Did a search, couldn't find anything, and I'm at work and can't surf for it all day.

I'm thinking of just getting the big TWC package, and putting cable, phone, internet, and DVR in there. But I've also heard that TiVo has a much better system than TWC's DVR. What are yall's opinions?

and they are still doing the Free TiVo (40 hr system) if you buy a year's subscription, so equipment cost isn't really an issue

[Edited on June 14, 2006 at 1:08 PM. Reason : .]

6/14/2006 1:06:54 PM

tivo is much better in way of usablibity, I had it with directv and now at my new house have the directv dvr... i miss my tivo so much, it worked much more logically in way of menues and whatnot. i you have a choice go with tivo

6/14/2006 1:22:48 PM

if it was twc digital cable w/ dvr or w/ tivo - i'd do dvr in that case

6/14/2006 1:39:34 PM

Hewlett Packard HP Media Center Edition PC

basically if you pay for cable, and have a tv card, and run Windows Media Center, you can DVR for free...only limited by your HDD space...I've been doing this for a year or two

6/14/2006 1:57:17 PM

^ This thing is the HEAT. Get the Z555 or newer models.

I have a Z555 and it's amazing; you can get these all the time on eBay and great prices considering the crap they come with and all the amount of outputs (coax, optical, 7.1 pre-outs, VGA, DVI, Component, WiFi built-in, wireless keyboard w/ trackball that is just beautifully designed to work on the couch, etc.)

[Edited on June 14, 2006 at 7:01 PM. Reason : .]

6/14/2006 7:01:26 PM

i can build it for less than $800 (starting bid)

6/14/2006 7:36:17 PM

With the warranty, Windows Media Center, DVI cable, 2 coax cables, splitter, fabulously seamless wireless keyboard & trackball with an internal RF receiver, remote control for Media Center XP w/ internal receiver, internal WiFi, assortment of other cables, coax digital out, optical digital out, 7.1 pre-outs, 9-in-1 memory card reader seemless in the front of the unit, LCD screen readout for operations used in media center on the front of the unit, video card w/ DVI-out, VGA-out, and oh yeah component out, dual SD tuners and a HD tuner (of good+ quality), and a sleek black box that looks like an A/V receiver's sibling?

For under $800?

You're kidding yourself and you know. All you "do-it-yourselfers" never take everything into account.

6/14/2006 7:42:41 PM

TIVO

no question.

and fuck buying a years subscription, buy the lifetime one it's like hardly that much more and you'll have it forever

6/14/2006 7:57:31 PM

i got my HP for like 1200 bucks with everything except a monitor which i already had

6/14/2006 8:17:27 PM

Quote :

"and fuck buying a years subscription, buy the lifetime one it's like hardly that much more and you'll have it forever"

it's only good for the lifetime of that unit - it's not transferrable

6/14/2006 8:50:55 PM

^oh.....well still, it's cheaper by a long shot...even if you only had it for 2 years and everyone I know that has a TIVO has got the original one they bought and that is 6 years for some of em

6/14/2006 10:03:41 PM

Tivo is way better, I've worked with both and tivo is so much more user friendly than time warners system. I find that users with tivo go straight to "now playing" while time warner customers typically still channel surf. I think the reason is the user ablility to set "season passes" for programs is much easier with tivo. Plus the menus are much more attractive and organized.

6/14/2006 10:09:01 PM

As long as you get a splitter... I'll say the only reason why I like DVR better is because you can record 2 shows at once...which you can't with TIVO, but DVR isn't user friendly because it's much more difficult and confusing to start in the middle of something...

6/15/2006 1:32:40 AM

m2c, I know you have your opinion and all, but really, you should refrain from futher posting in this thread.

6/15/2006 2:00:07 AM

OK...fair enough, I'll leave it at, 'I've used both, and I prefer TIVO'

6/15/2006 2:19:06 AM

for the record Tivo does offer dual recording boxes now as well.

6/15/2006 2:40:21 AM

Quote :

" As long as you get a splitter... I'll say the only reason why I like DVR better is because you can record 2 shows at once...which you can't with TIVO, but DVR isn't user friendly because it's much more difficult and confusing to start in the middle of something... "

my tivo did 2 at once too

6/15/2006 4:31:13 PM

^do you have some 'new' box or??? The splitter only allows me to watch regular (not cable channels with the guide) while tivoing... Is there another way?

6/15/2006 5:06:17 PM

Quote :

"for the record Tivo does offer dual recording boxes now as well."

6/15/2006 11:19:53 PM

Yes, I'm a tad clueless on the subject, but he quoted my bit about the 'splitter' and then said that his tivo did 2 at once too, implying that the splitter may have been what enabled him to do so. I was asking if it was the 'new dual box' or the splitter

6/16/2006 12:00:11 AM

All the splitter does is split the signal in to two signals. One goes to the Tivo box and records stuff, and the other goes to your tv so you can watch stuff. So no, with the "old" Tivo boxes you can't record more than one thing at a time.

