Buy a TiVo starting September 6, get a service contract

We know how much people hate paying for service on their gadgets—let alone being under service contracts for said service. But damned if TiVo didn't just totally stick it to their user base by instituting a $150 "service commitment" cancellation fee if you should happen to drop your TiVo service within the first year. Seriously, it's right there in their newly amended service agreement. Granted,
they don't necessarily have to exercise this newly annexed right of theirs to hit you with more fees, but Tivo,
seriously, we can think of a variety of revenue streams you could pursue that won't have this kind of bad PR value, and that don't involve pounding your customers for cash in every possible legally allowable way. Like, um, how about selling your software for the PC like we've been saying for forever? That's a start.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Update

: PVR Wire pointed out that no, this doesn't necessarily apply to all TiVo users who buy their device, but merely the ones who have "applicable Service Agreements," like the one you might get if you filed for a rebate. We understand the system—they don't want rebaters cancelling or not activating service—but we're still not happy about this read-the-fine-print policy that's being instated. Hence, the TiVo logo of this post will stay sad.