It’s not every day I recommend a deal on last years product line. However, $99 for a TiVo HD (with free shipping) is certainly worth considering as someone new to the TiVo experience. Because, as it stands and for most, the Premiere isn’t yet $200 better than the HD. Whichever route you go (Premiere or HD), of course TiVo service fees will be part of the equation. I had thought there was a $99 pre-pay dealio for a year of service, but it looks like we’re up to $130. Or you could go month to month: $12.95 billed at 30 day intervals. TiVo still offers discounts for multi-unit households. But if you fall into that category, you’d likely be better off getting in on one of the Premiere upgrade options.
That’s a damn good deal. But it gets even better.
They’re also selling the refurb TiVo HD XL for $199.
(Also, if you’ve got very basic computer repair skills, you can put a new AV 1GB drive into the $99 TiVo HD refurb for $80 in half an hour, leaving a total cost of $180 for a 1GB TiVo HD, while getting a free 120GB drive for other purposes in the bargain.)
Considering that all sane folks run the classic UI on the Premiere, your $180 or $199 hi-cap DVR will be just as good as the Premiere, with the only exception being that transfer speeds of HD material out of the TiVo to your other computers for archival/editing purposes will be slower, which is likely not an issue for 95% of users, and is only a relatively minor issue for the other 5%.
Actually, I’d also take the HD XL over the Premiere because I’m a huge fan of the Glo remote. As for me, my cable provider (Cox) has locked things down so tight (w/ CCI byte) that TTG and MRV only work for the locals – which mostly kills any benefit I would have gotten from those transfer speed improvements.
“As for me, my cable provider (Cox) has locked things down so tight (w/ CCI byte) that TTG and MRV only work for the locals”
Sell your house or break your rental lease. For the sake of the poor suffering bytes, get up and move. Won’t anybody think of the poor suffering bytes?
Remember, in terms of real estate, only three things matter:
1) FIOS availability
2) FIOS availability
3) Location
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(My nightmare scenario next year is that LeBron signs with the Knicks, which would mean that I would have to get my service from Time-Warner if I wanted the Knicks games in HD, which means I would have to leave FIOS CCI byte paradise.)
any indication how long this deal will run?
The Premiere upgrade options from TiVo are an insult. I have 2 TiVo HDs, both with lifetime service and the “discount” TiVo will give me for a new Premiere unit with lifetime service is $498. I don’t see how TiVo can think an upgrade from a TiVo HD to a TiVo Premiere is worth five hundred bucks.
I guess I made the assumption you’d make some money if you chose to unload a Lifetimed unit. If you don’t have a Lifetimed unit, the Premiere is $240. Although I believe some have seen it for less?
I had a Lifetimed S3 and a $6.95/mo THD. I’m sliding the Premiere into the THD’s slot. I’m in no rush to experiment with Windows 7 since the Ceton card is delayed yet again and MS extenders are still MIA.
“I’m in no rush to experiment with Windows 7 since the Ceton card is delayed yet again and MS extenders are still MIA.”
No need to rush. I’m sure a whole rig setup will run like a dream by the time of Windows 12.
BTW, have you heard the new Microsoft slogan? Proudly bringing you Windows, Office, and a boatload of proof-of-concept “products” for the past 20 years…
Unfortunately the multi-unit discounts do not apply to this web special per their FAQ. “Multi-service discount pricing does not apply to Web Specials.”
That’s why they add $30.00 to the yearly service cost that would otherwise apply with the multi-unit discount.
I got this promo email and was very tempted to pickup an HD unit to record OTA broadcasts (thank you, U-Verse for only giving me 3SD/1HD instead of 2SD/2HD), but realized that most summer shows are now going to be on cable, so I’ll wait and see how it’s going to play out.