Thinking about buying

[Guest]

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

Randy S. wrote:

> You've got to be kidding me. Here you are knocking others for not
> producing links, and you have the gall to fail to produce a single one.
> All right, I'll take the bait, here's an actual summary of analysts:
>
>
> Current Analyst Recommendations
>
> Trend of Analyst Recommendations*
> Recommendation Current 1 Month Ago 2 Months Ago 3 Months Ago
>
> Buy 3 2 2 2
> Outperform 3 3 2 2
> Neutral 4 4 4 4
> Underperform 2 3 2 2
> Sell - - 1 1 2

I think you should put your 401k all in Tivo. The press release about
Comcast will cause a spike in the stock, the way the Direct thing caused
it to plummet. The Comcast deal also require absolutely no obligation on
Comcast's part. Nothing changes the bottom line, I guess Forbes, WSJ,
etc use different "analysts".

The stock has "popped" before (courtesy of press releases).
http/money.cnn.com/2005/03/09/technology/tivo/


There are a few hundred of these:

http/tdgsecure.secure-shops5.com/product.asp?itemid=53&catid=36

http/www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-518926.html

http/www.digitalmerging.la/archives/2005/01/directv_is_rethinking_television_can_tivo_survive_2005_part_ii.html

http/p139.news.scd.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20050706/bs_prweb/prweb259001

If you want I CAN put in a few hundred links.

 

[danr]

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

Mike Hunt wrote:
> On 2005-07-11, Scribner <walter3ca@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 15:37:23 -0500, "Zardaz" <wizofoz@emerldcty.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "DanR" <dhr22@sorrynospm.com> wrote in message
>>> news:MPwAe.382$c41.151@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The OP said HD Tivo and his TV input is RGB. So I think he means HD and
>>>> that
>>>> would change all the specs related to hard drives... would it not.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> The OP only mentioned a future HD Tivo as being a reason for the sale on
>>> current models. He did not say anything about getting an HD Tivo.
>>> And yes, with HD Tivo the info related to hard drive recording capacity
>>> would be different.
>>>
>> I used HD to refer to High Def. Thanks.
>
> Well, what the OP said was:
>
> I just happened to find out that Tivo is going on sale. Probably to
> clear inventory for HD Tivo. But before I plonk down my $$ I have
> some questions for those of you who have experience with this device.
> I R idiot, so please be kind.
>
> So yes, HD is obviously High Def here, but it isn't obvious if he is
> planning on plonking down $$$ for a SATiVo, a DTiVo, or a HDDTiVo.
> Most/many assumed SATiVo and answers will be different for DTiVo and
> HDDTiVo.

Not to beat a dead horse but he also said his TV has only RGB input.

 

[Guest]

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

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 03:01:32 GMT, "DanR" <dhr22@sorrynospm.com> wrote:

>
>
>Mike Hunt wrote:
>> On 2005-07-11, Scribner <walter3ca@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 15:37:23 -0500, "Zardaz" <wizofoz@emerldcty.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "DanR" <dhr22@sorrynospm.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:MPwAe.382$c41.151@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The OP said HD Tivo and his TV input is RGB. So I think he means HD and
>>>>> that
>>>>> would change all the specs related to hard drives... would it not.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The OP only mentioned a future HD Tivo as being a reason for the sale on
>>>> current models. He did not say anything about getting an HD Tivo.
>>>> And yes, with HD Tivo the info related to hard drive recording capacity
>>>> would be different.
>>>>
>>> I used HD to refer to High Def. Thanks.
>>
>> Well, what the OP said was:
>>
>> I just happened to find out that Tivo is going on sale. Probably to
>> clear inventory for HD Tivo. But before I plonk down my $$ I have
>> some questions for those of you who have experience with this device.
>> I R idiot, so please be kind.
>>
>> So yes, HD is obviously High Def here, but it isn't obvious if he is
>> planning on plonking down $$$ for a SATiVo, a DTiVo, or a HDDTiVo.
>> Most/many assumed SATiVo and answers will be different for DTiVo and
>> HDDTiVo.
>
>Not to beat a dead horse but he also said his TV has only RGB input.
>

Ok, I didn't think that Tivo was this complicated. I have Time Warner
high definition digital cable. My cable box is a Scientific Atlanta
Explorer 3250 HD (high definition). My TV is a Pioneer PDP-4314 with
Analog RGB, HDMI, S-Video and Component Video inputs. I have a
special component video switch box into which I have connected my DVD
player and my cable box which feeds the TV. The VCR is connected
directly to the TV via S-Video.

 

[Guest]

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

"Scribner" <walter3ca@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aje6d11cmj1qrsdr0elfstjk7olif3sqnu@4ax.com...
>
> Ok, I didn't think that Tivo was this complicated.

It really isn't as complicated as it sounds. If you don't have DirectTV, the
only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
interchangable.

> I have Time Warner
> high definition digital cable.

Unfortunately, standalone Tivo does not currently record hidef. It will
record hidef downsampled to standard def resolution, though, which looks much
better than any standard def source besides DVD.

