legalsea's Full Review: TiVo Series2â„¢ (80 Hours) (80 GB) 80-Hours Video ...
Actually, Tivo changed my wife's life. After doing quite a bit of research I decided to purchase the 80 hour Tivo Digital Video Recorder. I opted for the monthly billing of $12.95 (to your credit card). I paid $399.99 for the unit, and I will (someday) receive a $50.00 rebate check.
Setting up Tivo: Tivo is just a little smaller than a VCR. I have Dish network, and the Tivo unit must sit on top of said Dish box. If you have cable, the Tivo must sit on top of your cable box. That is how it changes channels to record all your shows.
The instructions were pretty easy, to a point. You are instructed to completely unhook your VCR (if you have one) from the television, then hook up your Tivo unit, then get Tivo appearing on your TV screen (via telephone hookup), THEN hook up the VCR again (to Tivo).
Wrong.
I followed the instructions to the letter, but when it came time to turn on Tivo and follow the instructions on the TV screen, nothing but snow appeared. I fooled around with the wiring for two hours (mostly just pulling the plugs and then plugging them back in) before a little voice in my head said "why not go ahead and hook the VCR to Tivo?" I did, and immediately Tivo greeted me on the television screen.
I have Dish satellite system, which Tivo recognized with no trouble (I got a telephone line splitter so that both my Dish receiver and Tivo are hooked up to my phone line). Tivo will list every channel available on your Dish: you simply go though the list with your Tivo remote control and choose those stations you want Tivo to browse. For instance, I did NOT want Tivo to record from shopping channels, pay-per-view channels, Spanish channels, etc.
I bought Tivo for my wife. At first she ignored it (she hates fooling with the VCR). I knew she was interested in actress Fran Drescher and that she watched "The Nanny" when she happened to be home while it was showing. I showed her how to instruct Tivo to record everything in which Ms. Drescher was appearing. My wife was skeptical.
No more. My wife turned on Tivo a few days later. She went to the "What's Playing on Tivo" list and was amazed: Tivo had recorded a dozen episodes of "The Nanny" and several movies (including Fran's first movie, in which her name is WAY down in the credits: but Tivo found her!).
My wife quickly became hooked. In the course of one evening she, without reading the instructions, learned how to make Tivo do her bidding. She loves being able to watch her shows when she wants to. She loves being able to "pause" live television (for up to 30 minutes). In short she, the girl that hated our VCR is now recording dozens of hour of television, all at the push of a button, and without having to keep up with vidio tapes. I love being able to tell Tivo to record every NEW episode of the Osbornes, whenever it is aired.
Final thoughts: I have found that the "high" quality recording (the second highest of four levels) produces an excellent picture with no detectable picture degradation.
I turned off the option in which Tivo "learns" what shows you prefer (via a "thumbs up/thumbs down" button on the remote). Many have lamented the odd choices that Tivo makes on their behalf: yet to turn off that option is easy: just the click of a button.
If you really love a show that Tivo recorded, you can tell Tivo to record it onto your VCR tape.
Is Tivo worth it? Yes. Especially if you take your television seriously, hate the hassle and limitations of VCRs, and love your wife.
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