at one price for everyone with all the bells and whistles, but for now, you have to choose one... based upon your needs and budget.

**PRICING NOTE for PREMIUM CABLES PACKAGE: This package deal offers a 'Premium Cable Pack', but the description of what these cables are, is no where to be seen in the description! Since the only cable you really need is an HDMI cable that can be purchased very cheaply, Eforcity New 10 Ft HDMI to HDMI Digital Video Cable GOLD-PLATED for example worked for me, why pay so much more? If you want just the player, and will supply your own cable this is the one: Roku N1101 HD-XR Media Player to buy instead.

THE DIFFERENCES IN ROKU PLAYERS:
Roku HD Player is capable of wired or wireless hook-up, but not at the fastest speed available from a 'N' wireless network. HD content streams to this device flawlessly (if the content is available and your home network is sending a proper signal), despite not being 'N' network ready.

That being said, Roku came out with Roku HD-XR Player which WILL stream the fastest 'N' network standard, provided the rest of your home network is also working with the same standard. That being said, this device is not at all necessary if you don't have all the devices on your home network using the 'N' standard, because the speed will only go as fast as the device with the slowest connection which is probably the 'B or G' standard.

The third device is available on Roku's website. Roku SD, which streams in standard definition, will not stream HD content, isn't capable of surround sound audio like the other two and does not have a HDMI connection. It only supports the red/yellow/white (composite video and audio) connections, but it will connect wirelessly or can be hardwired to the internet, working on a 'B or G' network. The Roku SD is about twenty bucks less than the Roku HD and , so again, consider your needs before buying. **Anyone with a standard def TV and who doesn't plan to upgrade to an HDTV with HDMI ports any time soon, would probably want this version.

The Roku HD-XR Player is a jump up from the HD model in wireless capabilities. All the Roku offerings will give you years of enjoyment by boosting your NetFlix subscription, streaming Amazon On Demand media and boosting your viewing library. What the HD-XR has that the others don't: 'N' network capabilities and 1 USB port for firmware upgrades and possibly, other media hook-ups via USB, but at this time Roku doesn't even bring up the USB on their website so I tend to wonder about this being a selling point. Is it worth the extra cost? Only you know the answer to that question.

MY CONCLUSIONS:
1. If you purchase this particular set-up you're paying too much for cables you don't need. Purchase your own HDMI cable and you'll save money.
2. The quality of the streaming video on my 'G' network is perfect; standard and HD content, via my Roku HD, but since I don't have a 'N' network, nor do I expect I will in the near future, I saved myself a bit of money and didn't buy this one.
3. The reasons I give this product 4 versus 5 stars is because of the price bump for the ability to use an 'N' wireless network when frankly I believe it should be considered a standard feature not an extra, and the price bump for adding cables that can be purchased much more inexpensively. The USB port, whatever it's used for, should also be standard on all models. Again, it would be wonderful to have one Roku with all the potential connections and wireless ability, and perhaps in the future there will be, but for now you need to consider these three: Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR.

To may your own informed choice, evaluate your needs and buy accordingly. While the Roku products are not media storage devices or DVR's, they can give you a tremendous boost in your enjoyment of NetFlix and expand your viewing library.

ROKU HD-XR PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS (per the Roku website):
*Note the USB port isn't even listed as a feature.

Networking
Wi-Fi (802.11N/B/G "dual-band") with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support
10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)
Video Outputs
Composite video (480i)
S-Video (480i)
Component video (Y/Pb/Pr - 720p/480p)
HDMI (720p/480p)
Video Modes
16:9 High Definition (HD)
16:9 anamorphic
4:3 standard
Audio Output
Stereo (L/R RCA)
Digital Optical (Toslink - Stereo/Surround)
Digital over HDMI (Stereo/Surround)
Remote Control
NEC protocol, supported by various universal remotes
Power Input
5V, 2.5A provided by included AC adapter
Power Consumption
6 watts peak, 4 watts in standby
Size
5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)
Weight
11 oz (300 grams)Get more detail about Roku HD-XR Player PLUS Premium Cable Pack.

Cheap NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live (Black)

2009-12-09T10:10:00.001-08:00

I wanted a player that gets Netflix and Hulu. To get these two sites on this device you need the Playon software running on a PC, but it works great with this player. (Playon Cost $30) And as a bonus I get all kinds of internet content straight from the player with no PC running (the Playon software). I also hooked up an external drive formated as NTFS and it plays content from that. Generally speaking it plays everything I have tried and is easy to use and setup. There are a few problems thou. Nothing is perfect! First, resolution is SD or less, depending on the source. Second the remote does not fast forward or reverse.
Overall. it plays /streams video well but the resolution is a problem. Western digital is supposed to upgrade their box to play Netflix and Hulu and Roku Netflix box is supposed to add content similar to Hulu. After a few days of use I'm leaning towards returning it and waiting for a hi def player. Get more detail about NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live (Black).

Buying Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder

2009-12-09T01:12:00.001-08:00

I am interested in buying this product, will it work with a Windows Vista x64 bit operating system?Get more detail about Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder.

Buy Roku HD Player PLUS Premium Cable Pack

2009-12-08T19:10:00.001-08:00

The ROKU documentation is incredibly well written. Illustrations and pictures make installation a snap. Suggestions:

1. Buy an HDMI cable (here on Amazon) to run from your ROKU to your HD TV. Too easy.
2. Have your computer network settings handy. You'll be required to know your network name, as well as the password.
3. It's unbelievable how easy it was to install ROKU. Hooked up with Netflix you have a HUGE virtual library at your disposal 24/7.
4. Also unbelieveable how good picture & sound quality are. Picture quality is HD. Sound quality is great. Like watching a DVD.

I canceled my premium cable packages. With ROKU, going back now and watching past seasons of all the top cable series - Dexter, The Tudors, Californication, Weeds, plus lots of good movies.

I love my ROKU!!! Get more detail about Roku HD Player PLUS Premium Cable Pack.

Purchase Roku SD Player

2009-12-08T10:10:00.001-08:00

The Roku SD does exactly what it's supposed to do: stream Netflix offerings to your television in standard definition. This is the 'no frills model' and the cheapest Roku offering. There are three: Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR. (See my reviews to read about all 3.)

Being the 'low end' Roku offering, it only provides standard RCA (red/yellow/white) composite video hook-ups. NO HDMI hook-up here! For that you need either the Roku HD Player or Roku HD-XR Player. Both can provide HD streaming and stereo sound. The HD-XR can also stream over a 'n' network and has a usb port (although no known use for that port as of yet).

This device will allow you to enjoy Netfix wirelessly or via a wired connection on your home network. It will work at b or g network speeds, but not 'n'. It will not stream content in high definition, but would be perfect for someone with an older television and no plans to upgrade. It also saves you a bit of cash (about 20%) from the price you'd pay for the HD version.

This unit will not give you the best audio and video, but it was never made to do so. It will give you Netflix content on your television (provided you have a Netflix account) and allow you to enjoy over 17,000 movies, documentaries and television programs. Roku's are great, but you do need to find the one that's right for you!

NOTE: None of the Roku devices are currently DVR's, have built in modems or diversified mass media players or storage units. Also, THIS UNIT WILL NOT STREAM AMAZON ON DEMAND, but the Roku HD and Roku HD-XR will!Get more detail about Roku SD Player.

Order TiVo TCD658000 HD XL Digital Video Recorder

2009-12-07T19:12:00.001-08:00

This thing has all the ease of use, great HD image quality, etc. of the regular TIVO HD; but has dramatically more memory.Get more detail about TiVo TCD658000 HD XL Digital Video Recorder.

Shop For TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-12-06T01:09:00.001-08:00

Love Tivo, this is 2nd I own. Love the options, wireless internet works great, downloading movies, shows, who needs high priced cable when I have tivoGet more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder This instant

2009-12-05T19:07:00.001-08:00

This kind of machine is good for its capability,but I can't stand for the installation complexity.It dosenot support DISH Network Service.More important,I cannot get any help from the seller and It's impossible to make a return.Get more detail about ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder.

