My TiVo has been struck dumb

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seth

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"SINNER" <99nesorjd@gates_of_hell.invalid> wrote in message
news:icoln2xvv3.ln2@news.gates_of_hell.com...
>* Seth wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>> "SINNER" <arcade.master@googlemail.net> wrote in message
>
>>> I can do BOTH with my Tivo. To me that makes your box less
>>> functional. You can disagree if you like but I dont see it.
>
>> Well, Graham being in the UK doesn't have the option of a 2 tuner TiVo.
>> For
>> him it comes down to a choice. A) TiVo features that as nice as we think
>> they are and say so, having never experienced them (like us before TiVo)
>> can't really be expected to see their full value vs. B) 2 tuner
>> convenience.
>
>> You know now which you would pick if you had to choose between the 2 (2
>> tuner vs. TiVo software), but what might you have picked way back before
>> you
>> really knew TiVo software? I came over to DirecTV from DiSH purely (at
>> the
>> time I had a fairly stable DiSHPlayer 7x00) because of the 2 tuners.
>
> While I see your point, before this thread, I had never even heard of
> SKY+, is it available in the US? If it is then his request for numbers
> was even less relevant as I dont think the nunmbers, if they exist, come
> close to Tivo subscriptions.

No, SKY+ is UK only. But his numbers may be relevant depending on what
point one is looking at. As far as chances to try either service
"hands-on", then the numbers become very relevant. While I don't have the
numbers, I would guess that in the UK there are more SKY+ customers than
TiVo, making it easier to "try out friends system". Cause we know, at
least for TiVo, it is easier to explain hands-on than otherwise.

But I would agree that "worldwide" numbers have very little relevance
because who in the UK cares how many US TiVo subscribers there are and
vice-versa.
 

graham

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On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:19:31 -0400, "Randy S."
<rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:


>That may have been the original point of the discussion, but it is not
>what you said, nor what I was responding to for this post. You said
>specifically:
>
>"All the tivo functionality = a box that tells me what it thinks I
>should watch, rather than recording what I want to record."
>
I stand by my original statement. The "functionality" of Tivo is that
it can make decisions for you about what it will record.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2756497.stm

In addition, I only want a box that records exactly what I want it to
record. I don't want the box to record anything other than what I
precisely tell it to record.

In any case, it is my understanding that Tivo can force the box to
record specific programmes that no one has asked Tivo to record.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_media/2016264.stm


>Both of those statements are specifically complaining that Tivo is
>recording things other than what you ask for. This has nothing
>whatsoever to do with single vs. dual tuners. If this wasn't the
>contention, then why bring it up?

They are two separate issues. A box that takes over and a box in the
UK that only records 1 channel at a time.

>If it is a contention, then I (and
>others) have demonstrated that it's silly to criticize Tivo because of
>"suggestions" since at worst you can easily disable them.
>
I think it is cheeky that someone can decide to automatically record a
programme on the Tivo box. To quote the BBC web site:

"Users accessing the TiVo saw a new item "Must See from the BBC Dosser
and Jo" as part of an "advanced content" feature.

Some with families were angry that a post-watershed show had been
automatically recorded and could be accessed by children."

Graham
 
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>>That may have been the original point of the discussion, but it is not
>>what you said, nor what I was responding to for this post. You said
>>specifically:
>>
>>"All the tivo functionality = a box that tells me what it thinks I
>>should watch, rather than recording what I want to record."
>>
>
> I stand by my original statement. The "functionality" of Tivo is that
> it can make decisions for you about what it will record.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2756497.stm

I don't think any normal Tivo user would describe Tivo deciding what to
record for them as "Functionality". What we describe as the primary
"functionality" is that we tell Tivo what we want to record (as
described by show title, category, actor, keyword or virtually any
combination of those, or as last resort by time and channel) and Tivo
will find and record those qualifying programs. That's the *primary*
function.

A much less important, but often useful function is "suggestions" which
are programs that may not explicitly match what we've requested, but
Tivo thinks might be of interest. That may match what you are
describing, but it is *optional* and can be turned off.

The article you link to isn't accurately describing what the Tivo was
doing. Tivo *does* record "featured" content from time to time if it's
not busy doing things you've asked it to, but this content isn't stored
where normal programs are and therefore take up no effective storage
space. Often this content is broadcast of the Discovery Channel. You
are free to ignore it. At one point there was a bug where the Tivo
wouldn't switch back to the original channel when it was done recording
that content, but I believe that's since been fixed. In any case, it
wasn't intentional.

