What is TIVO?

Jim Beaver · 10-15-2003, 03:31 PM

Hi i just recently heard of this Tivo thing? I don't know what it is or anything? Can someone explain? Is it an American thing i live in Canada and ive only heard of Tivo mentioned on American channels.

10-15-2003, 03:34 PM

http://www.tivofaq.com/

Jim Beaver · 10-15-2003, 03:38 PM

Thanks but the FAQ didn't really help me. I just want a normal answer without a faq confusing me.

Patrick Sun · 10-15-2003, 03:51 PM

Think of a Tivo as a computer that records TV shows on a hard drive, and by downloading the Channel Guide (a subscription service), a recording schedule is used to tell Tivo what show to record, when to record it, and for how long to record the show.

It's a souped up VCR in that you have random access to any recording, and you never have to rewind the tape. If you watch a lot of TV, Tivo will change the way you watch your favorite shows because you watch the shows at your leisure and convenience, and commercials can be skipped much more quickly than if you were watching a VHS tape.

The interface is pretty intuitive, and you just scroll around, find the record show you want, and then select it for playback.

Robert_J · 10-15-2003, 03:59 PM

Some digital video recorders (DVR) record like a VCR. You pick a program to record and and it sets a start and stop time like a VCR. That's good until the networks decide to change things on you. Tivo is name based recording. If a program moves time slots, Tivo will find it. If it runs a two hour special, Tivo records all of it. If you like an actor, director or a sports team, tell Tivo. It will record anything with that name. Turn on Suggestions and Tivo will record shows it thinks you might like.

I hate to watch TV without my Tivo.

-Robert

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MarkHastings · 10-15-2003, 04:37 PM

I can only speak on behalf of the ReplayTV, but it's basically the same thing as TiVo.

The best part is I can be in the process of recording a program and still watch programs that have already been recorded...all at the same time

Or even better, if the show is 15 minutes into its recording, I can play it back from the beginning while the unit is still in the process of recording the rest of the show.

Let's see a VCR do that wihtout creating a rip in the space time continuum.

Michael*K · 10-15-2003, 06:28 PM

TiVo is a life changing experience! :b I never buy a TV Guide anymore. Never check the TV listings in the newspaper either. I just trust my TiVo to record all my favorite shows every week since I've set up Season Passes for them. Plus the built-in guide that is updated daily provides me with information about all other shows I might have a passing interest in. Even the TiVo Suggestions feature works well. It's recorded several outstanding shows based on my preferences. When shows are recorded, they can be sorted by date or by category...neatly placing multiple shows of series in individual folders. I was terrible writing titles on tapes when I used a VCR. With TiVo it doesn't matter because the name of the show is right there, along with the date it was recorded, as well as a detailed description of the show itself. And Mark mentioned maybe my favorite features...the ability to watch shows that were previously recorded while a new program is recorded and the ability to watch shows from the beginning that you might have walked in late on.

Ted Lee · 10-15-2003, 08:35 PM

"the best thing since sliced bread!"

read the thread right below this one...some good explanations of how a pvr works.

Jim Beaver · 10-19-2003, 10:24 AM

I never asked this before but is TIVO available in Canada? I don't know anybody who has it or heard of it before i found out about it.

Michael Reuben · 10-19-2003, 02:14 PM

Quote:

but is TIVO available in Canada?

Unfortunately, no.

http://www.tivo.com/1.6.1.asp#9

M.

MarkHastings · 10-19-2003, 03:35 PM

Jim, have you heard of ReplayTV ? According to the web site, it's available in North America. It's pretty much the same as TiVo. It's obviously debateable, but I think it's actually better.