Consumer snowball effect
So we bought the HDtv from Andre.
So we thought, hmm, we could get the HD cable box from Comcast.
While Seppo was trading in the HD cable box, he was talked into getting the HD dvr* on top of that.
We now have two TiVos AND an HD dvr that has two tuners to record two shows simultaneously. Overkill!
Then we thought, well, we should get a media/tv organizer that works better with our setup.
So we went to Ikea and bought two TV stands (that have been placed side-by-side) to hold all the random boxes and some of our dvds.
Then we rearranged our couch and table and rug.
Because, you know, we got a tv. That we totally hadn’t planned on getting.
*By the way, the Comcast DVR is poo-on-a-stick. The horrible, horrible interface makes me want to pull out my hair. I love great UI and TiVo certainly wins hands down in that aspect. The Comcast DVR is only worth having because of the ability to record HD.
Correction! Seppo was not talked into getting the DVR; he was interested and asked them about it himself.
What’s wrong with the Comcast DVR interface? Granted, this is the only DVR I’ve ever used, but I’ve never had a problem with it. Record a show, press record once. Record a season, press record twice.
I think when going from a VCR concept to a DVR, the Comcast DVR UI is fine, because it does the straightforward job of recording very well. But TiVo jumped to a new place entirely, and it’s hard to go back.
It has a really great search system, which is not limited to titles, but keywords and actor names as well. It even extends to setting up “wishlists” so that random shows with people you like will automatically get recorded without you ever doing anything about it.
The list of recorded items is really easy to access, navigate, and manage, and it’s a combination of the onscreen UI and the remote control hardware (shape & placement of frequently used items). It is clear with the TiVo that it’s very specialized to do what it does; on the same note, it’s clear that the Comcast DVR is an added-on functionality on top of a cable box. It’s difficult for me to describe this in concrete terms.
I forgot to add, it has a great recommendation system, as well as the ability to schedule new recordings from your computer.
Even if all you want is the ability to simply record shows, I found that setting up a couple of different series to record took much more time than it did on the TiVo, and not just because it was my first time. Subsequently adding more shows was a comparably clunky process.
I think I meant “comparatively”.
There are as good, or better systems out there; just a slow rate of adoption. I think the fright about patents is also an issue. I’m thinking by the end of next year, PVR devices integrated with cable boxes will blow your mind! Either that, or Microsoft will pwn everyone, including the cable companies.
Too bad you don’t have DirecTV. They have a dual-tuner HD TiVo. But it’s also $500, whereas the Comcast one is free, right? But the HD TiVo is half price of what it used to be! 🙂
Yesterday was my first scheduled recording. And it crapped out! It missed the first 20 minutes. I got home and found that it was frozen on a channel and had to fiddle with the power and controls before it unfroze. So I only got to see the last 35 or so minutes.
Arg!
Drat, that’s the same type of problem I had when I was taping ’24’ and watching “How I Met Your Mother.”
You may want to experiment with this (not like you don’t have other DVR’s in the house): just let it play out without touching it; after it turns itself off, check the DVR for what it actually recorded.
I hate Comcast, their DVR (we’re on our fifth one because of how often it breaks down), but I’m a slave to recording all of my shows.
We now have two TiVos AND an HD dvr that has two tuners to record two shows simultaneously.
And yet, you still find yourself missing some of your favorite shows. You wonder, “how is that possible!?” 😀
Congrats. Sounds like you’re finally starting to settle into the place. Getting the gardening done; putting in some fancy electronic gadgets; et cetera.