Remember the
dual tuner TiVos we
heard about a few weeks back? Well, surprise, surprise, they're real and are more or less
exactly as called. The two models feature a
single cable / RF in jack with internal splitter, which allows you to record two analog programs simultaneously, or one
analog and one tuned from your digital cable box. Beside the fact that now your
TiVo now has dual tuners, it (freaking finally) has integrated
Ethernet; starting May 1st you can expect to pony up $199.99 for the 180-hour TCD649180, or $99.99 for the 80-hour
TCD649080, both after $150 rebate and service activation.
Baby steps to the Series3,
patience people.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mak @ Apr 25th 2006 1:10PM
My DVR from the cable company has dual digital tuners. Why would anybody want to record anything in analog? It will probably look no better than my old Tivo looked recording analog, which was bad enough on my 50" LCD that I got rid of it in the first place. I don't see a market for this in the long run. Tivo has no viable strategy to stay relevant and in business.
Davide @ Apr 25th 2006 1:27PM
dual tuner is a must have if you are buying a box. Digital is also a must have over here in europe at least.
Neekoh @ Apr 25th 2006 1:36PM
A fairly big percentage of the cable market still use analog and there are, I'm sure, quite a number of people without cable. TiVo needs to hit this market. The Series 3 should have dual-tuner digital and is slated to come out later this year, so I think there is quite a viable business model here (if not, the assets, brand, and customer base certainly is worth the buyout.)
Pacey @ Apr 25th 2006 1:38PM
if TiVo want's to keep any market share, they need to quit dicking around and release the Series 3 already. Every day they wait, another person goes MCE or Cable Co. and once they are gone, how does TiVo expect to get them back charging 20 bucks a month for something they can get from their cable co for 5 or from Microsoft for free.
I had every intention of waiting for the series 3 to come out... a year ago. I've moved on and the only way TiVo can get me back would be to charge for the box and nothing else, not this crappy monthly subscription model they have now.
Ewen @ Apr 25th 2006 2:03PM
That stupid logo of theirs looks idiotic, plonked right there in the middle like that - it's not bloody Fisher-Price!
Chris @ Apr 25th 2006 2:03PM
Mak - For the vast majority of cable systems in the US, "digital cable" is only digital for channels above 100. Also 90% of households don't have an HDTV so HDTV programming is pointless for them. Thus even for people who have digital cable these Tivos will look just as good recording channels under 100 as their "digital cable" DVR box.
jjd @ Apr 25th 2006 2:32PM
Might be interesting to me if it were dual ATSC tuners and not dual NTSC tuners.
The DirecTivo HR10-250 I've had for over a year can record two HD streams simultaneously from two ATSC sources, two DirecTV (HD or not) sources or any combination. Now that's useful!
eddie @ Apr 25th 2006 2:56PM
The TiVo series 3 is going to be so far superior to all the other DVR's on the market that it is going to tip the scales toward TiVo completely.
Nort @ Apr 25th 2006 3:19PM
I used to have a TIVO until my cable company started offering a dual HD digital tuner, which I switched to over a year ago. It's too bad the Series 3 hasn't been released yet. TIVO seems way behind the times.
micah @ Apr 25th 2006 3:36PM
What's the deal with HD everyone.
You guys are a bunch of early adopter super nerds. I appreciate your earlier adoption but please realize that the rest of the US doesn't have an HD tv and there's hardly any HD content. When the cable networks start doing all their programing in HD you might see some people but lets get real you guys... is there even a reason to record two HD stream at the same time?
Dignan17 @ Apr 25th 2006 3:36PM
Ryan, could we get a release date added to the post? I think that would be helpful. I mistook the product post and the product reviews as signs that the product was released, especially considering there was no mention that it wasn't out yet.
eugene @ Apr 25th 2006 3:44PM
when does this drop engadget? i'm on the verge of getting tivo (finally) and this is making me want to wait (no point in waiting for S3, since i don't have an HD display or HD channels, at least i don't now).
Tom @ Apr 25th 2006 5:50PM
How does this gibe with the new TiVo pricing? I thought there was no more hardware costs, just a higher monthly fee.
zona @ Apr 25th 2006 10:16PM
Does this mean my TV's picture-in-picture will work now? There is no way (that I know of) do that with that with my series 1 DirecTivo. Am I right on that?
Ryan Block @ Apr 26th 2006 10:03AM
Release date added -- sorry, TiVo hadn't passed that along when I'd written up the post. Thanks!
Best, Ryan
Fred Wagner @ May 1st 2006 11:04AM
To the poster that said "What is the deal with HD"?
There is a big deal and there is plenty of content. Say primetime on the major networks, ESPN, ESPN2, HBO HD, et al. Those are the ones we watch. The HD is worth it to me for the networks alone. I use an over the air antenna for HD locals and then D* for the rest. Fred
TY @ May 3rd 2006 12:25AM
you can go with the new subscription no upfront fee offer for hhigher monthly or just go to circuit city and buy what ever model you want and pay the reg $12.95 for first tivo and $6.95 a month for each additional. its not rocket science. as chris said above 1-100 channels are analog the rest are digital or high def, so these new dual tuner unit are great. i'm getting the 180hr and then series 3 for my hd sony. if you have a family, i suggest everyone upgrade with weaknees.com to 300hr+ minimum and record at top quality. we have 2 300hr and are always having to delete too early.
dude @ Jul 2nd 2006 1:36AM
I have a question. I have heard that you can download files from tivo 2 straight onto portable media devices, such as the Gigabeat S series, Is that true? cause if it is that could be very useful.