Humax T800 80-hour Digital Video Recorder with TiVo Immediately

2009-12-05T10:06:00.001-08:00

Where do I start? first off....I have 3 tivo's, two regular and this humax....when i first had the humax hooked up, i noticed the picture looked almost like it was breaking up, it was on a CRT TV and hooked up using an s-video so i blamed the problem on this. in the mean time i bought a 32" LCD, this time i hooked up the humax using the RGB component cables thinking it would work going all digital....BUT, this did no good either. i used every image quality setting available, all this did was to increase the file size of the recording and reduce the burning size of the DVD. this is not my primary DVD player, so i didn't have the drive failure like the others. also, mine is one of the "made in mexico" tivo's, the reason i know this is because i replaced the original HD as soon i got it for a larger drive, btw, it was a "maxtor" (good named brand drive). over all, this is a piece of carp, don't buy it.....it's no wonder tivo stopped selling it!

Get more detail about Humax T800 80-hour Digital Video Recorder with TiVo.

Philips HDR112 Tivo Digital Video Recorder Top Quality

2009-12-05T01:07:00.001-08:00

DVR's are great. I have 3 -- 2 Replays and a Tivo. I highly recommend them over VCR's for all the reasons you read in all the reviews. They also work quite well with few glitches, so I hadn't had much chance to test their tech support, until recently.

My Tivo unit is not properly contacting the server to download the program directory. This has been going on for over 2 weeks, so now my unit won't record at all. Tivo support lines have 30 min+ waits to get through. Online support is very limited. Upon getting thru to the first Tivo number, finally, they sent me to a second Philips number, and they were closed, with limited business hours. It would be one thing if this were just bad out-of-warranty hardware support, we're all used to that. However, Tivo is charging $12/month for the directory service and to not be willing to even take my call on it is frustrating.

I've had no problems with 2 Replay TV units, which I've owned longer, and would recommend them over Tivo. Functionally, the units are essentially the same -- Tivo's slightly easier to use but Replay is slightly more flexible. My next unit will be another Replay.Get more detail about Philips HDR112 Tivo Digital Video Recorder.

HAVA Wireless HD TV Streaming and Placeshifting Device

2009-12-04T19:07:00.001-08:00

This product looks nice on a brochure and website. But does not deliver in quality and reliability. I brought the Wireless HD model from the website about a month ago. It never has worked fine. I get Comcast expanded basic. The HAVA box was not able to scan the 100 channels. The device only recognised the Basic channels (11 channels ) and a few expanded basic channels.Get more detail about HAVA Wireless HD TV Streaming and Placeshifting Device.

Philips HDR312 TiVo 30-Hour Digital Video Recorder Review

2009-12-04T10:06:00.001-08:00

I have had a philips hdr312 TIVO unit for about 18 months. I LOVE TIVO. It is amazing and my family are all TIVO lovers. Even my wife, who hates all my electronics, loves tivo. The pause, rewind and Fast forward are awesome. We never start to watch our show until 20 minutes into it so we can zoom through comercials and still end at normal time.

Now the negative . . my units modem went bad, I sent it to Philips, cost $99 + 25 for shipping. Recieved it back 2 weeks later saying "no repair made, no problem found". Unit was still broken, called service and they agreed I should ship it back (another $25). Again, 2 weeks later returned "no repair made, no problem found". Agian I called philips, they agreed and said they would swap unit with a refurbished unit. I asked that they pay for shipping, they agreed and told me I would recieve a UPS call tag via email with 3-5 days. 3 weeks later and a dozen phone calls, still no call tag and each time I called I was promised by a supervisor I would get it the next day. One Tech support guy told me he's seen this take up to 30 days to get a UPS call tag and suggested I just pay for shipping myself if I do not want to wait. I asked them how is it that if I wanted to return something to L.L. BEAM, UPS would be at my house the next day, yet philips can't seem to get one to me for 3 weeks now. His response "were not L.L.BEAM"

At that point, I finally researched the company and contacted the President of the US division. He was wonderful. He was appauled at my story and within 1 hour of talking to him, (still amazed I got him on the phone)I had someone call me to inform me they were shipping overnight a brand new HDR612(The next model up). The unit arrived Friday, but I was not home, so I am waiting for redelivery tommorow.

I was happy to see management was very upset with the service I recieved and how quickly they reacted to my situation. Hopefully, this might shake up the service department and no one else will go through what I went through.

To the President of Philips . . Thank You!Get more detail about Philips HDR312 TiVo 30-Hour Digital Video Recorder.

Shop For ReplayTV RTV5160 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder

2009-12-04T01:07:00.001-08:00

I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to "not" fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand. Get more detail about ReplayTV RTV5160 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder.

Purchase Sony DHG-HDD250 30-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (250 GB)

2009-12-03T19:07:00.001-08:00

It's somewhat amazing that this DVR and its bigger brother the DHG-HDD500 are still listed on Amazon (via third-party sellers), and they're selling for good prices on eBay, even though Sony discontinued them in November 2005. They've developed a cult following for being among the tiny number of HDTV DVRs that don't require a subscription fee for their program guide, and can be used for over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts. They can also be used with cable TV; to receive encrypted digital cable, they need a CableCard from the cable provider.

That program guide, the TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) system from Rovi (formerly Macrovsion, formerly Gemstar), is supported by advertising on the guide screens, rather than by user fees. TVGOS devices receive it via signals "piggybacked" onto over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV signals, from host stations in (ideally) each broadcast area.

Unfortunately, these DVRs depend so heavily on TVGOS that if they can't get a usable TVGOS signal, they lose about 90% of their functionality. Even the clock setting comes from TVGOS, and there's no way to set the clock manually. If you don't have TVGOS, you can't even schedule recordings by entering the channel number and start and stop times like on a VCR, unless you compensate for the difference between the DVR's clock time and your actual time.

When these DVRs appeared, TVGOS was carried on analog TV broadcasts, which caused much uncertainty and anxiety over what would happen when analog broadcast TV shut down, which finally happened on June 12, 2009. (Many analog TVGOS host stations actually shut down or turned off TVGOS before then, including mine.)

The good news is that Rovi/Macrovision created a version of TVGOS that is piggybacked onto digital TV broadcasts, and the Sony DVRs can receive and use digital TVGOS, at least under good conditions.

Cable TV companies can pass digital TVGOS through to their customers. They can also extract the TVGOS data from a digital channel and insert it into one of their analog channels.

Sony has released an update to its software (version 1.2.21) which makes it easier for these DVRs to latch onto a digital TVGOS host channel. You can download it from Sony's web site and install it easily via a USB flash drive.

The actual results so far seem to vary in different locations. Some people can't get digital TVGOS at all. Either it's simply not available in their area, or the host station's signal is too weak or unreliable. Some people can get the clock set properly, which enables them to schedule recordings manually, but they can't get a channel list.

If you do have a channel list, you can almost certainly get daily updated program listings. This is probably the easiest part of digital TVGOS. After my analog TVGOS stopped, I was able to update the existing channel list on one of my DVRs with program listings from a digital TVGOS host station. However, I could not get a new channel list (on another DVR) for a couple of months.

I finally managed to get a new channel list on that DVR, by using a Dish DTVPal converter box to convert a digital TVGOS host channel to analog, and temporarily feeding that into the DVR. After I got the channel list, I disconnected the converter box and was able to get updated program listings directly from the digital host channel. I've seen reports from people who have used an Artec converter box for this. According to Rovi/Macrovision, the DTVPal and the Artec are the only converter boxes that can do this.

Later, after a nearby PBS (South Carolina ETV) station started to carry digital TVGOS, I was able to get a new channel list directly from that signal. This station's signal is much stronger and more reliable than the one that I was previously using. I've also gotten TVGOS up and running in two days after resetting one of my DVRs to factory default state and re-installing the new (1.2.21) software.

If you're considering buying one of these devices, I strongly recommend that you find out as much as you can beforehand, about the TVGOS situation in your area. If you can find someone in your area who uses one of these devices successfully, that's a very good sign. If you can find someone in your area who uses some other TVGOS device successfully, that's also a good sign.

I have two of these DVRs, a 250 and a 500, purchased in late 2005 and early 2006. I use them for OTA broadcasts only, and have been very happy with them. TVGOS worked well for me during the analog era, and now that I have a good digital host station, it works well for me in the digital era.

