TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder by TiVo
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List Price: Our Price: $139.99 You Save: $360.00 (72%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Receiver or Amplifier See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder
Digital camera Review: Everything you want and MORE!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is now our 4th TiVo box, and they just get better and better! We have had the DVR's from Cox Cable in New Orleans, Dish Network, and Comcast in Orlando, FL, and NONE compare to the ease of use or the available support of the TiVo. We have been die hard TiVo users for years, and our only wish in the past, and what got us to use other's DVRs, was the desire for dual recording. With the Series 3 and built in dual CableCards, this is EVERYTHING we want!Digital camera Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
This TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder exceeded my expectations. Picture quality on HD is outstanding. Only problem I had was with Comcast trying to get a video card to work. Tivo support staff helped Comcast solve the problem after three trips to the house.Digital camera Review: Excellent - No Regrets
Summary: 5 Stars
Just purchased the TIVO series 3 and it is everything I hoped it would be. Razor sharp picture and superior audio and all for a great low price. I couldn't pass up the current [...] rebate offer.
I must admit, setting it up was a little problematic ONLY because Comcast has no idea what they are doing. After having a couple of days with Comcast techs coming out to the house and not being able to figure it out, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I went to the local Nashville Comcast office and picked up 2 cable cards and installed them myself. Be sure to follow the directions provided with your box, and have Comcast on the phone so they can activate the cards one at a time. To play it safe, take a photo copy of each card before installing them so that you can have all the serial numbers and other critical numbers handy to provide to Comcast over the phone. (it will save you a lot of headaches). You will need to navigate thru some screens on Tivo like the cable card setting screen and provide some key info to rep over the phone. Be sure you ask the Comcast rep if they know 1) how to activate a cable cards and 2) if they know how to pair the cards with the Tivo 3 series. This step is critical in order for the box to work or else you are wasting your time. Insist on having a knowledgeable person on the phone. Comcast will try to force you to have a in-home service tech come out (which you get charged for), but it is totally unnecessary. All they techs do is insert the cards and navigate through the Tivo settings page and I can do that for free and so can you. I subscribe to only the expanded cable + the HD standard package which gets me all of my locals + about 10 other HD channels for only [...]. NO Digital package is required! Comcast will try to make you upgrade to a their digital package, but don't be fooled, its not required. Also, be sure to let them Comcast know that the 2 cable cards are being used for 1 outlet so that they don't charge you for 2. In their minds, 2 cable cards means 2 outlets, be clear on that with them to avoid extra monthly charges.
After 10 minutes on the phone with a KNOWLEDGEABLE Comcast rep, I had my HD Tivo up and running and haven't had any issues with it at all. I highly recommend getting this, especially with the THX certification and bigger hard drive, paying [...] (after the rebate) versus the [...] for the new HD Tivo box with a smaller hard drive was a no brainer for me. A new software upgrade coming in November from Tivo (tivo to go)will allow me to transfer programming from my downstairs series 2 to my upstairs series 3 and vice versa for standard def programming. The [...] rebate takes 4- 6 weeks to receive AFTER having the box activated for 30 days. Costs incurred: $399 for the box (after rebate) + Tivo monthly fee ([...] multi-box discount) + Cable Card monthly fee ([...]), first cable card is free. In my opinion, well worth the investment. I have it hooked up to a SONY SXRD 60 inch XBR2 via HDMI and run the sound through my Sony ES receiver via optical and I'm loving it.
Digital camera Review: Excellent DVR.
Summary: 5 Stars
After our local cable company "upgraded" the firmware on the DVR we were renting from them, it became obvious that it was time to look at alternatives.
After reading many reviews, I decided to get the Series3. It is an excellent DVR. TiVos in general have been covered in many reviews, but here are the big things I've noticed:
Plusses:
* Swivel Search is really nice and lets you find programs pretty easily.
* It learns what you like quickly and starts recording extra suggestions.
* The interface is fast except when you re-shuffle some of your recording priorities.
* The front display is excellent: It's really neat to be able to see what it's recording at all times.
Minues:
* Some programs (e.g. The Daily Show/Colbert Report) don't set the new/re-run status, and TiVo records the extraneous during the day showings.
* the cable company DVR had the ability to keep a program playing in a window(either live or recorded) while looking at the list of recorded programs. With recent firmware, the TiVo can do this with the program guide (as an overlay, not a window), but doesn't seem to do it with the Now Playing list or parts of the UI.
* My cable company won't let me have most of my HD channels unless I rent either their HD-DVR or their cheaper cable-box, despite the fact that I have the TiVo and CableCards rented.
Other things to note:
* It's a little disconcerting to not have an on/off switch.
* The TiVo-To-Go works, but it doesn't seem to send copyrighted shows (i.e. 99% of content) to the PC. The other way (PC -> TiVo) works great. This might be user error on my part, I haven't investigated thoroughly. It does automatically convert into iPod format and load it up onto my iPod.
Overall, it is an excellent device. It is a little expensive though.
Digital camera Review: Excellent System...Makes my Wife Happy
Summary: 5 Stars
This is our second TIVO. Wanted to move up to the TIVO 3 HD Model that let's us record 2 digital programs at the same time. And WOW Amazon had it cheaper than anyone else, and I did some shopping. A note of caution... This unit does away with the need for your cable box but needs two (2) "Cable Cards" installed into it by your cable provider. It took us three tries with ComCast to get it right because they did not activate both cards, just one. So make sure your "cable guy" or "gal" gets it right before they leave.