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cNet Looks @ TiVo/Replay
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Posted by: mdscott

The lead item on cnet.com today (June 4) is a comparison of Replay v. TiVo

some links of note:
TiVo vs. Replay comparison
Review of HMO
Simple TiVo Tricks (such as 30 sec skip)

mds

Posted by: bigcb37

And cnet still prefers Replay! That makes me question all of their reviews now...

Posted by: daperlman

quote:
Originally posted by bigcb37
And cnet still prefers Replay! That makes me question all of their reviews now...

They are not using a DirecTivo in the review though. I might prefer Replay given those circumstances.

Posted by: DrStrange

quote:
Originally posted by bigcb37
And cnet still prefers Replay! That makes me question all of their reviews now...

Actually the HMO review says it "levels the playing field". The Tivo and Replay review have new dates and the Tivo review mentions HMO but doesn't mention network support (except as an unsupported hack) or grouping, and the Replay review doesn't mention any of 5.0's features like scheduling recordings on other units or the disappearance of the G/NG stupidity (although C|Net never reviews never mentioned it when it was there, so they might not notice that it's gone). The company info still says SonicBlue and they talk about swapping shows through PlanetReplay, something PlanetReplay stopped doing a long time ago. The only update I can see in the Replay review are the service fees.

The HMO review is new but it looks like C|Net has again just dusted off the old Tivo and Replay reviews, given them a new date and maybe a superficial polish and posted them as "updated".

(And yes, I know my comparison doesn't cover ReplayTVs latest release yet either, but I'm not trying to pass an old one off as "updated". In fact earlier this week I pulled the 5K info out until I can get it current.)

[Edit: The tivo review does mention HMO but is still missing other things that suggest they didn't really put any effort into really updating it.]

Posted by: richNYC

quote:
from the Replay review...
The ReplayTV 5040 refines existing features--such as the ability to share shows over the Internet or a home network--and adds progressive-scan video output, giving tech-savvy consumers two major features not found on current TiVos. However, less technically minded users will probably prefer TiVo since it delivers a slicker, easier-to-use interface

That seems fair, no? I don't care about those features and I love my TiVos, so I guess I'm "less technically minded".

Posted by: eric_mcgovern

Funny how the user reviews are a lot different. Replay gets almost 50 / 50 thumbs up thumbs down.

I always question these places when they rate Replay higher, and they give Replay the edge due to the networking, etc. of the units. I would take a guess that the majority of people who use tivo, replay could care less about networking, and the other "advanced" features of replay.

Posted by: Chris Gerhard

The ReplayTV standalone is so much cheaper than a TiVo standalone that I would choose ReplayTV for use with OTA or analog cable. A ReplayTV with lifetime service and networking capabilities was recently available from D&M for $300. The cheapest from TiVo is currently $600. That is a large difference. I prefer a TiVo standalone to ReplayTV but not for the price difference.

Chris

Posted by: mikedaly

quote:
Originally posted by Chris Gerhard
The ReplayTV standalone is so much cheaper than a TiVo standalone that I would choose ReplayTV for use with OTA or analog cable. A ReplayTV with lifetime service and networking capabilities was recently available from D&M for $300. The cheapest from TiVo is currently $600. That is a large difference. I prefer a TiVo standalone to ReplayTV but not for the price difference.

Sure, but you don't think that price difference is sustainable, do you? That is a side-effect of the bankruptcy and subsequent D&M acquisition. The old units are being dumped at fire sale prices. Hardly a fair comparison.