Cox May replace its own DVRs with TiVos

Controlio writes "According to a posting by user BrettStah on the TiVo Community Forums, Cox Cable is currently circulating a survey to gauge customer's interest in TiVo services. From the survey, 'While Cox currently offers its own DVR service, the Cox DVR may soon be powered by TiVo, and include the features that TiVo owners have come to expect. If Cox were to offer digital cable service with a TiVo branded DVR for about the same price as you are currently paying for satellite service each month, how likely would you be to switch from satellite TV to Cox cable that featured this TiVo branded DVR service?'"

Comments

Come to expect what?

[Reality Master 101]

Being someone who has both a Tivo unit and a Cox DVR (the Tivo is in my living room, the other is my hi-def plasma in the game room for the home theatre), I have to say that the Tivo doesn't really do anything the DVR doesn't do. The primary differences are:

1) The Tivo will download "recommendations" (which I have yet to ever use). Advantage: Tivo (I guess)
2) The DVR has a way better guide that has a nice preview screen (Advantage: DVR)
3) The DVR has two-channel capability (watch one show while the other records). Advantage: DVR
4) The Tivo has to use the serial input, which makes channel changing slow, versus the DVR which is integrated with the cable box. Advantage: DVR
5) The DVR can do HDTV. Advantage: DVR (those I suppose these new Tivos might do it)
6) The user interface on the Tivo is way simpler. Advantage: Tivo.

All in all, I'd say my existing DVR is way better than the Tivo, though if they added what's good about the DVR, maybe it would be OK. I suppose my point is that the Tivo isn't so far ahead of the DVR that it's going to make some huge difference.

Re:Come to expect what?

[silas_moeckel]

You have apparently never used a sat tivo.

1) same
2) Subjective
3) tie
4) tie
5) tie
6) same

So the only catagory the DVR might be better at would be the guide interface. As a long time user of Tivo I use the my recordings a lot more than guide and like ther overlayed look. The Direct Tivo's can do a picture in a window similar to your DVR but thats personal preferance though having the option is good. Now for the rest of the features.

Tivo can move recodings off the tivo onto the server.
Tivo can talk to other tivo's in the same house and move recodings around.
Tivo can access content on your pc for playback on your TV. (Think rip all your DVD's and never have to touch them again)
Tivo allows you to access 3rd party applications.
Tivo will stream internet sources and MP3's

Re:Is it TiVo vs. DVR...or cable vs. satellite?

[sammy baby]

A little bit before the new year, I picked up a new HD set. I was pretty excited about it. If I'd known the runaround I was going to get from Comcast, I wouldn't have been.

1. I call Comcast. They tell me that an HD tuner and service is already in my plan, and all I need to do is pick one up at the office. When I show up (It's a 20 minute drive), they tell me that they're out. But they'll call me when they come in.
2. I check in after a couple of weeks. The person at Comcast says, "Oh - no, they're not gonna call you. You have to keep calling us." "Great. Hey - does my office have these HD tuners in yet?" "Yes!" Except when I get there, it turns out they don't, and haven't for days. I pitch a hissy fit, and they give me an "all in one" box (HD + DVR), promising not to charge me for the DVR part. I leave, mollified. The box doesn't work.
3. Guy from Comcast shows up... 8 days later. "Yup, it's broken," he says. He swaps the DVR out with a brand new box. Beautiful high-definition television, complete with DVR functionality! It works! For a few hours, anyway. That evening, the hard drive (or something) on the device starts making a clicking noise. The DVR part no longer works.
4. Guy from Comcast shows up... another TWO WEEKS LATER. He starts to swap out the box, discovers that the new one he has doesn't work at all, and puts the old one back. "It's a real problem," he admits. "All the techs just had a meeting about it. We unplug the units from the network to take them out, something changes in their config, and they have to be taken back to the office." Great. "Call to schedule another appointment in a couple of weeks."
5. I schedule another appointment. I call out from work to be there. Then someone leaves a message on the answering machine saying... they're out of set-top boxes again, and I've stayed home for nothing.

Fuck Comcast, right in their fucking eye.