Besides the uncertainty during the analog to digital transition, the only problems I've had with either DVR have been occasional freezes while fast-forwarding or rewinding a recording (which I think happens more often when I'm simultaneously recording another program), and a few errors in channel-number assignments in TVGOS (which can be corrected in the "channel editor"). Also, the digital (ATSC) tuner isn't as good as in recent TVs and the standard-definition digital-to-analog converter boxes. It doesn't hold onto very weak signals or handle multipath interference as well as those newer devices do.

My rating is based on my own experience, but other people's experience may be very different. These are definitely not "plug and play" devices. You need to be prepared for difficulties in getting TVGOS working. Even without such difficulties, these are complex devices and it will take a while (and a lot of reading the manual) to become familiar with all their features. A Google search on the model numbers will lead you to a couple of active online forums where owners of these DVRs help each other out.
Get more detail about Sony DHG-HDD250 30-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (250 GB).

Order Q-See QSD2304L 4 Channel H.264 Pentaplex Network DVR with (CIF) Realtime Recording per Channel

2009-12-03T10:06:00.001-08:00

I returned this unit. It's very noisy and the software interface is awkward and limited.Get more detail about Q-See QSD2304L 4 Channel H.264 Pentaplex Network DVR with (CIF) Realtime Recording per Channel.

Where To Buy Philips DSR6000R DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo Service

2009-12-03T01:10:00.001-08:00

I have had a Tivo since they first came out. My original series one Tivo had a single tuner and had to use the IR attachement to change the channel. I was never satisfied with this arrangement. My problem was that we needed to record two shows that were on at the same time and this set up just couldn't do that.
Then DirecTV (which I have also had for the last 15 years) solved my problem with a DUAL tuner Tivo that was fully integrated into their system. It was like seeing for the first time...ok that's an overstatement, but being able to record Survivor and Friends and the same time was wonderful.

After experiencing the bliss that is dual tuner, I really don't understand how they sold any more of the single tuner units.

My DirectTivo has been going strong for about 6 years now with now problems. I know it's no longer available and DirecTV has decided to make their own DVR. That makes me nervous...I am just hoping that my DirecTivo keeps on going for a very long time!Get more detail about Philips DSR6000R DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo Service.

Buy Philips DSR7000 Combination TiVo/DIRECTV Satellite Receiver

2009-12-02T19:07:00.001-08:00

I've had 6 Tivos but up until now, they have all been freestanding (TiVo1 and TiVo2) units. I switched to satellite about a year ago and was thrilled to find that DirecTV was offering Tivos.....Until I brought mine home. What they DON'T tell you is that DirecTV TiVo is designed and built for DirecTV only. It DOES NOT record cable or over the air broadcasts, it DOES NOT support networking (a fantastic feature for getting your schedule via Internet and sharing shows between multiple TiVos in a household) and, because it doesn't support networking, it also doesn't support the Home Media Option (which allows you to stream audio and images from your PC to your TiVo). It also doesn't support web based scheduling requests or the soon to be released TiVo-to-Go. These are all features that are central to the TiVo culture and I'm amazed that DirecTV has crippled their version of the TiVo service. I'd happily pay out the few bucks a month to add a DirecTV unit to my TiVo subscription, but DirecTV doesn't allow for it.

The long and short of it is that this is not a fully enabled TiVo and there isn't much you can do about it. If you just want a PVR with a nice interface, this is probably it. But if you want TiVO, as in ALL of TiVo, then skip these direcTV units, buy a regular TiVo and hook it up to you current satellite receiver. Not only can you record over-the-air or cable this way, but you get every one of the TiVo functions that the folks at TiVo have thoughtfully built into thier units.
Get more detail about Philips DSR7000 Combination TiVo/DIRECTV Satellite Receiver.

Cheap DISH Player-DVR 510 - DVR - 100 hour(s) - DISH network

2009-12-02T10:07:00.001-08:00

We've gone through at least five of these DVRs - every time it's the same thing: suddenly we lose programs we had recorded - even the night before, and/or the timers we had programmed all suddenly disappear and have to be reprogrammed - only to vanish again. These problems start between 6 months to a year of use. Each time we have called Dish Network and they have exchanged it, then it takes some time to set up the new DVR and get it synced with your satellite feed etc. Then months later - same thing. I should mention that there was one exception: one DVR that was sent to us for exchange was faulty right out of the box. The rest took at least 6 months to go on the fritz.

This seems to be either "built in obsolescence" or just horribly shoddy quality.Get more detail about DISH Player-DVR 510 - DVR - 100 hour(s) - DISH network.

Buying Remanufactured HUMAX T800F 80 Hour Digital Video Recorder with TiVo

2009-12-02T01:08:00.001-08:00

I've not had the priv. of dealing with Humax customer service so can't attest to the other reviews out here - although we may have to now since we're just now starting to have lock-up problems. All I can say is we've had our Humax for a couple of years now and absolutely love it. It's been problem-free and does everything it should. We especially love the ability to burn our recorded shows directly to DVD. We have another unit that's not a Humax and I doesn't have the DVD capability - I hope we can find another Humax as I don't want to be reduced to just the standard TiVo features.

Get more detail about Remanufactured HUMAX T800F 80 Hour Digital Video Recorder with TiVo.

Buying TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-15T13:40:00.001-07:00

We thought Tivo Series 2 was awesome but this is even better! The picture quality is outstanding and recording two shows at once has eliminated program clashes altogether. Oh - and we tried the Comcast DVR that's about $10/month and it's almost unusable in comparison to Tivo. Great job Tivo!!Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Buy Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

The Roku Digital Video Player is a fantastic addition for Netflix subscribers to today's range of entertainment choices. It's very easy to set up, assuming your home network is properly configured; within 5 minutes I was enjoying a favorite recent TV show without commercials while perusing the seemingly endless and ever-expanding list of choices. And I haven't even made it over to look at Amazon Video yet.

But I have discovered a few weaknesses in the system that I haven't noticed being mentioned in the sea of superlative reviews. I noticed them soon after I began watching. I always get four dots (maximum) in the connection quality display.

First, and to me, most irritating, is that the player has to be restarted to output the aspect ratio correctly for my TV, depending on the show's native ratio. As we know, media are distributed in differing aspect ratios. One, as expected, fills my 16:9 screen just fine. But when the show is a native 4:3 ratio, I need to change Roku's output to 4:3 in order to use my panel's picture justification routines and avoid the damaging black sidebars. A several minute restart is needed when I do this, which is unnecessary in any other digital video player I have, and reduces the Roku's attractiveness and usability to a significant degree. It should switch between output display ratios without needing a restart.

Second, I often observe significant video flaws when a picture is changing rapidly, especially when viewing IMAX type videos. Much streaking and "squaring" and jerking, sometimes to an unwatchable degree. This effect is highly variable and seems like it may stem from the digitization process used in the individual media.

Third, in every occasion where I've cared, as in concert videos, the sound is quite muddy, and especially the midtones (vocals) have a tendency to be muffled. On the other hand, I'm watching "Heavy Metal" right now, and the sound is reasonably acceptable.

Lastly, the navigation through any show via fast-forward and rewind is somewhat inconvenient due to the 20-30 second buffering reload every time, so rewinding like you do with your DVR to see what was just said while the dog was barking at the doorbell doesn't work well at all. You're sure to learn to only use these buttons on occasion of significant need.

So while I love my new Roku, and recommend it highly to everyone, I wanted to let you know of these few issues that remain and detract from the perfection of the player.

Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Cheap TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-14T13:39:00.001-07:00

I've only had this a couple of weeks, but already I couldn't live without it. If it lasts, and I have no reason to doubt that it will, it is great. The recording quality on HD signals from the antenna are as good as the original. The program search feature is easy to use and I just love it. The only complaint I might have is that adding an expansion hard drive would be more convenient if it had a USB input instead of just ESATA.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Purchase Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-14T08:14:00.001-07:00

We use this constantly. It truly is the best tech purchase I have made in years. It was so easy to set up , we enjoyed our first film within 5 minutes time. The quality can be amazing if you're realistic. You will need a proper wireless setup, we get perfect reception from our super g router. Your internet speed also has a great deal to do with the quality, as well as your television. It will also work on older televisions and the quality is fine. Finally you get your dollars worth and compared to most gadgets it's not really that expensive.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Cheapest TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-13T13:39:00.001-07:00

The TiVo untit itself works great, so I gave it 5 stars. But the add-ons can be sketchy. It needs two single-stream CableCards (or 1 multi-stream CableCard, which no one seems to have yet). Getting the cards from Comcast means an installer comes out, inserts them, then calls an internal support desk to have the cards enabled.