>
> In addition, I only want a box that records exactly what I want it to
> record. I don't want the box to record anything other than what I
> precisely tell it to record.
>
> In any case, it is my understanding that Tivo can force the box to
> record specific programmes that no one has asked Tivo to record.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_media/2016264.stm

Other than suggestions (which you can disable) Tivo doesn't record any
shows you don't request. Featured content may seem to be an exception,
but since it is not stored as regular programming and will never
interfere with scheduled recordings, I fail to see the drawback. The
most you'll see is a message in the menu about some new feature, which
you are free to ignore.


>>Both of those statements are specifically complaining that Tivo is
>>recording things other than what you ask for. This has nothing
>>whatsoever to do with single vs. dual tuners. If this wasn't the
>>contention, then why bring it up?
>
>
> They are two separate issues. A box that takes over and a box in the
> UK that only records 1 channel at a time.
>
>
>>If it is a contention, then I (and
>>others) have demonstrated that it's silly to criticize Tivo because of
>>"suggestions" since at worst you can easily disable them.
>>
>
> I think it is cheeky that someone can decide to automatically record a
> programme on the Tivo box. To quote the BBC web site:
>
> "Users accessing the TiVo saw a new item "Must See from the BBC Dosser
> and Jo" as part of an "advanced content" feature.
>
> Some with families were angry that a post-watershed show had been
> automatically recorded and could be accessed by children."

I'm assuming this program was featured content and did not appear as a
regularly recorded show. It does seem a bit much to feature an entire
show as opposed to a preview, but as noted before it's simple to ignore
and takes up no effective storage space. "Watershed" doesn't seem to
have an American equivalent, can I deduce that it means a show that
contains perhaps mature content and is therefore aired at a later hour?
I assume therefore that the parents were upset because underage
children could have then watched it without their knowledge? Yes, I can
certainly see the problem with that, no featured content readily
available on the Tivo should contain mature content, and that was a
mistake on their part.

I have an animated short on my Tivo right now that shows up on my menu
(something from "Nano-TV"?). I just ignore it, it's the last item on
the menu so it's easy to do so.

Now if I was required to watch that short in order to access my recorded
shows, I'd send the box right back to Tivo. And I'd definitely be
off-put if that short showed up mixed in with my regularly recorded shows.

Randy S.
 

graham

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On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:22:34 -0400, "Randy S."
<rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:


>Actually, I agree with you. Multiple quality levels only exist because
>of limited recording space. If the DVR has limited space, then it is a
>feature. But it would be a *better* feature to have ample recording
>space. Directv integrated Tivo's have no compression level choices
>because the satellite compression is already better than the DVR can do
>and there'd be no point in trying to compress it anymore.

If you are not bothered by picture quality then I could see it as a
feature.

Graham
 

graham

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On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 17:36:06 GMT, Andy Turner
<andyt@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:


>However, I've got 160gb in my Tivo, so everything goes on Best Quality
>anyway!

You Tivo owners - first you brag it is better and now you brag it is
bigger!

I can't win.

:)-)

Graham
 
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>>However, I've got 160gb in my Tivo, so everything goes on Best Quality
>>anyway!
>
>
> You Tivo owners - first you brag it is better and now you brag it is
> bigger!
>
> I can't win.
>
> :)-)
>
> Graham

Never let anybody try to convince you that size doesn't matter ;-)

Randy S.
 

graham

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On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 17:31:36 GMT, Andy Turner
<andyt@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:


>You *surely* know this is a bogus argument in any comparison? History
>is littered with products that were better than their more successful
>counterparts, but sold less due to bad marketing or being too early to
>market.

It's not a bogus argument. Talking to the other half who worked in a
TV/Video shop, he found that most people wanted dual tuner than other
"functionality".

Graham
 

graham

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On Wed, 8 Jun 2005 21:49:57 +0100, Dom Robinson
<Usetheaddress@inthesig.com> wrote:


>Impossible when it comes to TiVo, but see my previous post about that where I
>ask what training on the unit she received and how it's not a unit you can
>begin to judge without using it at home for several weeks first.
>
Impossible? I don't believe you mean that.

In the shop they got to record things to watch on TV when they had a
quiet period.

My other half probably used to watch even more TV than you Dom.

>You've so contradicted yourself and Mike Redrobe has got you banged to rights
>with his comment:
>"Looked at = compared the number of tuners.
>Didn't bother with anything else."
>
Afraid not.

