Rating: 
Summary: Great product, new low price, Amazon was helpful
Review: Just to begin by replying to a previous review... The fact that TiVo is on all the time is good! This prevents wear on the system and the hard drive. Think about your computer, all the experts advise leaving it on instead constantly turning it on and off... I bought my TiVo recently and Amazon just credited me with the price difference since the TiVo just dropped in price dramatically. The TiVo set-up was long, but simple. The 800 number was assuring since I don't live in a major metropolitan area. I got the lifetime subscription and the $100 Direct TV rebate, so I wound up paying a lot less for my unit overall than for the competition which I checked out. There are no long distance calls with TiVo! I don't save anytime during the day, I still watch 5 hours of TV every night, but now it's quality TV, not just channel surfing. I can also watch more good tv in less time, you can quickly scan through commercials, like a VCR, but you can do it while recording the item. If you start watching a show about 6 to 7 minutes in, while recording it on your TiVo, you can skip the commercials while watching and catch up to live TV without missing anything! It's really easy too! And now the same price as a good VCR, but it's much better. I'm the envy of all my techie-friend! END
Rating:
Summary: It's Here To Stay
Review: Personal television recorders, or PTRs, such as Tivo, are here to stay and will only get better. I have found this unit to be an outstanding product. Here are my observations: (1)Setup was remarkably easy, but it is best to start the initial programming at night (it takes a few hours for the unit to set up the program guide the first time out); (2) The unit seamlessly integrates cable and satellite channels (no more switching between inputs on my tv); (3) setting up programs to record couldn't be easier (unless you find pressing one or two buttons difficult); 4) sound and video quality are more than acceptable; and (5) there's no more hunting for the right spot on a video tape to find a program to watch or to make sure you're not recording over something you want to keep. The ability to pause and even rewind live programs made the bowl watching season a whole new experience. Phone calls, restroom breaks or trips to the kitchen no longer mean that you might miss out on the action. Even if you're just not paying attention or you just didn't understand what someone said, you won't miss anything.
Rating: 
Summary: Tivo great, Phillips stinks.
Review: No doubt Tivo is the invention of the millenium, if you love TV (especially sports) like I do. But Phillips Tivo units are the worst electronic product I think I have ever purchased. There is a reason their warranty is 'limited' and after 90 days you will pay something to get it fixed. Every Phillips Tivo unit I've had, including the new 7000 unit, has broken in under a year, but over the 90 day full guarantee. And don't think you are actually going to talk to someone at Phillips, not without giving them your credit card # you aren't. Unfortunately, it appears the new Directv Tivo units are made by Phillips. Ugh. Bad choice, Directv.
Rating:
Summary: Live the future of TV now, get a TiVo!
Review: The Philips TiVo HDR312 Personal TV Receiver is a must have! For a first generation product it works extremely well. Pause live TV to go to make a snack or let the dog out and when you return you can watch the entire show right where you left off and not miss a thing since its still recording what's airing live. The Season Pass feature makes recording the shows simple and head ache free. Don't worry about the networks moving shows around since TiVo will automatically find the change and still record them for you. TiVo learns your Favorites Shows by your rating of them and will record shows based on the profile it builds on you. Don't worry, this is all done in the box and the information is not sent to TiVo. So your likes and dislikes remain private. TiVo is very simple to hook up to your TV and telephone line. It normally takes less than 10 minutes to hook up. You will have to program it upon the first use which will require a 2-3 hour call to a 1-800 number. You can leave TiVo unattended once it starts. There after TiVo will call a local or 1-800 number to update its listings and content daily. In my experience TiVo's Customer Care is very good if your TiVo should develop a problem.
Rating:
Summary: A must purchase for max couch-potato efficiency!