> My cable box is a Scientific Atlanta
> Explorer 3250 HD (high definition). My TV is a Pioneer PDP-4314 with
> Analog RGB, HDMI, S-Video and Component Video inputs. I have a
> special component video switch box into which I have connected my DVD
> player and my cable box which feeds the TV. The VCR is connected
> directly to the TV via S-Video.

Standalone Tivos can use any of the non-hidef inputs on your TV. That is,
they can use the coax antenna input, composite (single yellow RCA), and
s-video. The DVD units add support for component, and will even output a
progressive scan 480p signal (it will upconvert your standard def, and do
progressive conversion on your DVDs).

Audio input can come via coax antenna input or stereo RCA (red/white cables).
The DVD capable machines have optical digital audio output, but the input is
stereo, so you will only get Dolby Digital from DVD material.

Ken

 

[Guest]

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

You're basing this all on one questionable (to me at least) report.
The 2nd link is just a restatement of fundamentals, it's not even an
analysis, the 3rd link is an outdated (pre-comcast deal) 10 second
musing by a blogger, and the 4th link is merely a new story about the
1st link. And let's look at the contentions of the 1st link:

"* TiVo's recent deal with Comcast will face many difficulties and have
little impact, if any, in terms of moving TiVo DVRs. Architectural
differences in software will lead to limited deployments and
compromised functionality (especially when compared to stand-alone
TiVos). "

The same things could have been said about the Directivos. The
architecture is somewhat different and there is some compromised
functionality (networking, TTG). Yet the Directivo is wildly
successful! Go figure?

"* TiVo's forthcoming Series3 HD-DVR with Multi-Stream CableCard and
built-in networking will be too expensive for most consumers and thus
require substantial carrier subsidies to impact the market. With cable
and satellite companies leasing similar products for little or no
upfront costs, the HD models of the Series3 will see tepid sales. "

I agree that HD models may initially see tepid sales. Because HD
models of everything right now (except TV's themselves which are
selling like hotcakes, a sign of the future trend on everything else
HD) are seeing tepid sales due to high cost and lack of widespread HD
content. You could argue that HD has nowhere to go but up fast, since
widespread availability of digital broadcasts is essentially mandated
by '08 (I think it's '08 anyway). Also, there's no reason a non-HD
Series 3 wouldn't be a hot seller.

"* TiVo will win its patent dispute with Dish Network but won't see
significant revenue from the litigation. "

I won't disagree with this, I just don't know enough about it. But I
doubt Dish network has that much money to cough up in a settlement
anyway.

"* TiVo will remain unattractive as an acquisition target unless its
stock falls to record lows - an event that has been made more likely
due to the departure of DirecTV. Should a suitor emerge, the buyer will
most likely be a broadband content distributor or a large consumer
electronics company - an Apple/TiVo merger is not out of the
question."

Well, we all know that the Apple/Tivo merger thing was a complete
speculation with absolutely no grounds. Jobs has no interest in DVRs,
or video in general (he said so in a keynote, something about there
being no headphone equivalent for video). I would have thought that
the main threat of acquisition was *before* the comcast deal, perhaps
by comcast themselves, why pay money out if you can just buy the
company and keep everything internal? But it didn't happen that way,
and I think it's much less likely now.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

"Randy S." <rswitt@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1121169196.059459.118170@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> You're basing this all on one questionable (to me at least) report.

Nice work Randy. Apparently Tony's got an axe to grind and nothing better
to do with his time. Ah well, some poor souls are like that.

 

[Guest]

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

"Scribner" <walter3ca@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:gun5d1pjch4umochv558ier0df20p5l1pd@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 15:37:23 -0500, "Zardaz" <wizofoz@emerldcty.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"DanR" <dhr22@sorrynospm.com> wrote in message
>>news:MPwAe.382$c41.151@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
>>>
>>>
>>> The OP said HD Tivo and his TV input is RGB. So I think he means HD and
>>> that
>>> would change all the specs related to hard drives... would it not.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>The OP only mentioned a future HD Tivo as being a reason for the sale on
>>current models. He did not say anything about getting an HD Tivo.
>>And yes, with HD Tivo the info related to hard drive recording capacity
>>would be different.
>>

> I used HD to refer to High Def. Thanks.

You're as dumb as the rest of 'em if you think that needed clarification.

 

[danr]

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

Zardaz wrote:
> "Scribner" <walter3ca@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:gun5d1pjch4umochv558ier0df20p5l1pd@4ax.com...
>> On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 15:37:23 -0500, "Zardaz" <wizofoz@emerldcty.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "DanR" <dhr22@sorrynospm.com> wrote in message
>>> news:MPwAe.382$c41.151@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The OP said HD Tivo and his TV input is RGB. So I think he means HD and
>>>> that
>>>> would change all the specs related to hard drives... would it not.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> The OP only mentioned a future HD Tivo as being a reason for the sale on
>>> current models. He did not say anything about getting an HD Tivo.
>>> And yes, with HD Tivo the info related to hard drive recording capacity
>>> would be different.
>>>
>
>> I used HD to refer to High Def. Thanks.
>
> You're as dumb as the rest of 'em if you think that needed clarification.