With the Dual Tuner Boxes, there are two tuners and a splitter inside the box so that you can record two different things at once or record something and watch something else while using all the functionality of the tivo (pausing live TV, rewinding, etc).

FWIW, Time Warner DVRs all have dual tuners and are HDTV compatible for no extra charge (if requested) which according to Tivo's website, Tivo's aren't yet, which means that for the time being TW DVR >>>>>>> Tivo, IMO.

Of course I've never spent large amounts of time with a tivo, so I can't speak volumes for the interface, but I've never had any problems with the TW one. It may not be as easy as a Tivo, but it certainly isn't Rocket Science.

6/16/2006 3:54:10 AM

TO clarify, you can configure one of the HP Media Center PC's with a duel TV tuner...so you can watch one and record the other.

Holla at 40% HP corporate discount this summer!

6/26/2006 11:14:48 PM

Get the TWC until you know it is a service you really want. THat way you can easily cancel after one month and only be out $6.95.

6/27/2006 12:33:09 AM

with my old tivo i can WATCH 2 shows at one time, but not record both. Because i have it hooked up to a reciever, my tivo is with the video input ono the TV, if I switch to the "TV" input on the TV, I can watch something while another is recording (works the same as having a splitter).

Quote :

"and fuck buying a years subscription, buy the lifetime one it's like hardly that much more and you'll have it forever"

They stopped offering lifetime subscribtions in April. Probably the stupidest thing they ever did. You now can prepay for up to 3 years and that's it.

[Edited on June 27, 2006 at 7:50 AM. Reason : .]

6/27/2006 7:49:56 AM

MCE Will not do all HD just the standard channels

I built a MCE PC about a year and a half ago. I just paid for internet, took off the cable filter and had dvr cable for free The $45 a month was killer

but now I've upgraded Tvs and prchased digital cable with DVR and a few packages... the price is much higher now (~$140 ), but I gotta say its worth it, if the TV keeps me from going out one or two extra nights a month (to watch the games and shit), then I feel like the additional cost will offset.

But the reason for HD is why I've switched to DVR... love it... it's only like 7 bucks a month, and if it fucks up... it's not my problem

still use the MCE machine to record series of shows and for my music and pictures

but I hardly watch regular channels anymore

6/27/2006 11:13:07 AM

-If you want something hassle-free, go with TiVo.
-If you are a TV-nut and want something you can improve upon/tinker with/etc., build or buy a custom-PC to do everything. Expect a bit of an initial time investment to get everything up and running in this case.

[Edited on June 27, 2006 at 2:06 PM. Reason : .]

6/27/2006 2:05:33 PM

when using a media center PC with a TV tuner....

How good is the software (ease of use)
Do you all hook it up to your tv or watch it right off the computer monitor?
What is the quality like if hooked up to a tv?

6/27/2006 2:31:51 PM

If you want an HD-DVR get the time warner one beacuse it's a fucking steal compared to anything else. If you don't want or can't use an HD-DVR then get the Tivo. I've had both and the tivo is just so much faster and so much better designed and easy to use. Then again... the timewarner one was free...

6/27/2006 8:24:50 PM

Direct TV with tivo is what IVe been using for over 2 years now. It records two shows while you watch another. the interface is SOOOO much better then TWC. Ive talked to alot of people who went to TWC after TIVO and while other options like HD channels are better all I keep hearing is "I miss tivo." Ive tried using TWC DVR myself on numerous occasions at friends house and it just drives me crazy. Especially trying to "search"f or the title of something.

6/28/2006 9:29:17 AM

yeah, Tivo is just so much slicker and faster, but damnit I wanted an HD-DVR

6/28/2006 9:43:21 AM

i'm actually going to start out with the twc one, just because it was easiest to package it all together. If i find that it's annoying, then I'll consider moving to tivo in a few months

6/30/2006 10:10:38 PM

tvtuner and beyondtv software work great if you can the comp for it... i know you'd probably rather just get the setup but i thought i'd put that out there.... friend of mine has it, works great

6/30/2006 10:33:05 PM

I have DVR and my only issue is that sometimes you can't fast forward, rewind, etc. when you're watching something you DVR'ed... and to me that's generally the reason I got it, not because I'm afraid I miss it. So for as much as I'm paying for cable/internet each month I get irritated when it doesn't work. And just a heads up, Time Warner is going to jack the cost up sky high after your 1st 6 months with that package I started around $60/month and it went up damn near monthly after that and I'm finally peaked at $140/month

[Edited on July 1, 2006 at 1:23 PM. Reason : d]

7/1/2006 1:23:12 PM

oh yeah, that's when you call and say "i'm considering cancelling now that my promotional period is over" they'll generally just give you the new promotion. hell, last time me and my roomate just said "hey, can we have the new promotion?" and they said "sure!"

7/1/2006 1:35:06 PM