Once the cards are working, you should test all of the HD channels you're supposed to get BEFORE the tech leaves. Also test the highest standard-def TV channel numbers you should receive, above 200. The highest HD and SD channel numbers will be vulnerable to problems if you have splitters in the line for multiple units, cable modem, etc.

AFTER THE CARDS ARE WORKING, NEVER USE THE RESET COMMAND IN THE SETTINGS MENU. This will change the CableCard info and they won't work until a tech comes out and calls the internal support desk. Instead, ONLY RESET BY UNPLUGGING THE POWER CORD.

The My DVR Extender works if you buy it from TiVo, but is touchy because the eSATA cable connector on the back of the TiVo HD is crappy. (I have several, and they're all flimsy.) It needs a 15 second head start on the TiVo or it won't be recognized, so if there's a power outage the TiVo will say that the extender is missing. Unplug the TiVo power and re-plug it in after a moment and it'll work again. I recommend an uninterruptible power supply for the extender and TiVo box if you'll use them together.

The USB wireless adapters work fine, but transfers are slow. Consider a wired Ethernet network instead to speed transfers up and avoid competing with computers for wireless bandwidth.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Buying Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-13T08:14:00.001-07:00

This item was purchased for my 83 year old father to watch netflix movies. It was easy to set up taking only 30 minutes or so including signing up for Netflix service.

My father is not great with technical things but he uses this item without a problem. I did put an icon on his computer desktop so he can go directly to the Netflix site and schedule movies.

I highly recommend this item but remember you will need a router and high speed internet. This unit is connected to an N router and 1.5 mbps internet service.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Discount TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-12T13:40:00.001-07:00

I've been a longtime fan of Tivo, so when I saw my parents constantly struggling to program their Comcast DVR, I bought them this Tivo for their anniversary. They were skeptical, but after just a few weeks they can't believe how easy the Tivo is to use -- even for people who don't always understand new technology.

What people don't realize is that Tivo doesn't have to cost much more than your cable DVR. Typically your cable company charges about $15 for a high-def cable box. But with Tivo, you can get rid of the cable box and use two cable cards, which only cost about $2 each ($4 total). So you save about $11 a month in cable fees, which you can put toward the Tivo fees and box. If you get a 3 year pre-paid Tivo service, you only pay about $8 a month. So you actually save $3 a month in fees. Sure, there is an upfront cost to Tivo, but the features simply can't be beat:

-- Incredibly easy user interface that makes recording programs simple.
-- The best onscreen TV guide anywhere
-- Ability to schedule recordings online (from work or vacation)
-- Ability to download tv shows to your laptop (great for watching on planes)Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Cheapest Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-12T08:15:00.001-07:00

I am so pleased with this gizmo! It arrived quickly and was so easy to set up. I followed the instructions in the included "Getting Started" guide to the set up screen on the TV. I was then stepped through the rest of the process within a matter of minutes and ready to activate my Netflix account online. SO EASY! Of course I updated my Netflix list right away and was happy to see my new choices reflected almost immediately on my TV screen -- too fun! The first night I enjoyed a personal "Murder, She Wrote" marathon - what a blast from the past! With the Starz Play and classic tv options, I am looking forward to many evenings of customized tv viewing.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Save TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-11T13:39:00.001-07:00

I have used the ReplayTV, Cable Company, and Tivo Series 2 DVR's. I firmly believe that the TivoHD is the best DVR of the bunch. It took a solid platform (Series 2) and made it even better. I'm using it with a mult-stream CableCard from my cable provider and it works great. You can now watch content as it is being downloaded from Amazon Unbox and it is easy to turn closed captioning on and off. As soon as I can find one I'm going to purchase the Esata add on drive to expand my capacity even further. I highly recommend the TivoHD to anyone looking for a quality DVR.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Cheap Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-11T08:14:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful product that saves both money and time. We replaced our 20/month Blockbuster subscription with the Netflix 10/month subscription. In less than a year, this unit pays for itself, not to mention the gas and time we spend going to the video store. The Roku is very easy to setup. Within minutes, we were watching movies. Great job!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Low Price TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-10T13:52:00.001-07:00

Having just purchased an HD tv, I realized that my old Tivo Series 2 would not be of much use. I contemplated using the Comcast provided DVR and quickly realized that is just would not do. Let's face it, it is a lousy product. I have been spoiled with Tivo for 6 years, there is no going back.

Once Tivo arrived I called Comcast to get the cable card that i would need. After convincing the kid on the phone that, yes Comcast does provide cable cards, we set up an appointment. The installer arrived on time, he installed the card in about 10 -15 minutes and I was off and running. By the way, before you get the cable cards, make sure and install Tivo and run the guided set up. Tivo suggests doing it a couple of days ahead of time to make sure all downloads are received.

Had it for a couple weeks now and am very happy with it. The only thing that keeps me from giving a 5 star rating is that it is a bit slow toggling from menu to menu, but it's not a big deal. So far the 20 hours of HD ability is ok for me, but I may add the external drive in the future as more channels become available.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Discount Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-10T08:14:00.001-07:00

I purchased this for my parents after they couldn't figure out how to get streaming Netflix to work on their computers.
I brought it over and had it running within five minutes- all you need to do is plug it in, connect the cables to the tv, set up the wireless, and type in the Netflix authorization code you get from your Netflix account.
The picture and sound quality was surprisingly good. I had lowered my expectations, I didn't expect great video and audio from web streaming from such a tiny box. To my surprise however, the quality of both the audio and video was like watching a regular TV show, or even better.
The interface is simple and intuitive. The remote has only a few buttons, and doesn't require studying a manual to figure out what they do. While it doesn't have all the features of a full-fledged HTPC (Home Theater PC), it excels at what it is designed to do.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Lowest Price TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-10-09T13:39:00.001-07:00

not wanting to pay for cable but still needing to get a DVR of some sort I decided to go with the best. The TIVO HD has been great in recording the HD programming that you get over the air. the menu is a little slow like other's have stated, but I can live with that. I've been using it for over a month now and I am very happy with it. Add to it the ability to transfer it to your PC and then burn to DVD, it is fantastic. Highly recommended.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Low Price Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-09T08:14:00.001-07:00

I bought this Roku box as an alternative to a cable subscription. As a person with off-kilter movie tastes, I'm in love with the older catalog netflix offers for streaming. I have close to 300 items in my queue, and some, like Monty Python's Flying Circus, have 45 episodes apiece. There's a lot of content if you start digging.

The Roku is shipped in its retail box. Kind of expensive shipping, too. It arrived 2 business days after shipping out of CA to end up here in New England.

The Roku is tiny. It's about the size of a large square piece of sandwich bread and about 3 DVD cases thick. Looks nice and minimalistic. A multitude of ports, but since I have a Panasonic Viera 32 LCD HDTV, I go right for the HDMI.

Picture quality is variable depending on a couple of things: Internet speed, source material, cable connections. Many older programs and movies are in 4:3 ratio, so keep that in mind. My tv has a scaler, though, so it's not a problem. I have 6Mb down, 2Mb up internet and always get great picture quality. Every once in a while you'll see some digital artifacts or some softness, but all in all, looks just as good as digital cable TV.

The reason I gave this 4 stars- I had some firmware/router issues at first. I am using a belkin model F5D7230-4 router. Reading through Roku forums, someone explained that the problem is an incompatibility with the firmware (v1.00 or whatever) the Roku ships with and my router. After an hour of frustration tooling around with wireless settings, I was able to run an ethernet cable directly into the modem and get the update needed (v2.00) to make everything work. After the firmware update, I reset my router and everything works like a charm. Wireless is fast, no need to run an ethernet cord. Still, bummed I didn't get this working right out of the box.

The Roku box is fast. I always have the '4 dot' or highest SD resolution when watching Netflix. I haven't figured out how to watch HD netflix movies yet. I did check the HD previews on Amazon on Demand, and was very happy, though. My TV is 720p and the Roku puts out 720p. The Dark Knight preview looked AMAZING on my TV. While I find Amazon to be a little pricey, it's nice to know the box can handle HD content quite well.

