TiVo ? Series2? 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder

Price range: $189.99 - $218.00 from 8 Seller with a available.

Average user reviews:

Description:The TiVo Series2 DVR comes with two USB expansion ports that let you view your digital photos, enjoy digital music and more on your TV. No more mystery tapes. All your favorite shows are neatly labeled and ready for viewing. Dozens of video.Reviewed by: bestreviewer from CA on Dec 30, 2004
Rating:

Experience: 5 Days

Strengths: records all epsiodes of TV shows, recommends TV shows to watch based on your rating to TV shows.

Weaknesses: No dual tuners, so you can't record 2 shows that have time conflict. Picture quality is not as good as TV, kinda of grainy. It can't adjust the recording couple minutes earlier or late automatically

Summary: Pro:
It can record all epsiodes of TV shows.
It recommends TV shows to watch based on your rating to TV shows, and automatically download them for you.

Con:
No dual tuners, so you can't record 2 shows that have time conflict.
Picture quality is not as good as TV, kinda of grainy.
Channel, like NBC, likes to start or end their shows couple earlier or later. Tivo can't adjust the recording couple minutes earlier or late automatically.
Must use at least "high quality" when recording, any lower is not acceptable, but it will reduce total recording hours from 40 to 18.
When using wireless networking, tivo supports 802.11b with WEP encryption only. If you use it, you must bring down your whole wifi network to WEP encryption.
I can't use tivo remote to control my Viewsonic N2700W LCD TV, it doesn't even know the existence of this TV model.

Reviewed by:Reviewed by: Athenian from CA on Jan 26, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 8 Weeks

Strengths: Easy to program Lots of automatic options.

Weaknesses: You end up recording more because it's so easy to use.

Summary: This product really changes the way you deal with television. The programming options are awesome and every one is easy to use. "Now Playing" presents all your recordings in an easy to manage list and lets you skip though commercials, stop, resume, or save to VCR.

I used the instructions in the manual to switch to the faster TiVo guide layout. I also found some other useful tips --such as the 30-second skip to jump over commercials-- at the online TiVo Community forum.

Reviewed by:Reviewed by: ksfmpo from NJ on Mar 2, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 1 Months

Strengths: Totally changes the way you watch TV. Watch a 30 min program in 22 minutes. Easy to set up. Remote control well designed.

Weaknesses: Can be a bit noisy. The hard drive runs all the time. The first one I recieved from the store was loud. I exchanged it for another one and this one is very quiet.

Summary: (Edited March 02nd by ksfmpo) I never thought I would want one. Now that I have one, I don't think I c an go back to watching TV the old way. I used to flip channels to find something worth watching. Now I never have to do that again. Requires 12.95/ month Tivo service or $299.00 lifetime activation.

Reviewed by:Reviewed by: StevenH123 from NY on Jan 27, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 30 Days

Strengths: It is a Tivo. Looks nice.

Weaknesses: It is difficult to hack this model. Limited when compared to Directv Tivo.

Summary: I've been a Directv Tivo guy for years and I've bought standalone units for friends and family.

DVRs are great. Period. End of story. If you don't Tivo (or Replay tv or Myth tv...), you're wasting your valuable time and you're watching what happens to be on, not what you want to be on.

Compared to the Directv Tivo options (2 tuners, hi-def, etc) all of the standalone units fall short. But if you have cable, then you don't have those options.

With that said, this unit compares favorably to other standalone units in features and aesthetics. It supports the newer services like Tivo To Go. Like most Tivos, it is fairly easy to upgrade the drive (which is essential to do to get the true benefit of a DVR). If you're looking to do other hacks, look for another model.

Also realize that it is another $300 for the lifetime subscription, or $15 per month. The $15 per month is generally a bad idea unless you can't afford to pay the extra $300 at one time. I've never met (or heard of) someone that tried a DVR and then decided to go back to watching regular tv.

Reviewed by:Reviewed by: docvenzon from IL on Dec 13, 2004
Rating:

Experience: 1 Weeks

Strengths: Extremely easy to use. Great price after rebate.

Weaknesses: Needs subscription fee. Only 40Gb of hard drive space.

Summary: I never considered getting a TiVO until a local store recently had it for free after a mail-in-rebate. Thinking it wouldn't hurt, I gave it a shot.

So far, I've been very satisfied with the TiVO Series2 40hour DVR. It's extremely easy to use. I also have an HTPC (home theater PC) that I built myself, and the TiVO definitely has a much easier interface. Whereas I was the only one who could really use the HTPC, even the wifey could use the TiVO with ease. Season pass gives you the option of recording all the episodes of a show, which is really great for me. Pretty useful if you like 2 shows that air at the same time.

It works pretty well with my standard TV. However, when hooked up to my HDTV, the image quality, as expected was not great. Just don't expect this unit to show stellar video quality on an HDTV.

On the downside, this particular unit only comes with a 40 Gb HDD, which has a maximum capacity of 40 hours of recordings, but really just 10 to 11 hours if set to high quality. But people have had pretty good success changing the hard drive to increase capacity.

You'll also have to pay a subscription fee ($299 lifetime or around $12 monthly). I think some of the other models (e.g. Toshiba SDH400) come with a free subscription, but those are pretty hard to find nowadays.

For the price I got it (free after rebate), it's a great deal. But even if you pay for it, it's still a pretty good product.

Reviewed by:Reviewed by: erichristina from IN on Dec 14, 2004
Rating:

Experience: 3 Days

Strengths: Very easy to use,

Weaknesses: on screen menus are too small to read from a distance

Summary: Easy to use. Very easy to understand. Installlation was a breeze, except for the tivo is very sesitive to line noise for the program call during Guided setup. spent an hour and 15 min on phone with tivo customer support to try to get it fixed turns out you just have to keep trying until you get through. On screen menus are hard to read if you are not close to the TV. Other than the menus everything else is great. Thanks compusa.

Reviewed by:Reviewed by: jgranato from FL on Jan 3, 2005
Rating:

Experience: 3 Weeks

Strengths: Good price (with rebate). Flexiblity. Ease of use

Weaknesses: Subscription required for use. Hard drive always active. Not HD compatible.

Summary: I purchased this unit to because the DVD recorder I purchased kept failing to record. I purchased this unit off the TIVO website as a reconitioned unit for a reduced price. It is a good bargain and it carries the same warranty as a new unit. This unit will only store standard definition broadcasts so if your moving to High Definition (HD) consider a different device. Cable and satellite operators are offering products to handle HD. The TiVo service is really great. The Season Pass feature is handy for viewing your favorite episodes. The Wish List feature is handy for recording specific titles, actors, directors or key word searches.