Tivo Series 3 shown at CES

[Taxi]

http://www.tivolovers.com/252572.html

Supports 1080i, and can record 2 video streams at a time.

Looks sweet, but no price info as of yet.

[chlngr1970]

j

[mrcoaster]

I'm definitely liking that. I need a 2-tuner, HD capable Tivo and presto - there it is!

[plissken99]

What advantage does it have over the current HD model? I was looking to pull the trigger early this year and finally get HD satalite, along with the HD Tivo, which can now be had for $399(after $200 rebate). Don't need HDMI, so is there any other reason for waiting?

Also about the HD Tivo's in general, can you have them set to say 720p, and it will scale regular non-HD satalite programs to that res? I'm hoping to bypass the HTPC for scaling.

[Wirehed]

If you have a hometheater PC, why would you want a Tivo at all?

[plissken99]

Eh, I found the whole recording shows to the hard drive thing to be extremley tedious. I have had a dual recording Tivo now for 3 years. Also I use a Holo3D TV card, which is not a capture card, it's more like a video processor, so it has much better image processing than normal capture cards(plus a component input).

Not to mention, HTPCs can't input HD signals without an HD card, and HD cards only input ATSC signals, so it won't work with satalite broadcast, just cable based.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

If you have a hometheater PC, why would you want a Tivo at all?

Because TiVo's are cool....

Seriously, if someone uses a HTPC for DVD playback that machine might not have the connections or processing power (speed, resources, whatevah) to support satellite or cable or OTA TV reception. Just a guess.

Is it a valid assumption that a PC used for DVD playback in a HT is also used for TV reception?

Peace...

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Is it a valid assumption that a PC used for DVD playback in a HT is also used for TV reception?

Peace...

Yep, just read my post above. I have a TV card for inputing the satalite signal, back up DVD player and PS2. Those are all S-video, but i have them going to my Denon 3805 reciever, and it converts them to component which I run to the HTPC.

I want to get away from the HTPC as it's been giving me shit about reading discs lately, looks l need a new motherboard/CPU. Hell, I only use it to run Theater Tek DVD software, and the Holo3D software, yet I've had to reformat it 3 times in 3 years. So I was hoping the HD Tivo could take care of all the TV scaling, and with a Blu Ray player than can upconvert a standard DVD, I won't be needing the buggy HTPC any longer.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Yep, just read my post above.

Ah, I was typing when you posted that.

I want to get away from the HTPC as it's been giving me shit about reading discs lately, looks l need a new motherboard/CPU. Hell, I only use it to run Theater Tek DVD software, and the Holo3D software, yet I've had to reformat it 3 times in 3 years. So I was hoping the HD Tivo could take care of all the TV scaling, and with a Blu Ray player than can upconvert a standard DVD, I won't be needing the buggy HTPC any longer.

Wow, sounds like a headache. I'm all for the convenience of standalone components.

Peace...

[plissken99]

I know, it's all good.

Yeah at the time I needed something to handle the scaling for my CRT projector, and since I was buying the CRT, the best I could do budget wise was an HTPC(built it for $800, with a lesser TV card, later upgraded to the H3D card). And I built it just before DVDO Iscan scalers became available .

I must say though, I love that it skips directly to the movie, bypassing forced previews, B.S FBI warnings, automatically selects DTS and is easily region free. But the cons are starting to outweight the pros.

[Wirehed]

I have a dual tuner hometheater pc I'm messing around with right now, that's why it was on my mind. I'm playing with SageTV and I just ordered a Fusion HD capture card (yay three tuners!). But yeah, it's frustrating and I can't say HD capture is anything other than a pain.

And yeah, I have a TIVO too, and it is just cool.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

And yeah, I have a TIVO too, and it is just cool.

Then I must change my previous answer to your question. The NEW answer is: because Seamonkey has one.

Peace...

[Taxi]

And the answer is...

$799.

AND they're letting folks with Lifetime service xfer their lifetime service to the Series3 box for $199. I haven't decided yet if this is a good deal or not yet. It's another 200 bucks... that's between a year and two year's worth of Tivo service, but I've already PAID for a lifetime subscription...

It's a tough call. I wonder if there's enough HD content to warrant getting this now, rather than waiting for "Series4"?

[1138]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

If you have a hometheater PC, why would you want a Tivo at all?

