Rating: 
Summary: LOVE IT!!!!!
Review: I received my TIVO recorder last week and love it. It was simple to hook up and the picture and sound are terrific even when recording at basic quality.
Rating:
Summary: LOVE IT!!!!!
Review: I received my TIVO recorder last week and love it. It was simple to hook up and the picture and sound are terrific even when recording at basic quality.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to TIVO standards
Review: I was excited to buy this DVD recorder, but after I got it home I discovered that you cannot edit out commercials and the picture quality is HORRIBLE (lots of pixelization) I returned it and got the cheaper sony RDR-GX7 (awesome picture quality and features (can edit with CD-RW).
Rating: 
Summary: Solid performance--so far
Review: I was longing after this machine for a long time and finally bought it two days ago. It was very easy to set up (although when I had a question, Pioneer customer service took forever on hold and then the person answering the phone was unhelpful), with a good Install manual (and an even easier quick-reference pamphlet), and a good User's guide. The picture is great--I'm not sure why the two people above me had troubles. I am recording in Extreme Fine and I have no complaints. I generally go by the rule that Medium quality is only for animated programs, and I use Best/Extreme Fine for everything else. DVD picture is excellent. I recorded an old videotape to the DVR hard drive and then burned it to DVD, with superb results. I set up my old TiVo in the bedroom and used wireless network adapters to link them, and now I can transfer programs from one set to the other. The DVR is able to record a new program onto the hard drive even while transferring another program from the other TiVo! And while burning a DVD, all other TiVo capabilities are available--you can watch, record a new program, etc. The burner is fairly quick (in extreme fine, it is a little faster than real time), and the interface is very easy to use. The only glitches/inconveniences I have experienced so far are: (1) programs transfer from TiVo to TiVo in slower-than-real time (ie, they take a while)--but you can watch while they transfer, if you give them a head start. (2) The Amazon description which states that you can edit a program once it is on your DVR hard drive is inaccurate--THERE IS NO EDITING FEATURE. (3) It seems impossible to transfer a program from one Tivo to the other and then burn it to DVD (the DVR says "this program is taped in an incompatible format"). (4) There is only one set of video-2 inputs on the back of the set, permitting only ONE of the following {VCR, videocamera or DVD player} to be hooked up. Another set of inputs would have been nice. (5) The 80 gig hard drive holds only about 14 hours of extreme-fine quality video--but with the capability to burn to DVD-RW that shouldn't be too confining and (6) The video inputs are composite, not component, although that is a very minor annoyance. In all, however, I am very happy with my new "toy."
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!! BEST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE!!!!
Review: I've had a Tivo Series 2 since they got released a couple years ago. When my 60 Hour died out (probably a power surge, not any known fault of the unit itself), I decided to go all out and trade it for the unit with the DVD-R.Yes, there are the general shortcomings mentioned here: the unit is a little loud, you can't edit the DVD-Rs (you record the fully recorded program, ads and all), better picture gives you less recording time, etc. That being said, it's a huge step up from a regular Tivo. The simple ability to download and store your favorite programs/films for future viewing is fantastic! The DVD quality is better than VHS, not quite what you'd get from a store-bought DVD, but that's more than reasonable. The unit also has built in componant output for higher picture quality than the Series 2's normally have, and it even looks better with composite than what mine used to. And, which I'm currently not taking advantage of it, it has optical sound output as well. As far as the noise level, we use the unit in our bedroom, and it's not anything that keeps us up at night. Yes, it's audible, but not aggravating. I highly recommend this unit if you're just starting out buying these componants. You'll be much happier with it than separate units, and the ability to burn at higher speed makes a real difference from real time.
Rating:
Summary: Great service, Great device!
Review: I've had a Tivo Series 2 since they got released a couple years ago. When my 60 Hour died out (probably a power surge, not any known fault of the unit itself), I decided to go all out and trade it for the unit with the DVD-R. Yes, there are the general shortcomings mentioned here: the unit is a little loud, you can't edit the DVD-Rs (you record the fully recorded program, ads and all), better picture gives you less recording time, etc. That being said, it's a huge step up from a regular Tivo. The simple ability to download and store your favorite programs/films for future viewing is fantastic! The DVD quality is better than VHS, not quite what you'd get from a store-bought DVD, but that's more than reasonable. The unit also has built in componant output for higher picture quality than the Series 2's normally have, and it even looks better with composite than what mine used to. And, which I'm currently not taking advantage of it, it has optical sound output as well. As far as the noise level, we use the unit in our bedroom, and it's not anything that keeps us up at night. Yes, it's audible, but not aggravating. I highly recommend this unit if you're just starting out buying these componants. You'll be much happier with it than separate units, and the ability to burn at higher speed makes a real difference from real time.