That brings me to my last point- this box is pretty good, and has the potential to be a LOT better. Right now Roku has 2 channels- Netflix and Amazon. There is going to be an addition of up to 10 new channels before the end of 2009, according to Roku. Many are speculating that TV network and content providers are in negotiations to stream their content on Roku, either via a subscription service or content with ads. I'm hoping for FOX, NBC, Showtime, HBO, Cartoon Network, the A&E/Discovery channels, etc to contribute in some way. Now of course, no one knows what the 10 new channels will be, but the potential is very, very exciting. Even if this is just a Netflix player, though, in the end it's worth the price of admission.

I'll update this after I put some more time into the box or if anyone has comments/questions.
Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Right now

2009-10-08T13:39:00.001-07:00

I love this box. Its interface is SOOOO much more intuitive than Comcast's stock DVR offering. TiVO customer service is quite helpful and knowledgeable and the Comcast techs set it up in under an hour (you need one multi-stream CableCARD, not two single stream ones even though there are two slots).

I have noticed it gets a bit jerky and slow at times. Hopefully either a hard reset (haven't attempted this yet) or future software update will address this issue. I've had TiVO before and they are always improving on the product through frequent firmware updates automatically sent over the internet.

Ignore earlier reviews that bemoan the lack of TiVO to Go and eSATA hard drive support. Well, don't ignore the whole review, just the part where these features are lacking, because now they are supported. The most recent update added these killer features. Now, if you hook up an approved external hard drive, you can get tons more storage for relatively cheap. That's helpful for me as I travel a lot for work and don't want to spend every waking moment while home cleaning out my stored-up shows (I record A LOT). Now, I can watch them on my time.

Which I think is sorta the point.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Save Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-08T08:14:00.001-07:00

I purchased the Roku device through Amazon and it was delivered in less than a week. It's a simple, basic device and only took a minute or two to set up. Instructions for activating the Netflix account are on-screen and not complicated. Everything worked as planned and I was streaming Netflix programs in a very short time. I have numerous movies and TV shows in the Instant Netflix queue ready to go.

I am running wireless DSL with S-type connectors to the TV (RCA connectors worked just as well). The picture is solid, no glitches. My only complaint is that the picture quality is not much better than VHS, definitely not DVD quality with this setup. That being said, overall I'm very pleased with the purchase.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Decide Now

2009-10-07T13:39:00.001-07:00

This is my second Tivo. I have a Series 2 with a lifetime subscription (wish the lifetime subs were not so expensive now). The dual tuner is awesome...we had occasional scheduling conflicts in the past and this is not the case now. The fact that these are HD cards brings digital channels to my main network channels (Comcast). MUCH better picture, even on my non-HD (yet!) TV. I added the Western Digital MyDVD Expander which brings lots more space for recording. If you can afford Tivo, don't even think about the provider offered DVR. I tried the dual tuner Comcast box six months ago and was almost "voted off the island" by my family. I understand Comcast is now testing the Tivo system with some of their boxes...Tivo just does not have a comparison in the DVR market in terms of performance and ease of use. Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Lowest Price Roku Digital Video Player

2009-10-07T08:14:00.001-07:00

I love my Roku. My husband gave me one for Mother's Day and I didn't even know I needed it! Not only does it allow us to watch our Netflix movies easily on our big tv but it also has several other nice features. You can have several movies in process at the same time, so I can watch part of something and then switch over to something else to watch with my husband or the kids can watch something then I can just go back and pick up where I left off later! I also love the feature that shows exactly how long the movie (or tv show) will run and if you pause it, it shows how much time you have left to go. This is a must have item for anyone who has Netflix or anyone who likes to watch tv or movies. I want to get them for everyone I know!!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Order Now

2009-10-06T13:39:00.001-07:00

I rarely suggest that a product has changed my life for the better, but I can say the Tivo HD certainly has - without a bit of hyperbole in my words. I've been a Tivo user for years, but its single tuner, and inability to display HD images always seemed somewhat limiting. Due to my digital cable hook-up, I had to watch whatever I recorded - and HD broadcasts appeared in SD "letterboxed" format.
Tivo HD uses a dual-tuner cable-card format - which means I can watch one program while I record another. Better still, I can record two shows at once (now that's a novelty for me) - and watch a third program on my cable box. And HD recordings look just as good as if I were watching them live.

There are a few caveats you really need to consider before purchasing. Because Tivo HD requires cable cards, you must make sure your cable company supplies these - and even if they do, you might expect to go through several installation attempts until they determine which cards are compatible. (Comcast visited my house three times - the first two times didn't take, and each time they suggested I get THEIR DVR service instead!)
The other caveat is disk space on the cheaper HD model. The price is great (under $300) - but it comes at the expense of a rather stingy hard drive for keeping HD recordings. (I think it works out to holding something like 20+ hours - maximum - of HD broadcasts). On the flipside, the capacity for SD recordings is phenomenal - well more than 100 hours.

The picture quality on Tivo HD is much better than my old Series 3 "standard" Tivo. I could always perceive when I was watching a recording, but the quality is so much better now, I would never be able to tell it wasn't a live broadcast straight from the digital cable tuner. (Although I am using Tivo HD's HDMI output now, which might explain much of the increase in quality)

I never thought a product would top Tivo in revolutionizing the way I watch television, but Tivo HD did it. I never miss anything now, and I never have to worry about two shows conflicting again. This is an amazing, wonderful, incredible (there goes the hyperbole) product!Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Right now

2009-10-06T08:14:00.001-07:00

If you are a Netflix member you need to have this box. It fills the time between my DVD's with great older movies. The watch instantly selections seem to be getting better as time goes by. My kids love to watch all the family movies that are available. It is much less expensive than its competitors and works exactly as expected. I wish I would have got one sooner!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Buy Now

2009-10-05T13:39:00.001-07:00

The HD DVR works great with my 1080p LCD TV. It operates almost the same way as our Tivo Series 2 DVR. The HD recordings are very crisp (with the highest recording quality), from over-the-air HD signal. My husband and I wondered about whether the 20 hr HD-recording time is sufficient; but it turns out that 20 hr is enough for us, since we can't wait to catch up on the recordings of our favorite shows. If you tend to wait for a long time before you watch the recorded shows, you may need to add an external hard drive (costs about $100 at Fry's). The only drawback is that we end up watching more TV than we are supposed to - oh well I can live with that. Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Decide Now

2009-10-05T08:14:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love this fabulous piece of technology! Great picture quality, great selection from Netflix (over 12,000), saves me money and trips to the video store, easy to set up and use, hassle-free, small, great price. If you have a Netflix account, you should definitely make this purchase. And if you don't have a Netflix account, and you love movies and tv shows, sign up for Netflix (as low as $8.99/month) and get this great device. You will love it! Be sure you have broadband connection of at least 1.5 mbps.

Enjoy!
Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Get it now!

2009-10-04T13:41:00.001-07:00

The Tivo software is vastly superior to the DVR available from our cable system. The cablecard setup was not easy. It takes a lot of patience and communication with the cable provider to get it working. Once it is set up, it works very well. The dual tuners are great. I have read some reviews stating the the menus and guide are slow to load. I have not had that problem. Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Buy Now

2009-10-04T08:15:00.001-07:00

I enjoy the Roku player. It is a great idea and it will become even more valuable to me if they are able to add additional entertainment sources in the future. I know that the Hulu thing isn't gonna happen but there are some other worthwhile channels out there. The one thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the shipping. For $15 it should get to consumer in less than 10 days.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Best Quality

2009-10-03T13:40:00.001-07:00

Been a Tivo user for years- but wanted HD & didn't want to pay over $500 for the series 3. Super happy, very quick to set up, and "rides like a Cadillac"Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Order Now

2009-10-03T08:15:00.001-07:00

I ordered the product and then changed my mind about 2 hours later. There is NO way to cancel the order. I emailed, and heard back from the company the next day telling me they didn't know who I was! Today I got an email telling me that the player is on the way... What horrible service.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Immediately

2009-10-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

I upgraded to the HD TiVo because my partner is such a geek and I could tell he really wanted an HD DVR. I shopped around and found one for like $249, then I paid the Lifetime subscription transfer fee of $199. I'm not sure I'd do it again. The HDs hard drive is small, but you CAN find upgrades for more capacity... but this is $$$.

