Slate Predicts The End Of TiVo

wiredog writes "Slate has an article about why TiVo (the company, not the idea) is destined to fail. It suffers from the same first mover disadvantage that did in the Newton and the Amiga."

Comments

When I bought my Tivo 2.5 years ago..

[Frank of Earth]

.. I signed up for the yearly subscription thinking that I probably wouldn't use it for more than a year so why pay 200 bucks for a lifetime membership.

Well, over two years later and I'm still loving my Tivo. I use it more than any other AV component I own and I couldn't imagine not having it.

The devotee will even use TiVo as a verb
You can't buy that kinda of brand name recognition. ie q-tip, xerox

And compared with a VCR or DVD player, a TiVo is difficult to set up and maintain

Difficult to setup is accurate, but I'm not sure what is hard to maintain. All you have to do is watch TV shows and click on delete if you don't like them. Hit Thumbs up to stuff you like and thumbs down to stuff you don't. Not generalizing women, but my wife, who isn't that computer saavy has already learned how to bump her Season Passes over mine. I don't think it's difficult at all.

If TiVo does fall by the wayside, it will leave behind a throng of adoring fans

*sniff*

DirecTV/TiVo

[clutch110]

I just received a notice that DirecTV will be taking over the TiVo service for my unit. They also mentioned that the graphics will change on the interface, but none of the functionality. Does anyone know more about this?

Also to get a cheap DirecTV/TiVo unit, hit www.americansatellite.com and if you are a new subscriber they have the Phillips unit for $150. I bought mine about 7 months ago at $99. This included the unit, the dish and two installation kits.

Re:DirecTV/TiVo

[RedX]

I just received a notice that DirecTV will be taking over the TiVo service for my unit. They also mentioned that the graphics will change on the interface, but none of the functionality. Does anyone know more about this?

Yes, this is true. DirecTV is going to be handling all of the billing for the combo DirecTiVo boxes, and the graphical changes you mention will basically remove the TiVo name and logo from the menus. The good news is that DirecTV will be charging less for the TiVo service now, $4.99/month as opposed to $9.99/month. DirecTV has essentially licensed the TiVo software and service, which is how TiVo hopes to make money from here on and has been their plan on how to do business once they had a somewhat established base market.
There are many posts above saying that TiVo will die because cable companies, etc. will offer their own product. TiVo's hope is that the cable companies will license the TiVo software and service for their set-top boxes.

Re:Yeah, they will fail

[HeyBob!]

Ford didn't invented the car and GE and Bell weren't the first in their businesses either, but like they say: "History is written by the winners..."

up front

[cheezus]

you can get the box w/ a lifetime subscription for $250 more.

It's a lot up front, and I think they offer monthly for the sake of people who would rather buy a $400 box than a $650 one.

But as a happy TiVo subscriber, let me tell you this:

I would play twice the current $13/month for the TiVo service. It really is worth it!

Re:up front

[aaarrrgggh]

Actually, it's lifetime of the box, or lifetime of the company... whichever is shorter! It isn't hard to imagine either of those being close to two years.

Re:up front

[Zathrus]

Lifetime of the unit, not of the company, not of you.

The subscription moves with the unit, not with you. If you buy a TiVo, get a lifetime sub on it, and sell it then you sell the subscription with it. Of course, TiVo's with lifetime subs sell for about $250 more than one without, so currently there's no money lost.

The obvious downside is that you can't transfer to a different kind of TiVo. If you have cable now, buy a regular TiVo, and then later get DirecTV you can't transfer the subscription to a new DirecTiVo. Or if they come out with a HDTiVo in the future (no, they haven't even speculated on doing such) then you're still stuck with the old one.

I don't know that this is a hard and fast rule though. There are a few select TiVo subscribers that fell into a grandfather clause where they can transfer their subscription once. They bought lifetime subs prior to the wording being more clear on the matter.

As far as worrying about the TiVo unit failing -- I haven't heard much hue and cry about faulty machines. The modem in them sucks and dies to even a vague hint of lightning (one of mine has died twice, both times requiring $99 to fix), but there are 3rd parties that will repair them now and a surge protector helps a great deal. The hard drives are replaceable. The fan is the only other moving part, and theoretically replaceable.

Re:XBox?

[Zaknafein500]

Get a DirecTiVo with DirecTV. Perfect picture quality, and the service is only 4.95 a month (vs the 12.95 for a standalone), or free if you have Total Choice Premier.