Verizon installed our cable card for free. The card itself costs $2.99 per month, which is cheaper than renting a FIOS box from them.
Can anyone answer definitively whether this can be used without paying the monthly fee? And what does the monthly fee get you, other than Tivo’s Season Pass functionality?
Another razor and blades situation. They could give the box away and still make money by collecting the $13/month subscription fee. Luckily my 2001 and 2004 ReplayTV’s (with included lifetime subscriptions) are still going strong for standard TV, and my EyeTV takes care of the HD shows. Pass.
Reading is fundamental–
“TiVo® service is required for the TiVo DVR to function and is sold separately. TiVo service and payment are subject to the terms and conditions available at www.tivo.com.”
Are these as user-friendly and expandable as the first generation TiVo units? It was easy and cheap to install a 2nd hard drive, and get more than 500 hours of recording time. Plus you could play in the Unix shell
But it includes 802.11n wireless, a slot-loading DVD player, full blown internet and there is no monthly service cost. Just add a network tuner from SiliconDust and you’re set.
The monthly service cost from TiVo averages about $15 per month. The savings on that solution vs. a TiVo pay for itself in just over a year.
what does the service cost per month?
If you don’t already have a tivo, it’s $12.95 per month, OR $129 per year OR $399 lifetime.
can you use it with out paying for service
NO!
Can this be used with Directv?
NO!
Is there a way I can remove the movies/shows
recorded here and into my computer?
MAYBE. if you have Tivo Desktop, you can transfer wirelessly BUT the program cannot have a broadcast flag. For example, anything on HBO is copy protected these days. Tivo Desktop is great, and with Desktop plus, it will auto convert for ipad/ipod.
Will this thing hook up to my computer (meaning I can watch video, edit video, get screen grabs, etc. on my computer), and
NO. You can use it with HDMI if your monitor supports it, but it’s only a monitor.
If I buy this, what do I need to ask the cable company for? Besides their blessing?