Comments on: I fear the end is near, dear Tivo http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/ Mike's World of fun stuff (pinball, games, electronics, amusement parks, computers, more) Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:19:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Suz http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Suz Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:43:13 +0000 http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/#comment-89 Thanks for the update on things in the world of TiVo, Mike. I think. A few years ago when I had Dish network service, I had their PVR which was SO cool! It was wonderful just recording things with a single click, and the quality of the recorded material, on that hard drive instead of tape (nobody had DVD recorders at home back then, they cost a thousand bucks), has totally spoiled me for anything less, ever. But Qwest, bless their hearts, kept telling my ISP and me that DSL wasn't available for me, and I really wanted high speed internet service at home. Finally three years ago this month I got Comcast internet service and it made sense to bundle it with Comcast cable TV service too. I do miss the PVR, and had thought idly about looking into TiVO. But at this point it's just not worth it to me. Not at $20 per month with no end in site. Sadly, when the Comcast tech was here in my condo setting up my new service after my move last month, he said that Comcast's digital box with recording capacity is no longer available to subscribers UNLESS they also sign up for an HBO-type premium package in addition to the digital service. Which we agreed is very short-sighted. I might have considered paying a little more for that magic box, but not if it also requires me to subscribe to a bunch of premium channels I wouldn't otherwise get. Well, these companies may think they are cleverly exploiting a strong demand in the market for their products/services. But the price of greed in a competitive economy is that you create opportunities for new competitors to come in and give people what they want for less money (or a better product/service for about the same money), and the greedy older companies start losing out. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. Thanks for the update on things in the world of TiVo, Mike. I think.

A few years ago when I had Dish network service, I had their PVR which was SO cool! It was wonderful just recording things with a single click, and the quality of the recorded material, on that hard drive instead of tape (nobody had DVD recorders at home back then, they cost a thousand bucks), has totally spoiled me for anything less, ever.

But Qwest, bless their hearts, kept telling my ISP and me that DSL wasn’t available for me, and I really wanted high speed internet service at home. Finally three years ago this month I got Comcast internet service and it made sense to bundle it with Comcast cable TV service too.

I do miss the PVR, and had thought idly about looking into TiVO. But at this point it’s just not worth it to me. Not at $20 per month with no end in site. Sadly, when the Comcast tech was here in my condo setting up my new service after my move last month, he said that Comcast’s digital box with recording capacity is no longer available to subscribers UNLESS they also sign up for an HBO-type premium package in addition to the digital service. Which we agreed is very short-sighted. I might have considered paying a little more for that magic box, but not if it also requires me to subscribe to a bunch of premium channels I wouldn’t otherwise get.

Well, these companies may think they are cleverly exploiting a strong demand in the market for their products/services. But the price of greed in a competitive economy is that you create opportunities for new competitors to come in and give people what they want for less money (or a better product/service for about the same money), and the greedy older companies start losing out.

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

]]> By: David http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/comment-page-1/#comment-61 David Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:28:10 +0000 http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/#comment-61 I am also a very happy TIVO owner, at least I was, with their decision to drop the product lifetime license I will never be buying another TIVO. I was ready to go ahead and buy my second standalone TIVO (probably the DVD burner version) sometime later this year, but without the product lifetime license I just can't justify it. I am also a very happy TIVO owner, at least I was, with their decision to drop the product lifetime license I will never be buying another TIVO. I was ready to go ahead and buy my second standalone TIVO (probably the DVD burner version) sometime later this year, but without the product lifetime license I just can’t justify it.

]]> By: micsaund http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/comment-page-1/#comment-45 micsaund Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:24:33 +0000 http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/#comment-45 Fortunately for you, the DirecTivo is separate from the Tivo company and is not likely to get jacked. DirectTV licensed the Tivo brand software only and that's why it's cheaper than a stand-alone box. Now, DTV may, at some point, choose to jack the Tivo software DTV boxes up to "encourage" people to go to their home-grown box so they can stop paying licensing fees to Tivo. They have written their own software to save money and all new DTV DVR boxes use that software instead. Fortunately for you, the DirecTivo is separate from the Tivo company and is not likely to get jacked. DirectTV licensed the Tivo brand software only and that’s why it’s cheaper than a stand-alone box.

Now, DTV may, at some point, choose to jack the Tivo software DTV boxes up to “encourage” people to go to their home-grown box so they can stop paying licensing fees to Tivo. They have written their own software to save money and all new DTV DVR boxes use that software instead.

]]> By: AL http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/comment-page-1/#comment-44 AL Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:16:34 +0000 http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/#comment-44 For future reference, from <a href="http://www.tc2000.com/">TC2000</a>: TIVO - Tivo Inc. 03/08/06 Closing $5.75 -0.10 Optionable AL For future reference, from TC2000:
TIVO – Tivo Inc.
03/08/06 Closing $5.75 -0.10 Optionable

AL

]]> By: AL http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/comment-page-1/#comment-43 AL Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:14:09 +0000 http://www.micsaund.com/2006/03/08/i-fear-the-end-is-near-dear-tivo/#comment-43 Thank goodness I am still locked in w/ Direct TV and the cheaper rate. After you told me so much about it I thought I would love to try it. Then you told me how much you paid per month. I knew then there was no way I would be a Tivo fan. I later found (probably because you told me) that Direct TV had a great deal on it for something like $5/month. Heck, I could do that, and just in time to start watching Survivor (The Amazon). So I signed up and fell in love with it. Then I got talked into the dual turner about a year later and think that I am paying around $10/month. I thought I once heard that Direct TV and Tivo are seperating ways in the future. If that is true, I can only assume they will jack up the rate to the $19.95 per month. That is probably for the 1 tuner too. My wife will NOT be a happy camper when I shut it down at that price increase. Ahhh, I can hear it now. I may just have to scrap Tivo and buy her one of the movie channles for $5/month to keep her a tad bit happy. I wonder how my VCR plus works again? Looks like a good time to sit back and watch Tivo stock (Ticker: TIVO) come crashing down. Puts anyone? AL Thank goodness I am still locked in w/ Direct TV and the cheaper rate. After you told me so much about it I thought I would love to try it. Then you told me how much you paid per month. I knew then there was no way I would be a Tivo fan.

I later found (probably because you told me) that Direct TV had a great deal on it for something like $5/month. Heck, I could do that, and just in time to start watching Survivor (The Amazon). So I signed up and fell in love with it. Then I got talked into the dual turner about a year later and think that I am paying around $10/month.

I thought I once heard that Direct TV and Tivo are seperating ways in the future. If that is true, I can only assume they will jack up the rate to the $19.95 per month. That is probably for the 1 tuner too. My wife will NOT be a happy camper when I shut it down at that price increase. Ahhh, I can hear it now. I may just have to scrap Tivo and buy her one of the movie channles for $5/month to keep her a tad bit happy. I wonder how my VCR plus works again?

Looks like a good time to sit back and watch Tivo stock (Ticker: TIVO) come crashing down. Puts anyone?

AL

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