TiVo Series3 High Definition Digital Video Recorder

Expensive...but still a good value

By Randy  Mar 14, 2009 | 1 out of 2 found this TiVo Series3 High Definition review helpful

Pros: Good design, front panel display shows what is being recorded, works with wi-fi G adapter and your broadband network, very simple and intuitive interface, comes with premium Tivo backlit remote, excellent picture and sound quality

Cons: A bit pricey, but refurbished models are available direct from Tivo on occassion that come with the full new product warranty.

I used Comcast DVRs for a couple of years but after a number of replacements by the cable company...none correcting the problem...I was ready to give up on DVRs altogether. Even the Comcast techicians admitted that their boxes were riddled with problems. I seriously considered returning to a digital set-top box and my VCR, but a friend suggested Tivo. I was put off by the price and figured one DVR was the same as another, but I could not have been more wrong.

We purchased a refurbished box from Tivo with a lifetime subscription to the service (a $400 additional investment up front). I had never used the service and was unsure if I'd like it, but the rep assured me I had 30 days to return it for any reason for a full refund if I wasn't happy with it.

Within two days of having this DVR I wondered how I knew that TV would never be the same. It was so awesome that we immediately ordered a second unit for our bedroom.

With everything hooked up on our wireless network we can enjoy multi room viewing, Tivo to Go, and many other features (a previous review from 2006 said these features were not available, however they are available now.)

We also subscribed to Netfilx and for about $9 per month we can enjoy one DVD at a time mailed to us, plus an online video on demand catalog of over 12,000 other movies and tv shows available at no additional cost.

I can also download movies from Amazon that I can either rent or buy at a very reasonable cost, which virtually eliminates the need for trips to the video store.

So consider this...I spent approximately $800 per DVR as my initial investment. We enjoy awsome DVR performance, no trips to the video store and have all but eliminated going to the movie theatre. A trip to the movies alone with a family of four with tickets, popcorn and sodas can easily cost close to $100 for one movie...and your never sure if you'll like it. We can watch four or five movies a month without ever leaving home and saving a tremendous amount. At our current rate, both of these machines will have paid for themselves in a year or less.

Expensive? Yes...initially. But when you start looking at all you get for your money, this is an awesome value.