For the first month it kept re-setting itself during live viewing or recording (while we were viewing), usually at a critical time. It seemed to be a firmware issue. Since I'm in IT, I thought hmmm, firmware. I wasn't following the process carefully but know that we had to do more than one update and reboot more than once... and the re-setting issue seems to be resolved. YOU HAVE TO REBOOT THE UNIT and possibly download more updates and REBOOT AGAIN before the firmware self-installs and takes affect.

I find the quality of live viewing to be only slightly better than that of my reliable, old Series I. There is some artifacting and fuzziness of the picture quality, yes, I've changed various settings - this happens on two different HD TVs (Panasonic and Vizio)... when I watch with direct-connect cable the image is crisp, but through TiVo it's noticeably less sharp - this is live viewing, both HD Tvs. The HD recording quality seems to be pretty good though, so my partner is happy.

What I did like was the clarity and attentiveness of the tech support and his answers when I called to transfer the service. We chatted about a few technical issues and there was none of this I'm talking from a script in India baloney (I know, it's what these outsourced folks are told to do). But, I like personality and interaction with my technical issues... and a sense that the individual has actually laid hands on the item I'm talking about. Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Best Quality

2009-10-02T08:14:00.001-07:00

Wow, this player really did set up completely and wirelessly in about 5 minutes. It runs smoothly and flawlessly. Now I have about 200 programs in my queue to watch at my leisure. I have an older tv, and the picture looks as good as a regular dvd to me, it might not on a Hi Def tv, I can't say. Having recently cancelled Direct TV and living in a rural area that only has about 9 over the air channels, this box adds many viewing choices. Paying $60 for Direct TV each month for basic cable channels, I got tired of flipping through the channels and still finding nothing of interest. With this box I can pick my own programs. Satellite tv is mostly old movies and reruns anyway. At least this box is a one time fee, and the $16.99 a month Netflix charges for 3 DVDs per month and unlimited instant views over the Roku or computer is just fantastic!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder This instant

2009-10-01T13:39:00.001-07:00

Update after 6-months: Was just talking about the Tivo last night and we both commented on wondering why we waited so long to get one. This comment was during watching a show, we decided to watch a movie instead so I went to Amazon and found a movie to download, she hit the record button on the show to finish later and we started watching the movie as it downloaded.

We've also learned the unit will record two programs at once as well as start recording automatically shows that you watch so if you get halfway through the show and decide you want to record it, just hit the record button and you have it from the beginning.

Also, being able to configure shows to record from the website is great or even start downloading Unbox movies when you are away (such as at work). When someone comes into your cubiffice and says "you really need to check out this show or that move", you just goto Amazon or Tivo and set it up in a couple minutes. Great stuff.

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Just picked up a TiVo HD DVR from Amazon and the Wireless G USB adapter. I have had it for a couple of days now and wonder how I have gone this long without a TiVo and why more people don't have them. TiVo simply does a lousy job marketing. I am surprised by all the features and the capability.

Setup couldn't be any easier. If you can brew coffee, you can setup the TiVo with about the same amount of effort.

The bonus? The ability to use Amazon's Unbox with it. I downloaded a few episodes of TV shows and The Transformers movie. Excellent picture and sound quality, plus you can watch whilst downloading.

The TiVo HD is a Series 3. Says so on the box, the unit and in the firmware. The difference? Smaller hard drive (160GB vs 250GB), not THX and the standard remote. Don't lose sleep over THX. It is not worth the money and very few movies use it. And, don't worry about the drive size. You can easily upgrade to a larger size if you are technically savvy OR buy one ready to simply pop in for a few more bucks. I plan to up mine to 1TB, which should be plenty. And, if that runs out, you can add a second or an external.

Note that it takes anywhere from a couple hours to 24-hours to link to your Amazon account to make Unbox work. Also, takes about this amount of time to be able to setup your TiVo to record movies via the web. Yes, that's right, you can login to your TiVo account from anywhere and tell what movies/tv shows/news to record. You can even subscribe to entire seasons. You can also login to Amazon Unbox from work, another state, wherever, purchase/rent a movie or TV show and have it download and be ready to watch when you get home.

There are a number of other unmarketed cool features. I won't bore you, just explore TiVo's site.

Bottom line, get the TiVo HD DVR and Wireless G adapter and have fun.

Did I mention Unbox? Simply awesome - a little pricey on rentals (purchases are fairly priced). Though, the rentals are comparable to satellite or cable video-on-demand and simply great when you are in the mood to watch something, but don't feel like running out.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Get it now!

2009-10-01T08:14:00.001-07:00

I found out about Roku from a friend, and I instantly ordered my own. It is WONDERFUL! Easy to setup and use. The only downside is that you can only download specific movies (under the WATCH INSTANTLY tab on Netflix), and not all movies. Some movies on Netflix are only available on DVD and must still be snail-mailed, but there are still 1000's on Watch Instantly movies to choose from. You may also purchase movies to watch through Amazon On Demand, and they are reasonably priced. I highly recommend Roku!!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Top Quality

2009-09-30T13:39:00.001-07:00

Packaging by Amazon was horrible. The manufacturer's carton was slipped into another larger carton without appropriate filler, causing the manufacturer's carton to slide about and break open one end of the outer carton. The UPS driver had not interest at all in addressing the issue of the obviously damaged carton or the possibility that the product had been damaged as a result. 0 stars to Amazon, 0 stars to UPS.

As for the TiVo HD itself, my unit was defective and I had to return it to TiVo for replacement. One of the two built-in tuners had a problem that caused severe pixelization on many channels. Pixelization problems apparently being not uncommon with this product. [BTW, I chose the option of swapping with TiVo directly rather than going through Amazon, so as to hopefully avoid another poorly packaged shipment.]

My Tivo also had a problem with loss of the video layer altogether on several occasions, leading to a condition where the menu layer would appear and you could navigate through the menu options, but there was no animated background layer behind the menus and it was impossible to watch any recorded programs or live tv. This could only be (temporarily) fixed with a power-cycle reboot.

Searches of TiVo forums on the web reveal that both of the problems I experienced are not an uncommon to the TiVo HD. IMO, the TiVo HD is an immature product that could have benefited from more testing before its release into the marketplace. However my replacement unit hasn't yet (knock on wood) exhibited the pixelization problems of the first unit, although the loss of video layer problem was present immediately at first power up (but not again since) with the replacement unit.

Given that the video quality is quite nice on my replacement unit, I'm giving this 3 stars. Otherwise it would hardly merit 2 stars from me. Hopefully TiVo will be able to fix some of the common problems that TiVo HD owners are experiencing.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Immediately

2009-09-30T08:14:00.001-07:00

I have been looking for an affordable alternative to cable for some time, and considered the Vudu box and the HP MediaSmart Connect, before deciding on the Roku box. I ordered it through Amazon and had to pay a shipping charge even though I have Amazon Prime. To make matters worse, the product was shipped by FedEx Home service and took about a week to aarive, so I was a bit disappointed in the delivery side of the transaction.

The actual box is quite small and VERY easy to set up. Although I have a wireless N network in my home, I always try to use a power line Ethernet adapter (such as the Actiontec MegaPlug) because they tend to be both faster and more stable than wireless, and are easier to set up. So I just plugged the cables in (power adapter, Ethernet and HDMI to my HDTV) and immediately the Roku recognized the internet connection and quickly dowloaded the latest software. This all occurred automatically. Then I followed the simple instructions and activated my Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand accounts. That's all there was to it -- within 10 minutes the entire job was complete and the Roku was operating exactly as advertised. It has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that is conrolled a remote control which is supplied with the device. The remote has a very nice, "chunky" feel to it and operates better than most.

I have a Panasonic Viera plasma TV and find that the picture quality is excellent. Not quite Blue Ray levels of quality, but actually very close and much better than I expected after reading some reviews of the product here on Amazon. The sound quality is perfect. Movies and TV download quickly and play with DVD-like stability and quality.