Rating: 
Summary: A piece of crap for the price !
Review: Pros:
1. Good user interface
2. You can pause live TV
Cons:
1. There is PIXELIZATION problem with this unit unless you record in fine setting. So, you have 13 hours of recording, not 80. BTW, the worst recording setting is crap !!
Tivo SUCKS !! TIVO basic will not allow to
1. Record different programs at different modes UNLESS you change the setting after the first recording and before the second one starts.
2. No TIVO promotions are applicable for TIVO basic. TIVO has a $100 rebate for all models but only if you upgrade to TIVO plus (costs $300 lifetime)
3. TIVO online scheduling is not for TIVO basic.
Even if you upgrade, you still have
1. Unreadable channel guide - TIVO tries to show as many channels and hours of programming as possible. If you do not have a 40" TV or bigger, forget trying to read the channel guide
2. You cannot edit out commercials, you can only forward through them. So your DVDs will have commercials.
3. You have to fast forward through commercials - no minute skip button.
4. TIVO will not transfer subscription (unlike Replay TV) from one box to another (in the event this unit goes bad). So even if your unit covered by warranty, you get the unit replaced but pay TIVO another $300 for lifetime service
Recommendation: Add $300 to the cost while comparing with other units. Definitely not worth $820. If you do not want DVD burning feature, suggest you go with Replay TV. If you want DVD burning (with editing), stay away from anything that is TIVO. I got a Panasonic DMR E85H - no problems so far (~ 8 days)
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Product !!!
Review: They say once you go Tivo you can't go back and they're absolutely right. This system is amazing. Recording on the Extra Fine setting is superb especially if you have an LCD tv. The High Quality is also good but not as crisp. I haven't had any problems with the pixelation as someone else mentioned. The setup was easy if you have a recent tv model. It gets a little more complicated with an older model tv. I tried to hook it up to a 10yr old tv and it would only work using the RF setup which didn't provide the full benefits. For example, I couldn't change the channels with the Tivo remote and had problems with the recording function. HOWEVER- once I set it up on my Sharp Aquos tv it worked wonderfully. You can use composite, s-video, component, or RF hook-ups. I've been using blank Memorex DVD-R/RW cds to record without a problem. It comes with a free trial of Tivo Plus which I highly recommend. It finds programs for you and allows you to find a programs by favorite actor/actress or type or title. Overall- HIGHLY RECOMMENED PRODUCT !!!
Rating:
Summary: Poor, and forget repairs
Review: Was very pleased with the spec for this product and had always felt that Pioneer products were a reliable bet. Boy was I wrong !
Being new to TiVo type services I was a little surprised at how complex and how LONG it takes to set the thing up, plus you have to have a telephone line available for setup even if you don't subsequently want to use the TiVo service
Everything worked fine for a few weeks, then the audio vanished. Tried resetting and checking signals and amp circuits, everything fine except no signal from the Pioneer RCA jack. Called Pioneer's service rep, who was quite helpful, but could only suggest I ship the unit back to them ... when did it become the buyers responsibility to ship defective goods back to the manufacturer at the customers costs (some $100 in this case)
The unit was very prompty returned - fully reset (ie another setup required) but still without RCA output from Output#1. Pioneer suggested I should use Output#2 or the Optical circuit instead i.e. they hadn't repaired it at all
All was fine on Output#2 for a few weeks, then that too failed. Am now using the Optical output and wondering how long that might work for
Oh, and the machine refuses to recognize any wireless network - there is not even the option on the menu to configure this option that the manual claims should be there
Maybe there should be a lemon law for electronics !
Rating:
Summary: Very satisfied
Review: We have had our DVR-810HS for about three months now, and love it! Picture quality is indistinguishable from live TV, so I don't know why other reviewers have had problems. Interface is simple and intuitive, and we were very happy to find that the remote that comes with the unit could recognize our ancient (18-year-old) RCA TV, something that virtually no "universal" remote has been able to do. My only complaint is that the thing has glitched a couple of times. Once, it got stuck in the "scroll down" mode. Another time, it spontaneously went into and got stuck on the "powering up" screen. But shutting the power off and turning it back on solved the problem in both cases. Overall, we are very happy with the purchase.
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