Registered: Jan 2004
Location:
Posts: 132

People with Directv tivo disregard this question (That deal is reasonable).

I am just curious why people would pay around $600 (tivo+lifetime sub.) for a so called Electronic Programe Guide. I know all the features, pause live tv, season pass, etc.

To me $600 is alot of money for the stand alone 80G tivo.

POST #1 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 1229

It is entirely worth the money. You aren't really paying for a guide in the sense of a TV Guide so you can see what's on. You are paying for the ability to "set it and forget it". Just tell it the shows you want and they will record. You no longer need to be home at particular times to "catch a show".

POST #2 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
Posts: 296

Yeah, It is a lot of money and since I bought the Sony, I paid a bit more than that.

I've had TiVo now for 23 months. It changes how you relate to TV. Completely.

I see many more shows that I want to see and the days of channel surfing are gone.

Is it worth it? To me and everyone I know who has it, yes.

I have yet to meet a TiVo owner who regrets the purchase.

POST #3 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 1866

quote:

---

Originally posted by abadan
I am just curious why people would pay around $600 (tivo+lifetime sub.) for a so called Electronic Programe Guide.

---

__________________
--b

What he said. --bsnelson
What he said. --mrpurple
* MarkovBot threatens 404's bicycle with a bic pen

POST #4 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2003
Location:
Posts: 139

quote:

---

Originally posted by byronshock
A better question is why people would pay $40 to $60 a month (at least around here) for cable without having a device that allows one to make good use of the cable service. The value of cable service without a TiVo is a small fraction of its value with a TiVo.

---

POST #5 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1997

Only $600?

Let's see;

$399 - TiVo (price when purchased 3/2002)
$250 - Subscription
$210 - 2 x 120 gig HD's
$99 - HMO

That would be $958 for the first box and pretty much the same thing for the other.

Expensive yes, but well worth it for the total control I now have.

__________________
Ron

TiVo | SERlES2 - 302 Hrs
TiVo | SONY SVR3000 - 273 Hrs

Last edited by rsnaider on 02-01-2004 at 09:56 PM

POST #6 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 3825

There are tons of shows out there I like to watch, broadcast when I can't be home to watch. It's tons easier to record them with TiVo. When your boss calls you with work crap it's great to be able to pause your show and not miss anything.

Plus, no VCR is going to find for you automatically the episode of Saturday Night Live that has Kate Bush as a musical guest.

Watching only the TV you want to see, including things you didn't even know were on: priceless.

Jan

POST #7 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Essex County, NJ
Posts: 8070

You know, you don't have to spend $250 on two additional hard drives right off the bat. And you can get a refurbished 80-hour TiVo for $249, not $399. My newest TiVo with lifetime and HMO cost $199 plus $299 plus $49 -- that $547 (once I get that $50 rebate back).

Worth it? Oh, yes. It's the best consumer A/V device I've ever owned.

__________________
"You GO gray!" -- Justapixel
Forget them, Gray...is simply marvelous! -- Ereth
Graymalkin's is still my favorite -- bruab
I know it's been said, many times, many ways, but you're the man, Gray! -- Thaed
Yes, Gray is one hell of a guy. -- Mavenelle

POST #8 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Crown Point, IN USA
Posts: 3034

TiVo is worth much more than $600.

Let me try this economic analysis. Let's say, before TiVo, I averaged about 2 hours of TV a day. That's 14 hours a week, 728 hours a year. With TiVo, you can get through an hour's worth of TV in about 45 minutes, but lets just say its 50 minutes. Now, watching the same programs, I am only spending 607 hours, which is a savings of 121 hours. 121 hours of your life you get back, and don't spend watching commercials. $600/121 hrs = $4.95/hour. Is your time worth $4.95 an hour? Mine is. And that's just the first year. If you keep your TiVo for three years, like I did, its down to $1.65/hr. And remember, that 121 hours is like three weeks worth of work. Would $600 for an extra three weeks vacation be worth it?

I'd say TiVo is definitely worth it.

__________________
Phil

The voices in my head are screaming.

POST #9 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2002
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 2708

We have three lifetimed units. Well worth it.

__________________
I think ThreeSoFar's advice is by far the best...gregpr

Four TiVos now, all with single Samsung drives:
Humax DRT800 w/DVD-R (174hrs)
Two older Series 2's (142hrs and 157hrs),and a newer nightlight
Series 2, a stupid case design IMO (174hrs)
All but the last are lifetimed. TiVite since 2000. There is a Good IR solution.