Graham
 
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In article <mpvga191plfe1v04a4tuo5tpnj0e0ulffj@4ax.com>, graham@dircon.co.uk
says...
> On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:19:31 -0400, "Randy S."
> <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> >That may have been the original point of the discussion, but it is not
> >what you said, nor what I was responding to for this post. You said
> >specifically:
> >
> >"All the tivo functionality = a box that tells me what it thinks I
> >should watch, rather than recording what I want to record."
> >
> I stand by my original statement. The "functionality" of Tivo is that
> it can make decisions for you about what it will record.

Again, you miss the point. It records what YOU want to record, plus
suggestions of things you might like based on what you've recorded already.

I've explained this to you before, but you continue with this negative
behaviour when there's no need because at no point do the suggestions take
precedence of whatever you want to record.

Hence, there's NOTHING negative about suggestions... unless of course, you
know different... Doc.

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2756497.stm
>
> In addition, I only want a box that records exactly what I want it to
> record. I don't want the box to record anything other than what I
> precisely tell it to record.

Why not? If someone at work suggests a new programme, or anything else in life
that they might think you'll like, do you turn round and shout at them, "NO, I
ONLY WANT TO WATCH WHAT I WANT TO WATCH! NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK I WANT TO
WATCH!"

> In any case, it is my understanding that Tivo can force the box to
> record specific programmes that no one has asked Tivo to record.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_media/2016264.stm

I didn't even have to read the link to know you were talking about Dossa and
Joe, but I checked it after.

Again, you misunderstand because you make an assumption. And when you make an
assumption, you make an ass out of you and mption. Let me explain.

It was recorded as a simple suggestion. If the user was recording anything
else at the time (I was recording the prison/Big Brother-type show - "The
Experiment"? which came before it, but added five mins onto the end so I
didn't get D&J)

The programme disappeared from the 'Now Playing' after a few days AND it used
a different part of the hard disc other than the 40Gb provided to the user for
recording their own programmes.

So, even if the TiVo did record it for anyone, it had zero effect on any user.

Try checking your facts next time Graham, unless you want to look continually
like a know-nothing doofus.

> >Both of those statements are specifically complaining that Tivo is
> >recording things other than what you ask for. This has nothing
> >whatsoever to do with single vs. dual tuners. If this wasn't the
> >contention, then why bring it up?
>
> They are two separate issues. A box that takes over and a box in the
> UK that only records 1 channel at a time.

It doesn't take over.

> >If it is a contention, then I (and
> >others) have demonstrated that it's silly to criticize Tivo because of
> >"suggestions" since at worst you can easily disable them.
> >
> I think it is cheeky that someone can decide to automatically record a
> programme on the Tivo box. To quote the BBC web site:
>
> "Users accessing the TiVo saw a new item "Must See from the BBC Dosser
> and Jo" as part of an "advanced content" feature.

This was the first, and last - given the negative publicity, such deal between
the BBC and TiVo. It didn't continue because idiots like you think it was a
bad thing and controlled what the user should record. The above proves
otherwise, as doing a google in this ng at the time would've done.

There really is no beginning to your knowledge on TiVo.

> Some with families were angry that a post-watershed show had been
> automatically recorded and could be accessed by children."

What does that matter? ALL post-watershed recordings on a TiVo can be accessed
by any user in the house.
--

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In article <nr0ha1hcepph0gph529d0642e6c75e138l@4ax.com>, graham@dircon.co.uk
says...
> On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:22:34 -0400, "Randy S."
> <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> >Actually, I agree with you. Multiple quality levels only exist because
> >of limited recording space. If the DVR has limited space, then it is a
> >feature. But it would be a *better* feature to have ample recording
> >space. Directv integrated Tivo's have no compression level choices
> >because the satellite compression is already better than the DVR can do
> >and there'd be no point in trying to compress it anymore.
>
> If you are not bothered by picture quality then I could see it as a
> feature.
>
You conveniently ignored my reasons for using lower quality recordings on
occasion. All perfectly valid ones.
--

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In article <6v2pe.46377$G8.4994@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>,
Paul@yahooooooo.com says...
> > Redudant in your case for the types of programmes that you watch.
> >
> > Graham
>
> Personally I think that Dom's talking rubbish (as usual).
>
> Although I love my TiVo I wish it had two tuners. I frequently have clashes
> of programmes, normally dramas that occupy the 9pm slots on different
> channels and are only shown once in the week. At the moment I use a VCR to
> assist, as long as one of the programmes I want to watch is on terrestrial
> of course.
>
You're wrong, Paul. How many 9pm programmes clash and BOTH NEVER get a quick
repeat within the week or aren't available to watch on terrestrial while
recording from, say, Sky? It's generally BBC1/2 that don't repeat things, so
watch them on terrestrial or catch the endless repeats of most Sky 9pm shows
another time during the week.
--