This product is extraordinary and I am completely satisified. And did I mention that literally thousands of programs can be viewed for free using Netflix's "Instant Queue" (as long as your monthly plan is at least $8.99/month?Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder Review

2009-09-29T13:39:00.001-07:00

Let me start by saying I was a DirecTV customer for 10 years and I had 3 Standard Definition Tivo's with them. I love Tivo but they don't tell you about this stuff when you purchase one.
I decided to replace these DVR's so I could receive HD content. I called DirecTV to purchase 3 Tivo High Definition DVR's. That's when I learned that DirecTV had a falling out with Tivo and does not support Tivo HD. If you want Tivo HD you must switch to cable. For anyone who's had Tivo other DVR's will not do so I switched to Time Warner Cable.
That's where the problems start. You see TWC is not particularly interested in supporting Tivo either. They don't make as much money off it and want you to use their DVR (which is absolutely horrible). I think the satellite and cable companies are trying to squeeze Tivo out and hoard all the profits. To make Tivo work on cable you must have CableCARDs which go in your Tivo. They have to be purchased from your cable company. So I must rely on TWC to supply them. TWC brought 8 out today and only 1 actually worked. Either CableCARDs are extremely unreliable or TWC just doesn't have good ones. Anyway here I am with 3 Tivo HD's and no service. That's a lot of money to have sitting around your house unusable so you'd better think about this purchase really long and hard. Tivo HD has some really cool features but if you can't get any channels it's does you no good. Don't end up like me. Between hardware, wireless networks, and the service I've spent well over $1000 and have NOTHING to show for it.
Update:
Time Warner has been to my house 4 times. They've also stood me up 3 times. Out of 3 Tivo HD DVR's only one has working CableCARDS (and that one doesn't receive every channel). DO NOT buy this product if you live in Charlotte NC. Without CableCARDS you can only receive analog channels which is very minimal cable. Tivo will not help you get CableCARDS. They must come from Time Warner and TWC is completely incompetant. You will be in limbo between 2 companies without support if you buy this. I work in IT so I know what I'm talking about. Out of about 50 CableCARDS only 3 have worked and they didn't receive all the channels. This product is worthless in Charlotte NC!!!
Update 2:
Time Warner made 2 more visits to my house to straighten this out. Here's some tips to help others. If you are switching from DirecTV you should ask the cable company to replace the coax cable in your house. For some reason that seems to help. My Tivo HD's would not work using DirecTV coax. TWC had to completely rewire my home. Also you need installers who are knowledgable about CableCARDS. It took 3 of them 5 hours today to finally get mine working. They went through about 75 cards. The features of this Tivo are awesome but you need a lot of patience to get them working. Not many people are going to put in the time.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Top Quality

2009-09-29T08:14:00.001-07:00

Just got this device yesterday. I set it up in a few minutes without reading the instruction. Hooked it up to my TV via HDMI cable. Easily linked it up to my netflix account and amazon video on demand. Watched "Chariots of Fire." Video quality looked really good. No problem at all.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-28T13:39:00.001-07:00

I've been a TiVo user for seven years, now. When we got a Plasma HDTV, last year, I naturally wanted a Series 3 TiVo. However, I could not justify the $800 price tag - especially when the cable company HD DVR appeared to be only $5 per month.

However, the cable company DVR turned out to be an exercise in frustration; it sometimes lost everything it had recorded, had an awkward interface, and, on a couple of occasions, was entirely inoperable. We ended up recording many shows on two DVR's - on the cable company's (for HD) and on our Series 2 TiVo as a backup.

When the HDTV TiVo was released, I did the math and ordered one. After selling our Series 2 (with a lifetime subscription) and getting rid of the cable company DVR, we are actually saving about $1 per month. This includes the cost of the new TiVo and a 3 year subscription. It turned out that we were paying about $12 a month for the combination cable box/DVR. This is now replaced by two cable cards costing just $1.50 per month total.

We are very happy with the HDTV TiVo. Other than a little less storage, the unit seems to be every bit as capable as my friend's Series 3 for several hundred dollars less. Instead of dealing with 3 remotes for the TV / DVR (cable DVR, TiVo Series 2, TV remote to switch inputs), we now control it all with the HDTV remote.

The only downside I see is that the cable box gave us on demand movies in HD including some free ones. However, with Amazon Unbox and TiVo, we can get standard resolution movies on demand. I'm hopeful that there will HD offerings on Unbox eventually.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player This instant

2009-09-28T08:14:00.001-07:00

My First player would reboot after 15 - 30 minutes on almost every program viewed. I called the Roku tech support which is the typical "off shore" support reading from a script. Once I convinced them that I did not need to reboot the device as it does it on its own all the time they gave me an RMA number and shipped me a new one. The Second player has no issues and is great. There are thousands of movies and TV programs you can watch as well as viewing your Amazon Video purchases. Rumor has it you will soon be able to link to your YouTube account also.

The moral of this story is to record the PO number on the shipping package as you will need it if you need a replacement. The warranty is not very good as it is only 30 days but like most electronics if it is going to be bad it will be bad out of the box. Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Shop For TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-27T13:39:00.001-07:00

After suffering with the Comcast provided HD-DVR (crashes, lost programming, hard to use) I was "called" back to TIVO by the Tivo HD.
Best Features - The Interface - Familiar and friendly makes it easy to search, set up season passes and a Wish List of favorite shows by title, actor, or other search word.
Dual Tuner and HD - this unit has two tuners so I can watch or record two shows at the same time. Either or both can be HD shows and the usual Tivo functions, Pause, REW, FF are available. I programmed a 30-second skip into my Tivo remote control (this is awesome for watching recorded Football games).
Tivo Home Media - I can view my Digital Photos and listen to MP3 on my TV by adding the Tivo wireless (or a wired) network adapter that connects to my home PC via my home network. Viewing my digital photos on my HDTV was a real wow feature at Thanksgiving this year.
Of Note: The bundled Tivo Desktop software requires an upgrade to listen to other audio formats. Also, additioanl software is needed to view any video files (like home movies or other downloaded videos from the web).
Tivo ToGo allows you to transfer Tivo recordings to your PC for viewing on or burning a DVD.

Lastly, despite the price drop, it's not cheap to buy and subscribe to Tivo. Fortunately, with a three year subscription, it brings the cost per month to around $8 which is about $[...] less than Comcast and Amazon has it priced at about $[...] lower than [...], at least as of early Nov 2007.
I'd like to see Tivo improve the process of transfering and watching mpeg and .avi and other video files stored on my PC. It would also be nice to compete with Comcast's OnDemand service, if there were more Free choices via Unbox, like older movies, kids shows and other HD programming.

I do enjoy my Tivo HD and encourage Tivo to continue to update the service, provide new features and stay ahead of the competition.

Paul - Sammamish, WAGet more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player Review

2009-09-27T08:14:00.001-07:00

This product is a brilliant idea. Being a rabid movie fan and a Netflix subscriber I thought, 'How can I go wrong with this?'. So I ordered and installed the device. Kudos for simplicity. This box has every TV interface you can imagine. I hardwired the box into my home network and went through the simple set-up procedure. After the free activation through Netflix I was amazed. I am a cable internet subscriber and I can find no fault with picture/sound quality.

Then THE bug appeared. When viewing a movie the Roku box would reboot every 20 minutes. I couldn't believe it. I re-checked everything. I took the following steps to try to cure this problem: All new Cat5e cable, rebooting the remote hub, rebooting the switch, rebooting the cable modem, and all variations of said actions. The result... watching a movie with interruptions every 20 minutes.

Then I signed on to the Roku user forum. I found that boxes in my serial number range have this reboot problem. It was acknowledged as a known problem and a software patch was promised. I was asked to PM the forum moderator with my user info and box serial number. I did this. Still waiting. No contact, no answer, no resolution. It's been days.

