TiVo Community Forums Archives - Where are the non-tivo DVR's???

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Where are the non-tivo DVR's???
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Posted by: zermatt

Hi Folks,
I've just got my tivo for 230 quid but am still undecided re: Monthly v Lifetime Sub.

Question: Does the Tivo service co. subsidise the hardware costs? If a great device like this is able to be made and sold for a profit at these prices why isn't every consumer electronic co. in the world selling a VideoPlus DVR (no subscription required)???

When they do the value of subscription-required tivo's will collapse. Is it more or less than 20 months away?

Is there some cost factor I'm missing that make a non-subscription DVR unviable at < Ł250?

PS. Interesting to note that the DVD recorders I've seen here in the UK are VideoPlus compatible but Ł900. Ouch!

Posted by: cyril

I have spent a few thousand hours searching for a decent cheap non-TiVo DVR and have yet to find one that is half as good. Even those that are less than half as good still they cost more than 800 quid or more with a lifetime sub, so that explains why no-one can even compete with TiVo on quality and cost.

However they can compete on an advertising basis, like Sky+ :-)

Posted by: Richard46

Hi

I too have been puzzled by the failure of non- subscription Digital recorders to appear in any numbers. The only one I know of in the UK is the JVC one which has a hard disk and a VCR but no digital Tuners like the SKY+.

As Pace make this I was wondering if they where thinking of ever selling a digital TV hard disk time shifter direct to users, particularly as they have just put a free to air digital tuner on the market for about Ł99.

I recently had the following correspondence with PACE, migh be relevant to your question.

I wrote
Congratulations on picking such a good moment to finally release a separate no subscription terrestial digital box. Why not really seize the moment and release a two tuner /hard disk no subsciption version. You have already developed it. With the right publicity you would get the video replacement market, the Tivo market, some of the Sky + market, more of the stranded ITV digital subscibers, as well as more of those just wanting free digital services, all with one product.
You would clean up.

I got the following reply very promptly.
--------------
Hello
In the long term we may develop such a box, but I think that is still some time away but thanks for your comments.
Regards
Craig Charlwood
Customer Front Office Manager
Network Development Division (NDD)
Pace Micro Technology plc www.pace.co.uk <http://www.pace.co.uk>

Enabling the digital revolution
---------------
I wonder if the PACE contract to Sky for the SKY+ box forbids them from directly selling anything similar either directly to users or to other DTV providers.

I did read in Home Cinema Choice late last year that JVC planned more Hard disk recorders this year.

Richard