Tivo Series 3--should I get it?

I'm getting Direct TV HD next week and I didn't order an HD Tivo (going to slum it with my existing one). Today HDBeat says they think the new series 3 tivo is worth the $800 asking price.

I have to say that TV is getting absurdly expensive. My Direct TV bill is going to be like $125 a month with HD, and my TV was $3,500. They want $1,000 for an HD DVD player, and now Tivo wants their piece.

People keep talking about the death of TV, but from what I can see the TV folks are making BANK with all these new services and features. They just pulled me off the sidelines after 10+ years with my old TVs. Now I feel like I can't NOT have HD-everything. I don't play console games but I feel like I have to get an XBOX 360 just to see what the 1080p signal looks like on my new baby.

I'm starting to think I should have stayed on the sidelines another year!

Tags: directv, directv hd, DirectvHd, hd, hd dvd, hdbeat, HdDvd, tivo 3, tivo series 3, Tivo3, TivoSeries3

Sep 6th 2006 12:17AM
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1. I can't believe you don't have a TIVO clone offered by your cable provider - so much better, pay a few bucks a month for the same function. If available, that's your best bet.

Posted at 12:24PM on Sep 6th 2006 by JB

2. If you're not a gamer, don't drop the few hundred for the 360; it outputs at 1080i, not 1080p. ;)

Posted at 12:47PM on Sep 6th 2006 by Kevin C. Tofel

3. Well, if you get it; you should get it for your top 20 NS Contributors :-P.

$800 is quite hefty and when you can embrace the Open Source community and build yourself a MythTV (http://www.mythtv.org/) or a GeeXboX (http://geexbox.org/en/index.html). Free and could be built on the cheap, compared to the $800 TiVo.

Posted at 1:34PM on Sep 6th 2006 by Joe Manna

4. Jason - As Kevin suggests, X-box won't give you 1080p. It also won't give you hi-def movie playback unless you buy an extra add-on HD DVD peripheral drive and even then studio support for HD DVD isn't anywhere near as strong as it is for Blu-ray Disc. You're better off getting the Playstation 3 as all the movies in the pipeline for Blu-ray Disc will play on that (without a need for an extra peripheral drive).

Posted at 2:57PM on Sep 6th 2006 by Marty

5. You didn't order an HD TiVo because they aren't for sale... DirectTV doesn't use TiVo anymore for their DVR service. I have an HD DVR, it's provided by my cable company. TiVo might have a spiffy UI, but this box just gets it done. I can record two HD channels and play back pre-recorded HD content at the same time. More functionality for less money, it costs less per month than TiVo and there was no outlay at all.

Re: #2 and XBOX 360, You probably won't be able to tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p for most content. They are both the same resolution (1920x1080), but 1080i is interlaced at 60fps while 1080p is not interlaced and is at 30fps.

Posted at 3:01PM on Sep 6th 2006 by Jon Gales

6. Yeah, they build these montrosities, then bring in this consultant who sprinkles "sexy dust" all over it, which is what you end up seeing in ads, in store, online, and everywhere. They airbrush the things with awesome features and kick-ass picture quality then you buy, no matter what the price. The grinding you feel in your head is normal, no need to see a doctor. Expense vs. functionality and style. It is a never ending war man. Incoming!

Posted at 10:03PM on Sep 6th 2006 by Ryan Carter

7. First, the X-Box 360 is not capable of outputting at 1080p, the Playstation 3 will be able to. Second, why DirecTV? They're great for satellite service on SD sets and those looking for many channels with cool features, but for HD, they compress the channels in order to make more space other things (apparently they're going for VoIP now?), so I would say go the cable route which isn't contract based or Dish Network if you prefer satellite.

As for TiVo, heck yes if you're satisfied with the HD content your cable provider offers. I mean, it's freaking TiVo so the interface is fantastic and just downright intutitive that enhances the TV viewing experience as opposed to spending time trying to figure out how to switch tuners and find a show on some random cable box. In short, yes.

Posted at 3:09AM on Sep 7th 2006 by Carlos

8. The Series 3 Tivo won't work with DirecTV. Sorry :)

Posted at 8:06PM on Sep 7th 2006 by Alex

9. We just upgraded to Directv HD about 3 weeks ago. Held off on a tivo unit until there's one that can do the local channels. The Directv DVR won't record ABC/NBC/etc.

Supposedly the new Directv DVR comes out in December and will handle the local channels...

... but it's not a Tivo. Sad.

Posted at 11:15PM on Sep 7th 2006 by Rick

10. TiVo has always commanded a premium price. The original S1 units were over $1k 6 years ago. It's like you say about your bloggers, you gotta be willing to pay for the best. ;)

Three other thoughts... 1080P is overrated, DirecTV still offers DirecTiVoHD in some markets, HD-DVD players can be had under $500 though I'd wait for the updated models coming out for the holidays.

Posted at 8:48AM on Sep 8th 2006 by Dave Zatz

11. Just bought the Tivo 3 and boy was it pimp till i tried to hook it up to my directv hd box and realized that there was no interface to control the directv. i figured that i must be missing something. tivo has always had the ability to control different devices via IR. So now i am in an internal debate, ditch directv and switch to the monopoly of Comcast or return everything. Any ideas?

Posted at 1:45AM on Sep 30th 2006 by Wolfgang Croskey

12. I didn't read the fine print that the Tivo Series3 DOES NOT work with DirecTV. I can't believe that their parting of the ways came to this. DirecTV's HD-DVR is mediocre at best. I'm on my second one and hope I don't have to re-set it every day like the last one. The interface is clunky and counter-intuitive. Yet, I can get local channels in HD (albeit compressed) and it works great as a tuner for my plasma monitor. Solution? Pay $200/month for both DirecTV HD and digital cable with cable cards. After all, one works great in the home theater and the other is fine in the bedroom. Or...just get rid of both of them and read more.

Posted at 7:47PM on Oct 9th 2006 by Cyrano

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