Review: listen...you're life will never be the same with TiVo. I didn't convert until my two brothers kept recommending this product. Now you can watch AND record TiVo shows at the same time. If you miss the beginning/end - it doesn't matter - you can slew to whatever point in the recorded program. Sounds inconsequential, but it isn't when you've missed the beginning of the nightly news, that all so important soap opera, or whatever your fancy. One of the best features is the fast forward/rewind 3-speed scan - once you hit play, it plays back at the last visual pause/transition, starting you at your program. The unit starts 'learning' your TV preferences by content; there's also a personal voting scale so the unit can start learning and recording on downtimes. This is great for reruns - but becomes troublesome to delete constantly if you record at high quality resolution or have a ton of shows lined up. Also, there a 'season pass' that essentially records the specified show whenever it appears in the tv lineup; this is a problem if you'd like to override just one of the shows for an alternate specific show. You'll just have to revert back to manual setting of time/date recording. Oh, the setting of time/day recording like VCRs is over, you can search and select by show name, search by type of subject matter (drama, news, etc). The term 'product' is misleading - this machine is a computer with one/two hardrives, a modem that allows for updates, all the current input options (satellite, S-video, RCA) and comes with all the cables you'll need and more. The all-knowing eye semantics on the front facia is a bit ominous, but true to its function. (...) Get a unit with one harddrive if you've got the choice...research a bit and you'll see why if you're a hacker. The folks who designed and put all this together should get some sort of couch-potato award.
Rating:
Summary: The best electronics device in decades!!
Review: I guarantee, TiVo will forever change the way you watch TV:
* phone rings? No problem - just hit pause.
* show on late and you have to get up early? No problem - just a couple of clicks to the show, hit select, and bingo, you got it!
* have a favorite actor? Super - just tell TiVo the name and voila you got movies he's in.
* don't even know what you'd like? Fine - TiVo will pay attention to what you watch and record shows that you will probably like.
TiVo is the bomb! Instead of being at the mercy of the networks, there will *always* be something good on TV...TV *your* way.
Do yourself a *big* favor and get a TiVo.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't get the Lifetime service subsciprion.
Review: I love this machine. I can't imagine living with out it. But rather than list its wonderful features, I want to provide you with a warning. When you buy your unit, you have the option of getting a service subsciption that turns your Tivo into a very smart Tivo indeed. You can pay per month, or buy a "lifetime" subscription. Don't buy a "lifetime" service subscription because the hard drive can go bad fairly easily. Furthermore, the term "lifetime" is deceptive. If the machine dies, so does the subscription. If you upgrade to a newer, better machine, you'll have to buy a new subscription. Note: you can buy upgrade/replacement kits for the hardrives on the these machines, but they are almost as expensive as buying a new unit. So don't buy a lifetime subscription. Another Note: you don't need the service for the basic machine to work; you need the subscription for the advanced features -- like 'season passes' to work.
Rating:
Summary: NO MORE COMERCIALS FOR ME!!!!
Review: This product has totally revolutionized my life, i know longer have to stop doing my work just to watch some of my favorite shows, there all recorded!!! The most tedious part of the TIVO experiance is probably the setup, as you have to tell the tivo what shows to have a season pass to, and what shows you like and what shows you hate. Although the series two seems to be making the tivo somehow better i cannot see how they can achieve this. It is a master peice. Definatley the best purchase in the last 5 years for me.
Rating:
Summary: I love my Tivo!!!!!
Review: My wife gave me Tivo last Christmas. It is the greatest single item I think I have ever owned. Its like having your own network. It has lived up to each and every claim the company has made and them some. I think the only live tv I watch now is the news, and sometimes I pause it so I can zip through the commercials. Tivo records all my favorite shows and movies, etc. and they are always recorded for me to watch when I want, not when there on. With cable I am able to get such a variety of my favorites I cannot keep up with them. This sure is better then a VCR. If you dont have Tivo, I say buy it!
Rating: 
Summary: TIVO HDR 312
Review: The product performed flawlessly for 9 months. This product, combined with TIVO service works as advertised. I initially experienced reduced video quality upon initial hookup, but then added a monster video cable and video quality was restored. No loss of quality when I used the medium quality setting. Unfortunately, the modem shorted after 9 months. Sears refused to fix it, even though I took their extended warranty. They refunded my full purchase price. But-Warning, take the monthly TIVO service, and an extended warranty. I paid for the lifetime product subscription, and the product only lasted 9 months.
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