And so far pretty much nothing comes close to the ability and ease of use of the Tivo software.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by 1138

And so far pretty much nothing comes close to the ability and ease of use of the Tivo software.

Well, I know that some cable companies have DVR's that record HD programming and you don't have to buy it. You can lease it for a nominal fee. For $800 bucks, I would be scared that it would break after the warranty and I wouldn't get my money's worth.

[1138]

I'm just talking about the software. Tivo's is really well done and nobody really comes close to replicating that quality. Even some cable comapnies lease their softre for their DVRs.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Also about the HD Tivo's in general, can you have them set to say 720p, and it will scale regular non-HD satalite programs to that res?

I know mine does, at least I think it does. I have the HR10-250 from DTV and it has the ability to choose the rez. However, I get the impression that this thread is discussing a 'cable' oriented Tivo and now wonder if that's different from the dTv unit I have for Sat reception.

[1138]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

I know mine does, at least I think it does. I have the HR10-250 from DTV and it has the ability to choose the rez. However, I get the impression that this thread is discussing a 'cable' oriented Tivo and now wonder if that's different from the dTv unit I have for Sat reception.

This is a stand alone Tivo with what I think is cable card ability for HD cable systems. It will not record HS satelite signals and indeed apparently doesn't have a way to even input a satelite signal. All it has is coax in connections for recording cable or OTA signals.

[chlngr1970]

I guess untill the HDTIVO has an HD input ( Not coax ) I have no use for one...Specially at $799!

j

[1138]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

I guess untill the HDTIVO has an HD input ( Not coax ) I have no use for one...Specially at $799!

j

And it won't. Hollywood will nuke itself before they allow that.

[Taxi]

Mine will be here on Wednesday.

Now I just have to figure out how to get HD from Comcast without paying a bunch of extra fees for the cable cards. (There is lots of info on the TivoCommuntiy site that I'm keeping an eye on.)

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Taxi

Mine will be here on Wednesday.

Now I just have to figure out how to get HD from Comcast without paying a bunch of extra fees for the cable cards.

Congrats, but I don't understand the comment on extra fees. Do you pay thru cable for each card like DTV does with each receiver?

[Taxi]

Yeah, that is what some people have experienced. You get the first cable card for free, and the second one you pay anywhere from $1.25 to $10 a month.

Supposedly, according to some, since there is only one cable feed coming into the house, you only pay for that, and nothing for the cable cards, as long as everything is hooked up to one TV, and you don't have any of the other "extra" equipment from Comcast. (Like the HD box or their HD DVR, etc.) Some people have had success getting their cable setup this way. Apparently, the knowledge level of the Comcast customer service people on this topic varies greatly, and that determines the success rate of getting the right "deal" on two cableCARDs, so we'll see what happens when I call them about it tonight.

[mighty mint]

Taxi, what did you find out...huh...tell us...No seriously, You totally have my curiousity peaked as to how this all works and what it will cost.

[chlngr1970]

Good luck with that Taxi...I am waiting for when you can do the same thing wit a DTV box. That, or it has a way of inputing HD from my DTV box, or HDTV...

j

[Taxi]

I called Comcast today, and spoke with Leslie, who was very nice, but apparently hadn't done any HDTivo upgrades yet. I had to explain to her that I didn't need a Comcast HD box (with the 5/mo charge), and that I just needed cablecards, two, not one.

So, she said all I have to pay for is the $16.99 install fee when the technician gets here Thursday morning, and of course the upgrade to Digital Classic from my current extended basic service.

The installer is supposed to bring two cable cards, but I'd be willing to bet they get this part wrong. We'll see.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Taxi

The installer is supposed to bring two cable cards, but I'd be willing to bet they get this part wrong. We'll see.

If they work like DTV, they ask for a phone # (yours) and will call prior to arriving. If that holds true with them, I would bring it up BEFORE they get there. That way, you can cancel and they then have to burn yet another service call appointment. That kind of rescheduling takes a toll on them I'd imagine. And if not, F em'.

[ganthc]

I currently have a cable card set up for my HD viewing, and I have been satisfied. I don't need the menus and the pay-per-view stuff, and I only pay $1.99 per month for the card. I use Cox Communications, and they have been decent. I am still baffled as to why there aren't more HD channels out there, but I haven't minded the cable card. However, I am considering switching to an HD DVR/receiver unit so I have more flexibility in watching programs, especially with "24" coming back on TV in January.