TiVo Community Forums Archives - Basic newbie questions

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Basic newbie questions
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Posted by: Eddie G

I was trying to learn about tivo. I keep reading about subscription fees. How much are the fees and what are they for. I thought tivo was like a computerized vcr. I also read something about hooking it to phone lines. Will it work without being hooked to a phone line? I was thinking about buying one for my dad for fathers day. But he is retired and I don't want to buy him something that he will have to pay fees to use. He is 78. Is it simple enough for him to use? I know he wouldn't use anything that has to be hooked to his phone line. He won't even let me order him call waiting. He feels it isn't anyone business what he watches. He believes the phone hookup will be used to get information about his personal viewing habits. Would tivo be a decent gift for someone like mentioned above? Thanks for any answers you can give me.
Eddie G

Posted by: AndyK

Tivo is much more than a "computerized VCR". The subscription allows Tivo to download daily guide data which is necessary for all the enhanced search features, season pass's and almost every other cool feature that makes Tivo...Tivo. There are 3 subscription choices, lifetime (of machine)- $249, yearly- $99, monthly- $10. I suggest you check out Tivo's site for more info http://www.tivo.com . Tivo is very specific about its privacy policy, you can read it here http://www.tivo.com/support/service_privacy_pvr.asp . I can't imagine anyone not being thrilled with a gift of Tivo. Someone 78 years young might be resistant at first but I'm willing to bet he'll warm up to it real soon.

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[This message has been edited by AndyK (edited 06-02-2001).]

Posted by: TVdude

Talked my mom into one and now she says it's the greatest thing ever. She absolutely loves it.

That poor old TiVo has to watch a lot of Regis!

Posted by: Dajad

One more thing EddieG, the phone line connection is extremely unobtrusive. I thought that would be a pain, but it isn't. TiVo calls home once a day, at any time of the day. If you are on the phone when it is scheduled to call, it will detect that and NOT call until the line is free. If you want to make a call when TiVo is using the line, just pick up the line, TiVo will hang up right away and it will wait and try the call again later when the phone is free. So, it is completely hassle free.

TVDude: I've been wanting to buy one of these for my mom for a long time but she lives in Canada where the TiVo service is not yet available. But, I'm sure TiVo will be forced to watch Regis everyday as well when the day comes that I can get this for her. I don't understand how people can watch him for more than a couple minutes without getting a sickly feeling in their gut! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif

...Dale

Posted by: Eddie G

I was at the Tivo site. I read the FAQ. But I couldn't find what the subscription prices were. Thanks. So I guess Tivo can be used with subscribing. It seems like the subscription prices are basically for an upgraded electronic tv guide. Is this guide necessary for the unit to auto record your favorite programs. Or without subscribing could he for example put in Millionaire and have Tivo record it each time it came on? He likes to watch quiz shows. I think there is a 1/2 hour infomercial on cable. I have to try and catch it. It probably would explain more. Thanks.
Eddie G
Eddie G

Posted by: Eddie G

My last post should have read I guess Tivo can be used without subscribing to their electronic tv guide service.
Eddie G

Posted by: arjay

Without a subscription TIVO has an extremely limited ability to record. It wouldn't work at all in the ways you're thinking about.

Either treat your Dad to the whole enchilada, or forgeddaboutit.

[This message has been edited by arjay (edited 06-02-2001).]

Posted by: Leon WIlkinson

quote:
Originally posted by Eddie G:
My last post should have read I guess Tivo can be used without subscribing to their electronic tv guide service.
Eddie G

It gives you more then that like Ipreview! which would let you http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif or your dad can set to record that show you see in a commercial, if the Tag is in there.

Plus you will must likly see more stuff later.

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Posted by: Dajad

If you search this forum there are dozens of threads on the topic of TiVo without the subscription. From my recollection the best you'll get is pretty poor. You'll be able to record on TV station X between Y and Z times - much like a VCR. These will show up on the "Now Showing" screen without a name. So if you have 10 shows recorded, you won't know which is which - you'll have to cycle through them all and start playing to figure that out. You will also be able to use the pause and rewind live TV thing.

However, the big draw back from what I understand is a never ending stream of Nag Screens. From what others have said TiVo will ceaselessly remind you that you don't have a subscription to the TiVo service. You'll continually have to clear past the nag screens. There is no way to shut off the nag screens. I'm not sure how often the nag screens come up but my guess is they come up whenever you try to activate a function that requires the data - at the very least.

All that said, TiVo without the subscription is about as useful as a boat anchor (to me) with nag screens to boot.

Get the lifetime subscription for your dad - he'll be delighted with it! I've shown my parents the box when they were here and my mom fell in love with it! We had to record Regis and Kathee Lee each day my mom was here and we had to actually watch it - AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! While my dad's not the type to express an emotion about anything, since he's never figured out how to program the VCR (my mom can) and since he MUST see the news and weather reports each day to the point where his whole world revolves around getting to the TV at the appointed hour. My guess is he'd love it just for that - not to mention recording all his favorite fishing shows.

...Dale

Posted by: theburn

It seriously is great! I can't bear to watch tv without it because it has spoiled me so much! I can proudly say I haven't watched a commercial for 6 months now!

quote:
Originally posted by TVdude:
Talked my mom into one and now she says it's the greatest thing ever. She absolutely loves it.

That poor old TiVo has to watch a lot of Regis!

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Posted by: Bryanmc

More to the point about the easy of TiVo to use, it's much simpler with the subscription data. It'd be a pain for your father to have to set the times to record every show when all he had to do is pick a show and it does the timing itself.

I know it's been said before by others in this situation but my wife can use it and that means it's simple.

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"Always in motion is the future."

Posted by: d_anders

I would buy the unit, set it all up, use it for a week or two at your own house first, then repack it and take it over to your dad's house as a present.

You'll be completely comfortable with the setup and be able to get him acquainted with the system.

If your dad happens to live in a different area (with a different cable lineup, etc.), then you can resetup the unit with updated guide data.

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-Dean
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