eHomeUpgrade: "HD Will Kill The Paid DVR Market"

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/244/hd_will_kill' target='_blank'>http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/244/hd_will_kill</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I was reading <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1683858,00.asp">Jim Louderback’s review of the Hughes DirecTV DVR</a> on ExtremeTech and got to thinking… You’ve got to be crazy to spend upwards of $1000 for a DVR. I know the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000HD system I have is far from perfect, but it’s integrated with my cable service and the box is free! I know I’ve ranted previously about the marketing mistakes made my TiVo, but now it’s really coming to a rapid end. TiVo2Go is now coming sure, so users will be able to watch pre-recorded programming on the go via a PC key system, but the damn things are limited in what they can really do for all that cash. Even if you have a DVD based system, it seems you can only playback the recordings on the same system. Soon enough TiVo will automatically upgrade your box so that you can only save an on-demand program for a limited time."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/directv_hd_tivo.jpg" /><br /><br />The article is right in that soon it won't matter if you've paid for the box, because none of us will be able to digitally archive in full resolution without a crack and some legal scrapes. Interesting article.

[Tim Williamson]

If someone was planning on paying $1000 for a DVR then why not just pick up a Media Center PC and also get the PC functionality?

[Felix Torres]

If someone was planning on paying $1000 for a DVR then why not just pick up a Media Center PC and also get the PC functionality?

Because TiVO runs off...ta-dah!...LINUX! :twisted:

Realistically?
I don't think all that many people will.
TiVO isn't a product per se, its a feature, and there really aren't that many features *worth* $1000, this side of a car. :roll:

[Mojo Jojo]

My opinion in the TiVo versus Media Center debate and why some would choose TiVo instead is that computers in general have had poor user interfaces in past OS's, viruses and worms, and spyware... in short a lot of baggage carried over from PCs that ordinary people don't want to deal with.

At the end of the day people want simplicity, they want 'push-button' results. Media Centers carry over a large stigma from the PC world and face a very large uphill battle. TiVo's may share a lot of what is in a Media Center but they insulate that from the end user and it becomes a box under the TV.

So in the end I believe the battle is more in the customers mind and in marketing. There will be a long long road ahead of Media Centers before the public readily accepts them leaving the door of opportunity open for TiVo like devices to get a firm grip on consumers living room dollars.

[James Fee]

Until the other DVR interfaces improve, people will still pay for TiVo. There are pleanty of features that TiVo has that no other DVR can do. I'm sure this will change over the next year, but once you start using "name based recording" and "season passes", you can't go back.

[Jon Childs]

If someone was planning on paying $1000 for a DVR then why not just pick up a Media Center PC and also get the PC functionality?

For me it would be because I can record encrypted HDTV streams right to the disk, and actually all the mpeg streams right to disk. Much tighter integration with the guide etc.

I know it is mostly not Microsofts fault, but until I can get all my HDTV content onto my hard drive I wouldn't even consider a mediacenter PC.

$1000 is a lot for sure. The mot 6208 is supplied by my cable company and for $10 a month is good enough for now.