Poll: So what's your reaction to the TiVo Premiere?
By Richard Lawler 
posted March 3rd 2010 4:00PM
posted March 3rd 2010 4:00PM
posted March 3rd 2010 4:00PM
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This new Tivo box did not impress me at all. I feel like this was Tivo's last resort and they missed the mark again. I know we have just been hearing rumors, but I'm anxiously waiting for the new set-top box that people are talking about that is supposed to be announced this Spring. It sounds like its going to blow Tivo, Boxxee, and all these others out of the water.
@zerotwone I have no idea what you're talking about, and I follow this stuff religiously. So... what are you talking about?
@Fanfoot Like others, I'm not impressed with this Tivo release. I think they missed the mark.
Disappointed - my two biggest issues with the Series 3:
- OTA Signal (strength/quality) no visible when changing channels or
pressing "Info".
- No way to enter OTA (virtual) channel numbers like 4-1 (no 'dash' or 'dot' button on the remote).
I can see the second issue is not addressed, don't know about 1st.
I think TiVo should focus on integrating the recorded content and recording capability of other TiVos already in your house before third-party media partner content. Web video is a nice add on, but I feel the true strength of TiVo is recording and playing back TV, and the new model does nothing to improve upon that core competency. I'm disappointed that there is no solution for having multiple ToDo lists, multiple Now Playing lists, and multiple Tuners, with no consolidation or coordination. One Now Playing List, one ToDo list, and coordination of all tuners, regardless of which TiVo I'm using.
I think they should focus on improving the core TiVo features to get their existing. loyal customers to upgrade, instead of adding new bolt-on features that probably aren't compelling enough to get new users to adopt.
@Carlton Bale Actually there were hints of per-user show lists etc in the pictures that Engadget posted...
I like the chassis, and I think I like the keyboard. The new interface is a step in the right direction. But two tuners per box and no load-balancing between multiple boxes? It's not 2003 anymore, and people are past the novelty of a DVR. It's time to bring more horsepower to the table, TiVo.
TiVo has done some good work here, but there is so much more to do it doesn't seem like it'll ever catch up.
no tru2way support
no integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi ($90 USB dongle)
Bluetooth slider QWERTY keyboard is not standard
no DLNA / UPnP support
no Gigabit Ethernet
@raaaaaa no web browser/no Hulu, no apps, no DivX/Xvid, no ripped DVDs, no iPhone remote control or other integration, no advanced conflict resolution, no only record one of these per day, no record all episodes and organize by original broadcast date, no MoCA support (preferable to built-in 802.11n even), no Apple TV level photo viewing, no remote delete, only limited remote access, no slingplayer built in, no ...
I'd like to see a box with 4 tuners and two 1 TB HDDs (in case 5 video streams is too much for a single HDD).
I am upset for several reasons. the main reason fro me is that, yes the local cable provider sucks, but they do not offer Multi-Stream CableCards. So now with this TiVo, I can only record one show at a time. It is amazing that they don't have a WiFi built in, but they put bluetooth in it for the remote. They removed the discounts for the loyal customers, even if it is a minor amount, they should honor they current customers. They are trying to get people to upgrade to the new service, but they don't change the policy on transfering the lifetime subscriptions. They could make more money if they allowed you to transfer your lifetime memberships to the new machine, this would allow you to sell your old machine and then they would have new customers or people adding receivers and paying for memberships for that receiver. They stated that inventing the DVR was just a warm-up, it seems that they are still warming up.
It's so easy for Tivo to make a great UI. Take out this whole new UI, go back to the old one. If you want, use HD graphics but SD is really fine for things like an on screen guide. But make things basic, take the Apple approach. Look at Media Center. Media Center has a great UI, it is pretty basic to use but at the same time you can drill down into more depth. But the over all look at feel is pretty basic. When I had a Tivo I never used anything outside of the on screen guide and recorded TV. Everything else just seemed like it was too much to use. I'm a big tech guy and always am building systems and whatnot, but I like things to be simple and elegant. That's why I use to have an iPhone, it was simple and elegant. And I say use to because the wife accidentally put it in the washer so I decided to try out a Nexus One, which is also pretty simple to use but you can drill down into more depth if you want to.
I'm not impressed. While TiVo has addressed the GUI issues with improvements, the technology has progressed far beyond this. Additionally, in the realworld of CableCos which discourage TiVo use, thousands of TiVo owners are finding their TiVos loosing channels, un-synching from the CableCo network, rebooting, and experiencing a host of other problems. This is because three key components, the cablecard/s, the TiVo, and the SDV add-on box must synch perfectly. This kludged together system is fraught with problems and poor error checking and recovery. Until true2way becomes a reality to fix these systemic problems, TiVo will have a tough time.
I currently own 3 TiVoHDs and I'm not impressed. I think the UI is much nicer looking than the current one, but besides that, what did they add? Not much. From a hardware perspective I am dissappointed in the lack of 3+ tuners and no integrated wifi and/or MoCa. It just doesn't seem like a premium product based on the hardware, so I'm not going to pay a premium price for it.
One of the biggest changes seems to be on the search, but I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I have used TiVo search in the 2.5 years I've had Tivo. If I want to record a show, I either just go to the guide and browse to the timeslot or I schedule it from my computer. Now the new search and qwerty remote may make the tivo search better, but I don't see how it will be that much bettter, especially when you factor in the additional cost of the remote.
Certainly the guts are must faster than the current TiVoHD, so in the future much more could be added via software. But as of right now, there is nothing that intrigues me about the box.
I went with "other." I like it, but being a current S3 owner, not enough new to make me upgrade. Once they throw in Tru2way, I'll be all over it.
Btw, I definitely like the lack of wifi included, if I want wifi, I'd rather be able to upgrade to the latest/fastest wifi, rather than be locked into whatever is the current flavor when they design this unit.