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In article <d8a2is$ptq$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu>, rswitt@nospamgmail.com
says...
> > In addition, I only want a box that records exactly what I want it to
> > record. I don't want the box to record anything other than what I
> > precisely tell it to record.
> >
> > In any case, it is my understanding that Tivo can force the box to
> > record specific programmes that no one has asked Tivo to record.
> >
> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_media/2016264.stm
>
> Other than suggestions (which you can disable) Tivo doesn't record any
> shows you don't request. Featured content may seem to be an exception,
> but since it is not stored as regular programming and will never
> interfere with scheduled recordings, I fail to see the drawback. The
> most you'll see is a message in the menu about some new feature, which
> you are free to ignore.
>
It's not messages Graham's ignoring, just facts.
--

Dom Robinson Gamertag: DVDfever email: dom at dvdfever dot co dot uk
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On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 18:06:42 GMT, graham@dircon.co.uk wrote:

>On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 17:31:36 GMT, Andy Turner
><andyt@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>>You *surely* know this is a bogus argument in any comparison? History
>>is littered with products that were better than their more successful
>>counterparts, but sold less due to bad marketing or being too early to
>>market.
>
>It's not a bogus argument. Talking to the other half who worked in a
>TV/Video shop, he found that most people wanted dual tuner than other
>"functionality".

That wasn't the argument. The bogus argument is the one that assumes
that the item that more people bought must be superior. And *surely*
you know that is a bogus argument?


Incidentally, I wasn't aware that the availability of Tivo overlapped
the availablity of Sky+ anyway, so who was coming into this shop and
how exactly was this choice offered to them?


andyt
 
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Randy S. (rswitt@nospamgmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> Other than suggestions (which you can disable) Tivo doesn't record any
> shows you don't request. Featured content may seem to be an exception,
> but since it is not stored as regular programming and will never
> interfere with scheduled recordings, I fail to see the drawback.

In addition, since these "extra" recordings also record encoded guide data
information, requesting that the TiVo not record them is essentially like
saying "I don't want guide data".

--
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| http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/Zits/AttentiveIgnorer.jpg
 
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Andy Turner (andyt@nospam.demon.co.uk) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> The recording space of *any* PVR is limited of course.

With the external SATA hard drive option available on some cable DVRs,
the limit becomes nothing but money, because you can unplug the drive and
use a different one.

That said, I have an HD TiVo (250GB hard drive) and a computer with an HDTV
card (420GB total hard drive), and I can say that it's enough unless you
plan on keeping everything forever (but, then, that's impossible no matter
how big your drive is). That's good for about 85-90 hours of HDTV
recordings.

I sometimes record 3 HDTV programs at the same time, and I was 5-6 weeks
behind on a while ago (a massive marathon of watching caught me up), but
I never came close to running out of space. The TiVo had about 10 hours
of HD space free, and the PC had about 25 hours free, even at the worst.
So, yeah, I had 50 hours of HD sitting around on various recording devices
a few weeks ago.

--
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In article <7n8ha1dbm4ihnnrko39g8l1rdkjh0fbs3s@4ax.com>,
andyt@nospam.demon.co.uk says...
> Incidentally, I wasn't aware that the availability of Tivo overlapped
> the availablity of Sky+ anyway, so who was coming into this shop and
> how exactly was this choice offered to them?
>
Shops pushed Sky+ because they got a nice kickback from them.
--

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In <MPG.1d129e187743829a989be8@nntp.dsl.pipex.com>, Dom Robinson
<Usetheaddress@inthesig.com> wrote:

>In article <mpvga191plfe1v04a4tuo5tpnj0e0ulffj@4ax.com>, graham@dircon.co.uk
>says...
>> Some with families were angry that a post-watershed show had been
>> automatically recorded and could be accessed by children."
>
>What does that matter? ALL post-watershed recordings on a TiVo can be accessed
>by any user in the house.

Most can - but movies have Ratings data, which links with the Parental
Control feature.

--
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>>>Answer the question Graham - exactly what training was she given on the TiVo?
>>>Go on, ask her. Never mind fiddling with the odd recording when she wasn't
>>>trying to sell someone an overpriced extended warranty they never asked for.
>>>Ask her what training.
>>>
>>
>>Now we are getting personal. You accuse them of pushing inappropriate
>>warranties.
>
>
> All shops push inappropriate warranties - inappropriate because most consumer
> items fail either within the first year, or many years in the future.

Well, let's be fair here, it's not so much the warranty that's
inappropriate, typically it's the price. For a piece of mostly solid
state equipment that relatively cheap and easy to replace the price of
most offered extended warranties is ridiculous. There are exceptions,
the main one that I can think of is on laptops. Most laptops are very
difficult to fix due to their proprietary components and the outrageous
prices that the sellers charge for those proprietary replacements, so
the cost risks are high. For most other items the cost of the extended
warranties aren't worth it. But they are a *high* profit item for the
stores and they have a lot of incentive to push them. I think, Graham,
you can acknowledge that. It's not impossible that the particular store
in question *doesn't* push them, but it's pretty unlikely given the
state of the Industry. You could even make an argument (a pretty weak
one though) that since the extended warranties allow the companies to
make a slimmer markup on the product itself, that gullible buyers of
extended warranties subsidize the hardware costs for the more
intelligent buyer. It's more likely though that the manufacturers and
stores keep the markups the same and just take increased profits.


> Then I'll stop making assumptions once you come up with the answers. You can't
> just respond, as the person on the other side of the discussion, with
> "However, I really can't be bothered."

It is true Graham that it's probably inappropriate to state a conclusion
then refuse to offer anything to back it up. If you want to drop the
argument, that's fine, but I don't think you can appropriately say that
you've proven anything or backed your arguments up.

Randy S.
 

graham

Distinguished
Apr 3, 2004
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Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo,uk.media.tv.misc (More info?)

On Thu, 9 Jun 2005 19:43:14 +0100, Dom Robinson
<Usetheaddress@inthesig.com> wrote:


>Why not? If someone at work suggests a new programme, or anything else in life
>that they might think you'll like, do you turn round and shout at them, "NO, I
>ONLY WANT TO WATCH WHAT I WANT TO WATCH! NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK I WANT TO
>WATCH!"
>
You miss the point.

You keep saying that Tivo's "functionality" outweighs in all
circumstances the facility within the Sky+ system that enables two
programmes to be recorded at the same time.

I disagree with the statement that you make.


>So, even if the TiVo did record it for anyone, it had zero effect on any user.
>
Zero effect? If I had children and were happy for them to watch
programmes that had been recorded on a Tivo box I would be bloody
furious to discover that the BBC had decided to shove things on the
box that were for broadcast after the watershed.

We have already heard complaints in the BBC news articles that having
recorded a programme the tivo box would not allow users to delete the
programme.

>Try checking your facts next time Graham, unless you want to look continually
>like a know-nothing doofus.
>
Can you have a reasoned discussion without getting personal?

I really don't care what you think.

>> Some with families were angry that a post-watershed show had been
>> automatically recorded and could be accessed by children."
>
>What does that matter? ALL post-watershed recordings on a TiVo can be accessed
>by any user in the house.

Parents may allow their children to watch Tivo becuase they are
confident that there are no post watershed programmes on the box.
Imagine their surprise to find that this is not the case.

You go back to your Tivo and I will go back to my Sky+.

After listening to everything you have to say, I am still firmly of
the view that the ability to record two programmes at the same time
is, for me, far more important that any other feature.

Graham
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo,uk.media.tv.misc (More info?)

> Parents may allow their children to watch Tivo becuase they are
> confident that there are no post watershed programmes on the box.
> Imagine their surprise to find that this is not the case.
>
> You go back to your Tivo and I will go back to my Sky+.
>
> After listening to everything you have to say, I am still firmly of
> the view that the ability to record two programmes at the same time
> is, for me, far more important that any other feature.

Honestly Graham I think these two points of yours are valid, even if
others don't agree with them (myself included).

I think the others should concede that putting a post-watershed
programme in a location which cannot be controlled by a discerning
parent was a mistake. All other programmes, whether restrictable or
not, can at least be said to be the responsibility of the DVR owner.
Featured content cannot, and thus should have been more tightly
controlled. It shouldn't have poisened people permanently against Tivo
though, it seems that it was a one-time mistake that was immediately
acknowledged and apologized for. Sky+ could do similar things if they
decided to, but they fortunately have Tivo's history to learn from.

Also, comparing the software functionality of Tivo software to the
hardware functionality of dual tuners in the Sky+ box is a value
judgement on the end users part, it's not really fair for any person to
say that one outweighs the other for *other* people.

I do agree, however, that a lot of the functionality of the Tivo is
rather intangible and must be experienced to be understood, and not just
for a few minutes or a few hours here and there. It's difficult to get
across but not everyone is going to be willing to give Tivo that chance.
In the long run, at some point Tivo will add another tuner to their
hardware and make it a moot point. Hopefully they will resurrect their
presence in the UK at some point after that so you all get as good a set
of choices that we do.

Randy S.