He could have been talking about 3½" floppy disks.

 

[Guest]

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

No, the difference in architecture I was thinking of was the native
digital recording. I quoted networking and TTG as exampes of
compromised functionality (yes, due to Directv's decision, not any
physical differences).

Randy S.

 

[Gman]

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

In article <1121169196.059459.118170@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>, "Randy S." <rswitt@gmail.com> wrote:
>You're basing this all on one questionable (to me at least) report.
>The 2nd link is just a restatement of fundamentals, it's not even an
>analysis, the 3rd link is an outdated (pre-comcast deal) 10 second
>musing by a blogger, and the 4th link is merely a new story about the
>1st link. And let's look at the contentions of the 1st link:
>
>"* TiVo's recent deal with Comcast will face many difficulties and have
>little impact, if any, in terms of moving TiVo DVRs. Architectural
>differences in software will lead to limited deployments and
>compromised functionality (especially when compared to stand-alone
>TiVos). "
>
>The same things could have been said about the Directivos. The
>architecture is somewhat different and there is some compromised
>functionality (networking, TTG). Yet the Directivo is wildly
>successful! Go figure?
>

There is nothing physical in the architecture of the DirecTivo to prevent
networking or TTG. It functions on hacked boxes just fine. Its just the
a$$holes at DirecTV that wont turn it on.



>"* TiVo's forthcoming Series3 HD-DVR with Multi-Stream CableCard and
>built-in networking will be too expensive for most consumers and thus
>require substantial carrier subsidies to impact the market. With cable
>and satellite companies leasing similar products for little or no
>upfront costs, the HD models of the Series3 will see tepid sales. "
>
>I agree that HD models may initially see tepid sales. Because HD
>models of everything right now (except TV's themselves which are
>selling like hotcakes, a sign of the future trend on everything else
>HD) are seeing tepid sales due to high cost and lack of widespread HD
>content. You could argue that HD has nowhere to go but up fast, since
>widespread availability of digital broadcasts is essentially mandated
>by '08 (I think it's '08 anyway). Also, there's no reason a non-HD
>Series 3 wouldn't be a hot seller.
>
>"* TiVo will win its patent dispute with Dish Network but won't see
>significant revenue from the litigation. "
>
>I won't disagree with this, I just don't know enough about it. But I
>doubt Dish network has that much money to cough up in a settlement
>anyway.
>
>"* TiVo will remain unattractive as an acquisition target unless its
>stock falls to record lows - an event that has been made more likely
>due to the departure of DirecTV. Should a suitor emerge, the buyer will
>most likely be a broadband content distributor or a large consumer
>electronics company - an Apple/TiVo merger is not out of the
>question."
>
>Well, we all know that the Apple/Tivo merger thing was a complete
>speculation with absolutely no grounds. Jobs has no interest in DVRs,
>or video in general (he said so in a keynote, something about there
>being no headphone equivalent for video). I would have thought that
>the main threat of acquisition was *before* the comcast deal, perhaps
>by comcast themselves, why pay money out if you can just buy the
>company and keep everything internal? But it didn't happen that way,
>and I think it's much less likely now.
>
>Randy S.
>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> If you don't have DirectTV, the
> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are several
> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
> interchangable.

What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>

 

[Guest]

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

<aloe@rev.net> wrote in message
news:1121722573.451972.263820@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Ken Alverson wrote:
>> If you don't have DirectTV, the
>> only options are standalone Tivos, with or without DVD[-R]. There are
>> several
>> brands, but aside from hard drive size and DVD abilities, they are largely
>> interchangable.
>
> What are good brands? (Every dealer I call insists I need DirectTV.)

If you have DirectTV, consider a DirectTV based Tivo. You will get an exact
copy of what is broadcast, Tivo doesn't have to recompress the signal.
Additionally, you will be able to record two shows at once.

However, the downside is you will lose the ability to use HMO (mp3s, photos,
network show transfers between units if you have more than one), and the box
will not work with anything except DirectTV.

I don't know much about the different brands of units out there except to say
that I have several Tivo branded ones, they are basically the standard, and I
have used a Humax standalone and it was pretty indistinguishable during the
time I used it. I also have a Pioneer DVD-R unit and it is well built - worth
the price if you need (want) DVD-R capability. I can't compare it to other
DVD-R Tivo units, because it's the only one I've used.

Ken

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> <aloe@rev.net> wrote in message
> news:1121722573.451972.263820@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> If you have DirectTV, consider a DirectTV based Tivo.

No thanks. I'm not interested in paying $500 annually just to record
TV. (I've been using my VCR for years at a fraction of the cost.)

I'll inquire about the standalones.

-- Coney O'Hare <http/www.rev.net/~aloe/tv>