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TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder by TiVo
Digital product summary informationManufacturer: TiVo Model: TCD652160 Color: Black Product features: - Controls cable TV with record, pause, rewind and fast-forward in HD
- Records two HD channels at once, while watching another recorded show
- 160GB internal hard drive records up to 20 hours of high definition programming (or 180 hours of standard definition); expand storage by adding eSata external hard drives
- Video output modes include: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
- Sources supported: Digital cable, Analog cable, Digital antenna (ATSC), Analog antenna and broadband content
Accessories:
Digital camera reviews of TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video RecorderDigital camera Review: Great, but could be so much more... Summary: 4 StarsI won't go into all the features of the Tivo HD DVR because there are plenty of other reviews and articles about it. Instead, I'll add a few thoughts based on using it for the past 5 months.
-Overall, it does everything it's supposed to in an excellent manner. I have comcast and they came and installed a multichannel cable card - very simple - and I've had no problems with it ever since.
-Every once in a while the Tivo will freeze up - usually when I'm navigating through some video-on-demand portions of the DVR. No computer is 100% stable, so I shrug it off. Unplugging it and waiting for it to start up (takes about 5-8 min) gets it back to normal.
-Navigation is good, although sometimes the remote response lags a little when you are trying to enter text onscreen for a search. Still, in my experience the lag is less than some other DVRs that are supplied by cable companies.
-The user interface is great. However, I wish there was a way to organize channels by HD/SD, or group HD/SD channel "pairs" together. My parents' Dish Network DVR does this, but I haven't discovered a way to do it. I think there is a way to filter, but that's different from simply changing the organization of channels. I found that I get many channels in both HD and non-HD versions but one will be listed way down in channel 48, and the other will be up in channel 235. For example, if you see something you'd like to watch on an SD channel like TBS, it can be a pain to check to see if it's being broadcast on an HD version of that channel. Different ordering (i.e. seeing the TBS SD and TBS HD channels sequentially one after the other) would make it much easier to know you are watching the highest resolution version of any given program. I ended up just going through and manually de-listing all the SD versions of channels that I also get in HD.
-I appreciate the Mac OS X support, but I wish there was a better way to take programs off the DVR and burn them on a DVD without having to buy a program like Toast, which gets mediocre reviews. I haven't used it yet, but I probably will get it since I have some inauguration footage sitting on my DVR since January that I'd like to have on a DVD to keep. Still, the process seems clunky and slow.
-The price for the Tivo wireless dongle isn't great, but better than the huge price that Microsoft will charge you for wireless on an xbox 360. Still, I wish there was wireless built in. In retrospect, I probably should've used the money I spent on the Tivo dongle to buy a router. Even with wireless, Netflix streaming of HD content is usually perfect - I only get some hiccups during prime time, and that's more a function of my internet connection than Tivo.
-Recently, Amazon began offering HD movie rentals via Tivo. I haven't yet taken advantage of this, but I'm looking forward to the option. It makes me less inclined to buy a blu-ray player - I think the market is really going towards content delivered via the internet versus on a disc.
-Overall, a great buy. It's a significant cost up front versus getting something from your cable company, but it's a superior product and I refuse to give a cable monopoly any more money than I have to. I would rather vote with my dollar and give it to Tivo, even if it costs a bit more up front than renting an inferior DVR from comcast.
Summary of TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video RecorderTiVo HD is a smart addition to any high-definition TV, combining the clarity of high definition with the smart, easy-to-use TiVo Service. It works with any cable set-up. It connects to any home network, so you get access to the best of both broadcast and broadband content. It downloads the latest movies straight from the Internet to your living room. It can pause, rewind, and slow-motion your favorite moments with razor-sharp HD clarity. Plus, TiVo HD connects to virtually any cable service via CableCARDs1, so it replaces your existing cable box.
TiVo HD Features
Search for HD movies and sports: With our intelligent search features, you can easily find a specific director, actor, player, or team among the world of both broadcast and broadband content. Prefer to see a movie in high definition? Do a WishListTM search and the TiVo service will automatically record the HD version and place it in your Now Playing List.
Record movies in HD: When recording with TiVo HD, you have the option of capturing shows in standard or high definition. Plus, when you play them back, you can easily pause or rewind HD instant replays without ever sacrificing their original razor-sharp HD resolution.
Download movies from the Internet: Don't see any great movies in your cable program guide? You can easily select a classic or new release from the world's largest movie library, order them with a click of your remote control, and have them downloaded directly to your TiVo box.
Access your music library with the remote: When you connect your TiVo DVR to your home network, your HDTV can connect right to millions of songs and playlists available over the Internet. You can now enjoy digital music on the best sound system in the house.
Schedule an HD premiere: With TiVo, you can do your TV scheduling from any computer when you are away from home. Log onto TiVo.com, click on a show, and you're done.
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