Got Vonage 4/9/03--need a referral credit?

POST #10 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
Posts: 296

quote:

---

Originally posted by byronshock
A better question is why people would pay $40 to $60 a month (at least around here) for cable without having a device that allows one to make good use of the cable service. The value of cable service without a TiVo is a small fraction of its value with a TiVo.

---

POST #11 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1968

Yes...well worth it...

And I second byronshock's comment... Having cable or satelite service without TiVo, and you end up paying for content that you never end up watching...

__________________
Sony SAT-T60 DirecTivo (212 Hours)
Hughes HDVR2 DirecTivo (217 Hours)

Universal Remote: One For All - URC6131
Xantech Xtra Link2 (Remote Extender)
ChannelPlus 3025 Modulator/Video Distribution

POST #12 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location:
Posts: 233

quote:

---

Originally posted by mshiu
Yes...well worth it...

And I second byronshock's comment... Having cable or satelite service without TiVo, and you end up paying for content that you never end up watching...

---

I've been using this as a "selling point" to anyone that might be interested in TIVO.

All the other wonderful features that TIVO has to offer aside, none is more beneficial than the ability to actually ENJOY what your cable provider is billing you $40-80 bucks a month for.

Honestly, Cable television subscribers should be REQUIRED to purchase TIVO Without it, I truly believe cable companies are getting over on the consumer.

POST #13 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2004
Location:
Posts: 168

yes

__________________
207 Hour 24004A SA (Originally 40 hour) - Lifetime sub

POST #14 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1178

quote:

---

Originally posted by ThomasDrew
I've been using this as a "selling point" to anyone that might be interested in TIVO.

All the other wonderful features that TIVO has to offer aside, none is more beneficial than the ability to actually ENJOY what your cable provider is billing you $40-80 bucks a month for.

Honestly, Cable television subscribers should be REQUIRED to purchase TIVO Without it, I truly believe cable companies are getting over on the consumer.

---

POST #15 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2002
Location: Northwest FL
Posts: 4381

Well I bought the 60 gig open box for $200 at Best Buy over a year ago, then I pay the monthly fee. I should up to lifetime but I haven't given in yet. So to start off with I didn't pay that much.

J

__________________
In this world you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant. In my youth I was smart. I recommend pleasant.

POST #16 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2150

I would have to respond with an unqualified yes. There are very few pieces of consumer electronics that have given me as much pleasure and utility (in recent memory) as my TiVo. My list would include:

My Mac
My digital camera (funny enough, I can't say that about my video camera)
ALL three of my TiVos (especially my Pioneer)
and my organizer (either one of the Palms or the P800 that I now own)

POST #17 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location:
Posts: 1274

Yeah, you know, TiVo is one of those things that costs a stupid amount of money, but if you can afford it, it really is worth it. You can slice and dice the numbers however it makes most sense to you, but the bottom line is that it really is TV YOUR WAY, and that's what makes it worth the asking price.

Regarding the DTiVos - hey, I don't know why DTV even allows you to NOT get a TiVo, but yeah, I spent $600 on the first one, $400 on the second (60 hour refurb.), and I've never even come close to regretting it. Yup, they're that good to those who are lucky enough to be able to afford them.

If you have any doubts, buy from a national retailer like Circuit City, that offers a 30 day return policy and try it for yourself. There's a very good chance you'll agree and find yourself right here along with the rest of us, wishing we'd bought ours EARLIER!

POST #18 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Location: Location
Posts: 6869

My first TiVo (Sony SVR-2000) cost $300 and lifetime was $200 at the time. It's now sitting in a closet and it's still worth it...

__________________
HDVR2 35 Hrs. -> 212 Hrs. with TwinBreeze™
TiVo Series 2 60 Hrs. -> 223 Hrs.
SVR-2000 - stock
Best Universal Remote (for the money - $18): OFA URC-6131

POST #19 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 39

recently sold my standalone TiVo since I switched over to DirecTiVo. The old one fetched more than $600, despite being used. It was a 145 hr with lifetime and HMO. I actually think the person got a pretty good deal (what I paid for HMO is less than what it sells for now), and he probably thinks the same.

You'll rarely find a good condition lifetime unit selling for under $500.

POST #20 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged