RTV "dumping" their products below cost?

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

I just did the pause code contest thing and I see they are selling RTVs for
$90.
I seem to remember the folks here telling me the cost of these things to RTV
was over $199 (when that was the price) and laying out all of the internal
parts costs.
I assume this is just a response to Tivo selling for under $100. How low will
they go? Will it be like cell phones where they give them away for signing up
for the service?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Greg wrote:

> I just did the pause code contest thing and I see they are selling RTVs for
> $90.
> I seem to remember the folks here telling me the cost of these things to RTV
> was over $199 (when that was the price) and laying out all of the internal
> parts costs.
> I assume this is just a response to Tivo selling for under $100. How low will
> they go? Will it be like cell phones where they give them away for signing up
> for the service?

I think Tivo is doing that now with it's intergerated into DISH TV
boxes. Not that I wish to have a Tivo.. Much rather have another Replay

IN fact.... After she forgot to put a tape in and program the recorder
to catch a show my wife likes to watch only to find we could watch it
anyway thanks to me haveing previously told Replay "Record it" (Theme
style) Well...... Perhaps I will get that 2nd unit after all

( I told her next time her VCR takes a dump I'll likely replace it with
a Replay)

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

> I told her next time her VCR takes a dump I'll likely replace it with
>a Replay)

As cheap as they are getting, why not? They are really courting monthly users
with the discount rate.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Greg wrote:
> I just did the pause code contest thing and I see they are selling RTVs for
> $90.
> I seem to remember the folks here telling me the cost of these things to RTV
> was over $199 (when that was the price) and laying out all of the internal
> parts costs.

And of course, they would have absolutely no way of even guessing a
figure. Do you really waste time calculating the permutations of
theories put forth by clueless people?

> I assume this is just a response to Tivo selling for under $100. How low will
> they go? Will it be like cell phones where they give them away for signing up
> for the service?

The progress of the DNNA gameplan is all spelled out in their latest
quarterly report (on the avsforum). Main Media servers, HD client
server "lites" (aka 5K like units), all integrated with the rest of
their lines.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Tony D <nospam@nospam.com> shaped the electrons to say:
>The progress of the DNNA gameplan is all spelled out in their latest
>quarterly report (on the avsforum). Main Media servers, HD client
>server "lites" (aka 5K like units), all integrated with the rest of
>their lines.

But when are the high end integrated DVR servers going to street?

-MZ, RHCE #806199299900541, ex-CISSP #3762
--
<URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org> Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-755-4098
<URL:http/www.megazone.org/> <URL:http/www.eyrie-productions.com/> Eris

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Greg wrote:

>>I told her next time her VCR takes a dump I'll likely replace it with
>>a Replay)
>
>
> As cheap as they are getting, why not? They are really courting monthly users
> with the discount rate.

Well the why not has to do with my wife more than the hardware, but
she's going to have to adjust... I'm also maxed out on my current
router, but that can be easily fixed

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

>.. I'm also maxed out on my current
>router, but that can be easily fixed

I would string out the RTVs on a cheap hub using one router port. These things
don't use much bandwidth.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Greg wrote:

>>.. I'm also maxed out on my current
>>router, but that can be easily fixed
>
>
> I would string out the RTVs on a cheap hub using one router port. These things
> don't use much bandwidth.

As I said, "That can be easily fixed" you have, of course, described how
I intend to fix it.

I may put one of the computers on the hub too... Since it's the one that
is most likely to "Chat" with the replays just now.

And I just got a new DVD toy (5" portable player) Under a hundred bucks
if you shop... This lightens the load on the computers and RTV as I can
now watch my Netflixs while doing other things with this laptop
(Watching DVD's or video MPG's takes about 90 to 97 percent of the
processor's ability or about 300 Mhz of processor (it's supposed to be
a 366, delivers about 333) Watching on the Apex portable takes abou
zero processor speed on the laptop

 

[Steph]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
news:20041125133226.06305.00000747@mb-m27.aol.com:

> I just did the pause code contest thing and I see they are selling
> RTVs for $90.
> I seem to remember the folks here telling me the cost of these things
> to RTV was over $199 (when that was the price) and laying out all of
> the internal parts costs.
> I assume this is just a response to Tivo selling for under $100. How
> low will they go? Will it be like cell phones where they give them
> away for signing up for the service?
>

Below cost? You mean strictly for parts or factoring in R&D and Support?
When you buy a RTV device they are counting on the $300 lifetime fee or
the renewable monthly subscription. The selling price of the unit is
negligible. The actual parts cost to computer/device manufacturers is
pennies, so even if they sold it for under $50 they would not be losing
money or the turnaround of assembling pieces of hardware into a single
unit for sale.

Why the price drop? Simple economics: supply/demand, competition,
holiday sales incentives, etc.

Yes, they could give them away in exchange for service -- just like
renting the cable DVR's.

 

[Steph]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
news:20041126003146.23348.00001198@mb-m03.aol.com:

>> I told her next time her VCR takes a dump I'll likely replace it with
>>a Replay)
>
> As cheap as they are getting, why not? They are really courting
> monthly users with the discount rate.
>

I finally finished wiring my last area [we keep remodeling and changing the
layout of the room] and I now have a 40-hour RTV upstairs, a 250-hour RTV
downstairs, and a WinXP running DVA among members of my network. I can
stream a RTV recorded show to either of the RTV attached televisions and
have a total capacity of close to a 1000 hours of recordable space.

So I have two-tuners with gobs of space. Occasionally in a blue moon I have
a third show conflict, but I can often get the episode later from re-airing
or a sharing.

....so yeah I would go for another RTV over a VCR <grin>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Steph wrote:

> gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
> news:20041126003146.23348.00001198@mb-m03.aol.com:
>
>
>>>I told her next time her VCR takes a dump I'll likely replace it with
>>>a Replay)
>>
>>As cheap as they are getting, why not? They are really courting
>>monthly users with the discount rate.
>>
>
>
> I finally finished wiring my last area [we keep remodeling and changing the
> layout of the room] and I now have a 40-hour RTV upstairs, a 250-hour RTV
> downstairs, and a WinXP running DVA among members of my network. I can
> stream a RTV recorded show to either of the RTV attached televisions and
> have a total capacity of close to a 1000 hours of recordable space.
>
> So I have two-tuners with gobs of space. Occasionally in a blue moon I have
> a third show conflict, but I can often get the episode later from re-airing
> or a sharing.
>
> ....so yeah I would go for another RTV over a VCR <grin>
>

Under those conditions I think I'd spend the fifty bucks needed to get
an ATI TV-Wonder card and use it for the odd 3rd show.

I did

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
news:20041125133226.06305.00000747@mb-m27.aol.com:

> I just did the pause code contest thing and I see they are selling
> RTVs for $90.
> I seem to remember the folks here telling me the cost of these things
> to RTV was over $199 (when that was the price) and laying out all of
> the internal parts costs.
> I assume this is just a response to Tivo selling for under $100. How
> low will they go? Will it be like cell phones where they give them
> away for signing up for the service?
>

They've always sold below cost. The subscription fee is designed in part to
cover the remaining cost.

--
I wouldn't be caught dead with a necrophiliac.

Tyralak,
Supreme Commander Of The Imperial Romulan Warbird, Psionax

Official ASVS Token Trekkie

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

On Fri, 03 Dec 2004 05:41:11 GMT, Tyralak
<tyralak@SecureUndisclosedLocation.com> wrote:

>gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) wrote in
>news:20041125133226.06305.00000747@mb-m27.aol.com:
>
>> I just did the pause code contest thing and I see they are selling
>> RTVs for $90.
>> I seem to remember the folks here telling me the cost of these things
>> to RTV was over $199 (when that was the price) and laying out all of
>> the internal parts costs.
>> I assume this is just a response to Tivo selling for under $100. How
>> low will they go? Will it be like cell phones where they give them
>> away for signing up for the service?
>>
>
>They've always sold below cost. The subscription fee is designed in part to
>cover the remaining cost.

A Replay sold for $100 would really be $399 (with activation). That's
still less than the $700 you had to pay for the first Replay (the less
expensive model).

--
22 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
has a Replay 5xxx
http/go.to/notstupid
http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"It is a curious thing that every creed promises a
paradise which will be absolutely uninhabitable for
anyone of civilized taste." -- Evelyn Waugh

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> shaped the electrons to say:
>A Replay sold for $100 would really be $399 (with activation). That's
>still less than the $700 you had to pay for the first Replay (the less
>expensive model).

Isn't progress great?

Just look at the difference one year makes - a year ago Pioneer
released the DVD-810H. An 80GB TiVo with DVD burner, and the MSRP was
$1200. I managed to find one online for about $700 all told.

This fall Humax released the DRT800, an 80GB TiVo with DVD
burner - a faster burner, with DV input, etc, and the MSRP is $499
($399 after rebate).

$700-800 less for a box that does a bit more.

And I'm sure prices will continue down.

-MZ, RHCE #806199299900541, ex-CISSP #3762
--
<URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org> Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-755-4098
<URL:http/www.megazone.org/> <URL:http/www.eyrie-productions.com/> Eris

 

[Greg]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

These things will get cheap when the standard is established to the <volume>
point that fabbing up a chipset is worthwhile. The current RTVs are a cludge of
off the shelf parts, each carrying it's own baggage. I imagine the hard drive
is still the highest priced part

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

gfretwell@aol.com (Greg) shaped the electrons to say:
>off the shelf parts, each carrying it's own baggage. I imagine the hard drive
>is still the highest priced part

Oh, no question - the power supply and chassis are probably the other
high priced items. But the other components aren't costly.

-MZ, RHCE #806199299900541, ex-CISSP #3762
--
<URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org> Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-755-4098
<URL:http/www.megazone.org/> <URL:http/www.eyrie-productions.com/> Eris