TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder by TiVo
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Digital camera reviews of TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder
Digital camera Review: A Tivo and Amazon nightmare!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
As an avid TV junkie. I was excited when my Tivo series 3 HD arrived. Then the nightmare began. First of all, I had no idea about the fact that this unit required cable cards because Amazon's ad did not state so at the time. I called to get cable cards from my cable provider, Suddenlink, and was told that they would not give them to me. After many calls, two visits to the local office, and about 45 days, I finally got a technician out to install the cards. There was very heavy static on all of the digital cable channels, and the tech told me it was a result of old, outdated cards. The tech then told me he had no idea when they would get new cards that work.
Frustrated, I thought I would give the tivo, the years worth of service, and the wireless router (now about $800 in to this project) to my Dad and Step-Mom for the Holidays. They live in a comcast area with readily available cards. After waiting for cards we realized that it was not the cards, but the tivo that was defective. Now it has been 3 months since I purchased the tivo and I have finally figured out it does not work. Amazon will not exchange it for me. I have been on hold with tivo the entire time I have been writing this.
I think that there should be more time aloud to return this product since it does not function without cards that you have to obtain from another source. And you may find, as I did, that most cable companies will do anything for you to not have a tivo. After Amazon.com was no help at all on this matter I am taking my business elsewhere.
Digital camera Review: A frustrating product
Summary: 2 Stars
I'll start the usual way all of these reviews seem to: I had a Series 1 and a Series 2 and I couldn't live without them, etc...
So when I could afford a Series 3, and have HD capability, I snapped it up. Now I could use Tivo the way it was meant to be used... to *watch* TV and still see my HD signal. Yay.
Don't get me wrong... it does almost everything it claims to very well. But the CableCard technology absolutely SUCKS. The cards go out repeatedly during the week. Sometimes losing ALL signal, sometimes only specific stations. Most of the time the only way to recover signal is to restart the Tivo and we all know how long that takes. Sometimes, just taking out the card and replacing it fixes it (even though Tivo tells you not to do this, sometimes it's the only thing that works).
But SO many times program recordings are truncated or don't happen at all because the cards went out during the recording. Face it, an unreliable Tivo, which the Series 3 most definitely is, is almost worse than no Tivo at all. At least without one you don't *expect* to be able to watch a recorded show.
Digital camera Review: A little steep, but worth the money
Summary: 5 Stars
I got one a week ago. It's as good as all the reviews are saying. I'm so glad to replace my Motorola DVR from Comcast with Tivo. I've been using a DirecTV's integrated Tivo box for 3 years before getting HDTV and switching to Comcast 4 months ago, and jumped on the first chance to get back with Tivo.
Others' cable card installation may be better. My experience is it's pretty much a crap shoot with the knowledge level of the cable tech. If they know what to do, or patient enough to find the right info/people to get them through it, they can get it done within 15-30 min. If not, they are just wasting your time. I would highly recommend check out Tivo community forum online to get help on this, and to cut through some of the mis-information that cable CSR/tech may throw your way. The more you know, the less they are likely to even try to give you false information.
Digital camera Review: A lot of promises, almost all delivered
Summary: 5 Stars
The Tivo Series 3 is all they say it is. My problems with it have been minor. The universal remote is great, but it's not exactly universal. It controls the volume of my stereo (not the power) and my tv power and source. That is it. No DVD, although I don't actually use it much anyway. Also, the ability to play music and look at photos via the home network is limited. The photos do not show at a very high quality and it will only play mp3's (nothing purchased from iTunes). I think these are major annoyances, but they really are peripheral issues. The sheer power and ease of use of the Tivo and the fantastic sound and picture are the central concerns, and in these, the Tivo more than earns its 5 stars.Digital camera Review: Best DVR Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
I love my series 3. The front display is really cool in that it shows the Season pass programs that are recording on the front panel. You have separate lights for each tuner and another blue light when transfering programs. Fast menus, good response. Awesome remote. The back lit remote is really cool. Nicer button layout than the standard remote. Downsides, it does not yet support M-Cards, and the unit seems to have trouble syncing the audio with my TV when using the HDMI cable. (Although, my DVD player does too).