My advice is let this product mature and work out all its bugs before you purchase it. Wonderful product, just not thoroughly vetted.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Where To Buy TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-26T13:39:00.001-07:00

What a great item for people who like certain TV shows
and can't always watch them when they are scheduled.
About 100 times better than a VCR with a terrific picture.
It's worth it to get the HD versionGet more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Shop For Roku Digital Video Player

2009-09-26T08:14:00.001-07:00

I love this thing so much, I'm buying a second one. It couldn't be any easier to to use and creates a whole new meaning for video on-demand. Thousands of free Netflix (with subscription) movies to watch anytime and just-released on DVD movies from Amazon for a $1 or more less than what's available from my satellite provider. I hoping they'll add Hulu.com to the list of providers. The company says more are on the way. I can't think of a better way to spend $99 for nearly unlimited entertainment!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Order TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-25T13:39:00.001-07:00

Before I purchased TiVo, I called them and asked if there would be guide info for ALL the channels I could receive on antenna (my only program source), as my previous DVR guide service (Replay) was a zoned package and not a custom setup. Naturally they lied, and now over a month later I find 1/3rd of my digital channels have no guide info. I complained several times, but the TiVo service people are clueless, so nothing ever gets done. Plus, some unwanted stations won't stay deleted from the guide list.
Beware also, if you have phone-line-only connection for guide service, and you don't live in a major metro area, TiVo will bump your phone bill about $20 a month, in addition to the subscription fees!
On the plus side, HD DVR picture is as good as live broadcast, and the dual tuners are VERY sensitive, picking up more digital channels than my Pioneer Elite HD plasma.
But, though I AM getting more used to the rather clunky remote/operating software, this thing STILL needs a programable skip button!
Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Roku Digital Video Player

2009-09-25T08:14:00.001-07:00

I am thoroughly impressed with the Roku Netflix player. It was very easy to hook up and, even though I'm connected wirelessly, the picture quality is very good. The "HD" movies are better than DVD and the regular movies are typically approaching DVD quality. I get a great wireless connection even on the other side of the house. For as much as this box does, the price is very good. I love all the connections - from HDMI all the way down to composite, plus optical audio. I only wish that Netflix would make more and better movies/TV shows available for streaming. Seems like 90% of what they offer is garbage.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Purchase TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-24T13:39:00.001-07:00

Provides the best of both worlds ... TiVo's unmatched ease, dependability and convenience with a stunningly beautiful high-def picture. Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Buying Roku Digital Video Player

2009-09-24T08:14:00.001-07:00

This thing is awesome in every sense in that all you do is hook it up to your TV with either, S-Video, component or even HDMI. It wirelessly or with wire connects to your internet connection and then you're streaming anything that you have selected from your Netflix account. I guess the only downside is that you have to have a Netflix account. However, it is well worth it, all the A-Team seasons are on Netflix for streaming so that alone makes it awesome!Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Buy TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-23T13:39:00.001-07:00

Picked up the TiVo HD in September and have loved it since. Our cable company is Verizon FiOS, and the TiVo works great with the two cable cards Verizon provided. I also have it connected to my Mac computer wirelessly. This gives me access to my photo library and iTunes from the comfort of my couch. The ease of use is what has kept me a loyal TiVo customer since 2005. I have owned or used DVRs from Verizon, Comcast, and DirecTV. None of them even come close to what the TiVo is. Do not let the price of this item scare you away - it is worth every penny!

There is one MAJOR downside to the TiVo - it is not wireless. So you either have to fork out more money for a wireless adaptor, or run a wire to your router.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Buy Roku Digital Video Player

2009-09-23T08:14:00.001-07:00

The Roku player does what its meant for without any problems, but apart from this you can also use an Xbox 360 to do the same job minus the Amazon on demand service. The Xbox 360 works with Netflix as well, and it's just as easy to setup...and it looks great too. However, the xbox comes in at $199.99 compared to the Roku at $99.99. Wifi on the Roku is build in though which is a plus, while the 360 will need a wireless adapter that retails for a crazy $99.99! but you can find a use one here in amazon for about $50. Both units support HD (component and HDMI) but the 360 goes all the way to 1080p while the Roku caps at 720p. The Roku does Amazon and Netflix on demand only, while the 360 plays DVDs, 360 and original xbox games, Netflix, and Microsofts own HD movie and TV show service. So, I'll think about considering an Xbox 360 instead, but both products get the job done very well.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Buying TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-22T13:39:00.001-07:00

We had an old first gen tivo and loved it. When we got an HDTV, we also used Comcast's DVR. Let's just say the Comcast DVR in not on the same page as this new Tivo HD DVR. We absolutely love the dual tuner and the beautiful picture this HD Tivo delievers. We also LOVE the Rhapsody music service and we use it all the time. This is a great improvement over both our first gen Tivo and the Comcast DVR. BUY IT TODAY!!! You won't be sorry.Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.

Purchase Roku Digital Video Player

2009-09-22T08:15:00.001-07:00

Just received mine two weeks ago. I like it when it works. Specifically, every once in a while the roku will lock up during play back then reboot. I contacted roku suppor and they had me reset the device to factory defaults and re-activate it. They said to call back for an RMA if the reboot problem continues. Note, my roku also has issues with my Samsung LN40-A550 display. Apparently, the back light setting sometimes interferes with the roku rermote. When this happens you must put the roku remote directly against the roku IR receiver otherwise it won't recognize the roku remote instructions.

BE SURE to check out the roku forums prior to purchasing this unit. This way you can see what issues others are having and if they are able to be resolved.Get more detail about Roku Digital Video Player.

Cheap TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

2009-09-21T13:39:00.001-07:00

My cable company (Brighthouse Network), said that Tivo would'nt work with their Scientific Atlanta Cablecards (they were wrong), I bought the TiVo HD TCD652160 about 2 months ago, I love it. I asked Brighthouse to bring 2 cable cards to the apartment, the tech came out and we put 2 single channel cable cards in the machine, and they didn't really work. He said his manager was over at somebodys house last week for 3 hours and they couldn't get the cards to work, and gave up. But, I had read online about how Tivo needed to be hooked up to the internet so it could download updates and given a little time would work with difficult cable cards. So I told the tech to please leave the cards and I'll see what happens. I left the cable cards in the slots and left the Tivo on (its always on, in case you're wondering), and then hooked Tivo to the internet (More on that below). So a day later, I turned on the TV and could only get basic channels, (I subscribe to almost all of them) I called the cable company and told them to "refresh" my cable cards, and I rebooted Tivo (takes about 5 minutes) and that really didn't seem to change anything, I was busy and not able to mess around with it a whole lot again until the next day. In case some of you don't know Tivo calls the mothership everynight and updates itself or whatever. On the 2nd day I turned on the TV again and it was getting a some more channels but not all, then I went to work. When I came home that night, Tivo still was not working and I thought: oh its not going to work. But on the morning of the 3rd day, I turned it on and it was working PERFECTLY, like it had finally healed itself, Ha. It acted up a few days later and I called the cable company to have them "refresh" my cards, rebooted Tivo and that fixed it, for the last month and a half its worked perfect with no reboot.

Some good things about Tivo: HD recording of course. I'm checking into getting the external hardrive Tivo sells to boost storage space. Tivo is easy to use, of course. Buyer beware, once you have Tivo I imagine its difficult to go without it. HDMI output into television is nice. Great audio output, the sound is better than the one that was coming out of the cable box in my opinion. I listen to headphones straight from my Tivo box at night, I put a volume control on it, its so strong, and clear, it also has a digital (optical) audio output, whatever that is. I think my Tivo displays some subtitles my cable box wouldn't, I watch a lot of Spanish language shows with subtiles (for learning). Rewinding live TV is cool, what did that person just say? Just rewind. One of the best things about Tivo is the ability to control which channels you get. Also if you move you can just watch the shows or movies on your Tivo while you wait for your cable hookup.

Hooking Tivo to the Internet: I used a ethernet cable method and don't have any information about the wireless hook-up. First of all you absolutely need a router, I was a little peeved when I found that out, no way around it. I tried hooking it straight to the ethernet cable my computer is on from the modem and it would not connect. So, I bought the router they recommended $40 and everything was fine, pretty easy to install, and I think it even made my computer connection a little faster (is that possible?) By the way, for those of you who don't know, your Tivo box replaces your cablebox.

I first bought the less expensive Series2 Tivo by mistake, thinking its ok if I can only record regular definition TV, not realizing that I couldn't get my HD channels thur the Series 2 Tivo, Tivo should tell you that in plain english. So then I ordered this model TiVo HD TCD652160, it was more than I wanted to spend, but the seed had been planted. Things Tivo should change?? Tivo doesn't allow you to subscribe month to month only a year at a time. Tivo did significantly lower their price, and gave me the new price when I called about it. Tivo doesn't show you how full it is, or how full it will be on a give day when your adding future recordings, the only way you know your almost full is if you try to record something and it says there may not be enough space, and it will be that one show you have to have when it happens.
Get more detail about TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder.