Please help me buy a DVR

Try the Hippauge video card. You can also try the "All in Wonder"
Card. But the Hippauge is better because it has an onboard tuner while
the All in Wonder relies on software decoding to some extent. Both do
not require a monthly subscription to a programming guide. Each will
run you somewhere under $100 (assuming you already have a computer).
Both will allow you to watch on your computer or send the video to your
television. You use your hard drive to store the video and you can
burn DVDs.

It is remarkably simple to set up. Open your box, plug in the card,
plug in the cables, start up the computer and you are up and running.

Sony also makes a DVR set top box that has an onboard DVD burner, but
it is quite expensive. I don't think these require a monthly
subscription. (@$1K)

The new Tivos have some cool features as well, but they require a
monthly subscription. I beleive they allow you to transfer programming
to a computer via a wi-fi connection. (@$500 for one with a decent
sized hard drive). but then something like $15 a month on top of this.

I can't comment on the Comcast boxes because I don't have Comcast. You
have quite a few options at different price points. I would go with
the first.

Good Luck!
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RedKnave wrote:
> I've broken down and decided to buy a DVR. I would greatly appreciate any
> help or advice you might be willing to give.
>
> What kind? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a better than
> average one, but I'm not enough of a techie or watch enough TV to need or
> use top of the line. Although, I can see that I might watch more TV if I
> could watch when I wanted and could skip the garbage.
>
> Do I need to buy a service (e.g., TiVO?) Or can I just do it all manually
> to record the specific programs I want?
>
> I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
>
> Any other special consideratons I'm too dumb to think to ask about?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> * kill-files, watch-lists, favorites, and more.. www.recgroups.com
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

"RedKnave" wrote in message
> I've broken down and decided to buy a DVR. I would greatly
> appreciate any help or advice you might be willing to give.

> I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?

Since you have Comcast, I would recommend this service. I hooked up with it
when it first came out and I haven't really watched 'live' TV in ages.

Comcast is about $10 a month I think or maybe $15. They own the box, so if
any new machines come out, or technology changes, you would just get a new
box. If you went with a TiVo type service, you not only would need to get a
box (free sometimes for new subscribers), but still would have to pay the
subscription fee for the service.

What I do like about the Comcast DVR, is that it works directly with my
cable TV. With TiVo, I looked at it before I went with Comcast, I would
have had to have these 2 infrared sensors pointing to the box in order for
TiVo to change the channel on the cable box. With the Dish Network, I
looked at it too, you get their DVR machine and it works with your dish so
there is no need for the sensors, but again you have the monthly service
subscription. But if you had a dish, you would go with it and not the
Comcast.

So since you have Comcast, you have no out of pocket for their DVR and it is
less than $15 a month. Bonus is that with Comcast, it is a Dual Tuner. You
can record 2 shows at the same time, EVEN WHILE WATCHING something you have
already recorded. There are times where I am recording 2 shows while I
watch something else already recorded and it is nice when there are multiple
shows on at the same time you want to record. The old VCR would not do
this.

Comcast DVR all the way, you won't regret it.

BTW, when setting up your list of shows to record. Do a search for 'poker'
and all shows will pop up. Set them up for Record Series at any time of
day. That way when 2 or more shows conflict with each other, you can cancel
1 and get it on the second airing.

DaPokerGnome
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

TiVo just released their new Series 3.  Dual tuner HD.  Kinda pricey at $799,
but if you are a TivO fan, well you gotta have it.

_______________________________________________________________
Watch Lists, Block Lists, Favorites - http://www.recpoker.com
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

On Sep 21 2006 11:08 PM, Eric wrote:

> TiVo just released their new Series 3.  Dual tuner HD.  Kinda pricey at $799,
> but if you are a TivO fan, well you gotta have it.


I already bought the Motorola dual tuner HD over a year ago at about that
price. My cable company said they will buy it back when I move. I guess
with the TiVo you can usually use it with other cable companies. With
set-tops I think each cable company programs them, and it is impossible to
take the same set-top to a different locality to use. I haven't asked if
they would re-program though.

Also, TiVo doesn't work here.

---------------------------------

4 8 15 16 23 42

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 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

On Sep 21 2006 6:43 PM, RedKnave wrote:

> I've broken down and decided to buy a DVR. I would greatly appreciate any
> help or advice you might be willing to give.
>
> What kind? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a better than
> average one, but I'm not enough of a techie or watch enough TV to need or
> use top of the line. Although, I can see that I might watch more TV if I
> could watch when I wanted and could skip the garbage.
>
> Do I need to buy a service (e.g., TiVO?) Or can I just do it all manually
> to record the specific programs I want?
>
> I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
>
> Any other special consideratons I'm too dumb to think to ask about?
>
> Thanks for your help.

Try telling comcast that you're ancelling their service because you have been
offered a better deal by one of the satellite companies which includes a DVR,
they'll soon sort you out.


_______________________________________________________________
New Feature: Mark All As Read! - http://www.recpoker.com
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:43:23 -0700, "RedKnave"
<a1b6043.TakeThisOut@webnntp.invalid> wrote:

>I've broken down and decided to buy a DVR. I would greatly appreciate any
>help or advice you might be willing to give.
>
>What kind? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a better than
>average one, but I'm not enough of a techie or watch enough TV to need or
>use top of the line. Although, I can see that I might watch more TV if I
>could watch when I wanted and could skip the garbage.
>
>Do I need to buy a service (e.g., TiVO?) Or can I just do it all manually
>to record the specific programs I want?
>
>I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
>replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
>
>Any other special consideratons I'm too dumb to think to ask about?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>______________________________________________________________________ 
>* kill-files, watch-lists, favorites, and more.. www.recgroups.com


I would try the rental from Comcast to see how you like it, especially
if you have HDTV.

If you don't have HD I would go with the Replay TV. You can find
plenty of sites that will tell you how to upgrade them with larger
hard drives for additional storage.
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

On Sep 21 2006 9:43 PM, RedKnave wrote:

> I've broken down and decided to buy a DVR. I would greatly appreciate any
> help or advice you might be willing to give.
>
> What kind? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a better than
> average one, but I'm not enough of a techie or watch enough TV to need or
> use top of the line. Although, I can see that I might watch more TV if I
> could watch when I wanted and could skip the garbage.
>
> Do I need to buy a service (e.g., TiVO?) Or can I just do it all manually
> to record the specific programs I want?
>
> I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
>
> Any other special consideratons I'm too dumb to think to ask about?
>
> Thanks for your help.

Thanks, everyone, for all of the very helpful replies. (And not a single
spam or troll post in the lot, can you believe it. Did I really post this
on RGP? LOL) I do have HDTV from Comcast. Overall, to lessen any
further techno stress (my wife is killing me over all of the components we
currently have) I think I'll start out with the Comcast service and see
how we do with it. If we really get into it, and decide we really need to
make DVDs, which I take it that the Comcast box doesn't do, we'll figure
something out later.

Thanks again!

________________________________________________________________________ 
: the next generation of web-newsreaders : http://www.recgroups.com
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

> I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?

I have Time Warner cable, and rent 2 DVRs from them. Their DVRs are cable
boxes and the DVR all in one, and it's integrated into their service.
It's $5/month more than their standard cable box, which I have to pay for
anyway.

I've looked into 3rd party, even free DVRs (MythTV I think it's called, is
a computer based DVR, provide the computer and everything else is free),
and the features/cost/convenience don't add up to what I get through TW.
I can record 2 programs at once while watching a 3rd recorded program.

Their features aren't as good as Tivo's, but for the price, it's good
enough. I can search via keyword in the existing cable guide, but I can't
tell the box to record, say, all shows with the word "poker" in them.

If you're looking to just start with a DVR, I'd rent the one from Comcast
for a few months. If you find you need something else, you can branch out
from there.

Morphy
http://donkeymanifesto.blogspot.com

---- 
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 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

> TiVo just released their new Series 3.  Dual tuner HD.  Kinda pricey at $799,
> but if you are a TivO fan, well you gotta have it.

Holy crap. I pay $5/month for my dual tuner HD DVR from Time Warner.

Morphy
http://donkeymanifesto.blogspot.com

--- 
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 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

I have two and rent both of them from my cable TV company. I thought about
buying one but figure as soon as I do they'll come out with some new feature
I'd want.

Irish Mike


"Dead Dead Money" <DeadDeadMoney.RemoveThis@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:odv6h2hl3dnu2enr5403lb2m3riq8t8l2q@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:43:23 -0700, "RedKnave"
> <a1b6043.RemoveThis@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
>
>>I've broken down and decided to buy a DVR. I would greatly appreciate any
>>help or advice you might be willing to give.
>>
>>What kind? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a better than
>>average one, but I'm not enough of a techie or watch enough TV to need or
>>use top of the line. Although, I can see that I might watch more TV if I
>>could watch when I wanted and could skip the garbage.
>>
>>Do I need to buy a service (e.g., TiVO?) Or can I just do it all manually
>>to record the specific programs I want?
>>
>>I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
>>replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
>>
>>Any other special consideratons I'm too dumb to think to ask about?
>>
>>Thanks for your help.
>>
>>______________________________________________________________________
>>* kill-files, watch-lists, favorites, and more.. www.recgroups.com
>
>
> I would try the rental from Comcast to see how you like it, especially
> if you have HDTV.
>
> If you don't have HD I would go with the Replay TV. You can find
> plenty of sites that will tell you how to upgrade them with larger
> hard drives for additional storage.
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

> > I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> > replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
>
> I have Time Warner cable, and rent 2 DVRs from them. Their DVRs are cable
> boxes and the DVR all in one, and it's integrated into their service.
> It's $5/month more than their standard cable box, which I have to pay for
> anyway.

Oh, I forgot one thing. DVR boxes have a hard drive that runs constantly.
If they get a bad batch of drives or components, or if the unit gets
bumped the wrong way, the drive can crap itself. I had one replaced due
to a drive that died, and another due to after effects of a blown power
transformer that wiped out a bunch of stuff in the house. Turn it in, get
a new one, and I didn't have to pay a cent for either box.

Morphy
http://donkeymanifesto.blogspot.com

_______________________________________________________________________ 
RecGroups : the community-oriented newsreader : www.recgroups.com
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

On Sep 22 2006 11:12 AM, XaQ Morphy wrote:

> > > I use Comcast cable. Is it worth renting their DVR box so it gets
> > > replaced whenever lightening strikes and it gets fried?
> >
> > I have Time Warner cable, and rent 2 DVRs from them. Their DVRs are cable
> > boxes and the DVR all in one, and it's integrated into their service.
> > It's $5/month more than their standard cable box, which I have to pay for
> > anyway.
>
> Oh, I forgot one thing. DVR boxes have a hard drive that runs constantly.
> If they get a bad batch of drives or components, or if the unit gets
> bumped the wrong way, the drive can crap itself. I had one replaced due
> to a drive that died, and another due to after effects of a blown power
> transformer that wiped out a bunch of stuff in the house. Turn it in, get
> a new one, and I didn't have to pay a cent for either box.
>
> Morphy
> http://donkeymanifesto.blogspot.com

Thanks, Morphy. Confirmation of my thoughts on the matter.

_______________________________________________________________________ 
: the next generation of web-newsreaders : http://www.recgroups.com
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR 

"XaQ Morphy" <a1c5905.DeleteThis@webnntp.invalid> writes:

>> TiVo just released their new Series 3.  Dual tuner HD.  Kinda pricey at $799,
>> but if you are a TivO fan, well you gotta have it.
>
> Holy crap. I pay $5/month for my dual tuner HD DVR from Time Warner.
>

Yeah, but in 160 months, he'll own his...

--
Kenneth Sloan sloan.DeleteThis@uab.edu
Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/
 >> Stay informed about: Please help me buy a DVR