Comments on: TiVo Resurrects Lifetime Service (for a time) http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/ All your digital media goodness. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:35:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Tom http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75140 Tom Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:33:27 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75140 Airey001 (if that is your real name :-), what "Tivo OS update issues" do you mean? I haven't had any problems with any of my updates. Minor menuing glitches, but all software has bugs. TiVo has been fairly robust in my experience, no software failures or forced reboots. But prices as for going up, that's just the way everything goes. I can't begin to recall all the cable price increases and added equipment surchages (like when they started charging for remotes on top of the box charges). Although no one likes to see subscription prices go up, TiVo is certainly not immune from it. But in the end, TiVo is a premium device/service, it's not a generic household appliance you'd find in everyone's home (although I'm sure TiVo Inc. would love it to be as common as a DVD player). And as for cablecards being DOA, they are FCC mandated. As far as I know, that hasn't been rescinded. Of course the the Cable Cos. hate 'em. But they're in it to be monopolies and will drag their collective feet when forced to be more competitive. They always been that way. But Cable Cards are here to stay for the forseeable future. Airey001 (if that is your real name :-) , what “Tivo OS update issues” do you mean? I haven’t had any problems with any of my updates. Minor menuing glitches, but all software has bugs. TiVo has been fairly robust in my experience, no software failures or forced reboots.

But prices as for going up, that’s just the way everything goes. I can’t begin to recall all the cable price increases and added equipment surchages (like when they started charging for remotes on top of the box charges). Although no one likes to see subscription prices go up, TiVo is certainly not immune from it.

But in the end, TiVo is a premium device/service, it’s not a generic household appliance you’d find in everyone’s home (although I’m sure TiVo Inc. would love it to be as common as a DVD player).

And as for cablecards being DOA, they are FCC mandated. As far as I know, that hasn’t been rescinded. Of course the the Cable Cos. hate ‘em. But they’re in it to be monopolies and will drag their collective feet when forced to be more competitive. They always been that way. But Cable Cards are here to stay for the forseeable future.

]]> By: airey001 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75139 airey001 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:29:45 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75139 I think these changes are going to hurt Tivo in the long run. I know the price increase both last year and this year have stopped me from getting one of the New HD tivos and have stoped people i know from getting tivos. Well that and the fact that cable card was dead before Tivo even released the series 3(Thanks to the Cable Companies). I have been with Tivo for about 3 years and I love them and their features, but with recent pricing, Tivo OS update issues, and recent company decisions have started me to think tivo will soon need to completely remodel their business. I think that in the long run they will not be producing hardware at all, they will be a software only company. I would love to stay around but I recently switched to a Dish and my anolog Tivos are no longer worth it with all the new HD channels I watch and want to record. I think these changes are going to hurt Tivo in the long run. I know the price increase both last year and this year have stopped me from getting one of the New HD tivos and have stoped people i know from getting tivos. Well that and the fact that cable card was dead before Tivo even released the series 3(Thanks to the Cable Companies).

I have been with Tivo for about 3 years and I love them and their features, but with recent pricing, Tivo OS update issues, and recent company decisions have started me to think tivo will soon need to completely remodel their business. I think that in the long run they will not be producing hardware at all, they will be a software only company.

I would love to stay around but I recently switched to a Dish and my anolog Tivos are no longer worth it with all the new HD channels I watch and want to record.

]]> By: Tom http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75128 Tom Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:23:11 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75128 TiVo doesn't seem to be offering a 3 yr pre-pay plan for the multiple service discount. Best you can do is $99 for a year ($8.25/month). And I guess there's no gaurentee that will remain at that price, as they effectively raised the price. Assuming that they don't raise the MSD again (which we know is a bad assumption), the $400 lifetime pays for itself after 4 years. But granted the $99/year MSD will increase by this time next year. So the $400 lifetime will pay for itself in less than 4 years. Probably even under 3? TiVo doesn’t seem to be offering a 3 yr pre-pay plan for the multiple service discount. Best you can do is $99 for a year ($8.25/month). And I guess there’s no gaurentee that will remain at that price, as they effectively raised the price.

Assuming that they don’t raise the MSD again (which we know is a bad assumption), the $400 lifetime pays for itself after 4 years.

But granted the $99/year MSD will increase by this time next year. So the $400 lifetime will pay for itself in less than 4 years. Probably even under 3?

]]> By: ptivo http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75102 ptivo Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:20:32 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75102 Whoo hoo!! Tivo HD coming to my household! I've had 2 series 2 lifetimes. Best deals of my life. Whoo hoo!! Tivo HD coming to my household! I’ve had 2 series 2 lifetimes. Best deals of my life.

]]> By: Fred Beiderbecke http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75098 Fred Beiderbecke Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:06:56 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75098 I figured it was worth a shot, but I am covered for almost 3 more years, is it worth at least $100 to extend that? I'm not sure. I'm on my 3rd Tivo in less than 3 years. I figured it was worth a shot, but I am covered for almost 3 more years, is it worth at least $100 to extend that? I’m not sure. I’m on my 3rd Tivo in less than 3 years.

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75086 Dave Zatz Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:05:40 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75086 Mark, Something to keep in mind - I believe MSD is $6.95 only with a 3 year commitment OR when transferring MSD service from a unit already at that price point. Also, TiVo's website has already been updated with the new $9.95/mo rate... Mark, Something to keep in mind – I believe MSD is $6.95 only with a 3 year commitment OR when transferring MSD service from a unit already at that price point. Also, TiVo’s website has already been updated with the new $9.95/mo rate…

]]> By: MHAithaca http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75084 MHAithaca Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:56:12 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75084 Fred, are you considering asking to apply the balance of your prepaid service toward a lifetime? I doubt they'll offer that openly, but it wouldn't surprise me if you could sweet-talk them into it, since they like cash. With the multi-service discount price going up from $6.95/month to $9.95/month next weekend for new activations, the math changes a bit. I think I'm about to get a TiVo HD, so I'd better do it <i>now,</i> and get in at $6.95. (I think PPP is right that at $400, lifetime takes too long to pay for itself.) Fred, are you considering asking to apply the balance of your prepaid service toward a lifetime? I doubt they’ll offer that openly, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you could sweet-talk them into it, since they like cash.

With the multi-service discount price going up from $6.95/month to $9.95/month next weekend for new activations, the math changes a bit. I think I’m about to get a TiVo HD, so I’d better do it now, and get in at $6.95. (I think PPP is right that at $400, lifetime takes too long to pay for itself.)

]]> By: Tres http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-75083 Tres Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:49:54 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2007-11/tivo-resurrects-lifetime-service-for-a-time/#comment-75083 Tivo Lovers makes it sound like this is only for new boxes. I want lifetime but I bought my tivohd box 2 months ago. Tivo Lovers makes it sound like this is only for new boxes. I want lifetime but I bought my tivohd box 2 months ago.

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