Re: TiVo
 

I could always hang it back up, and charge him £40 "installation"

Re: TiVo
 

Didn't she say that 5 months ago?

BBC Red Button might be a start!

Re: TiVo
 

She told me they were in talks for ESPNA HD over 12 months ago :rolleyes:

Re: TiVo
 

Looking forward to getting TiVo again.

I think TiVo S1 cost £450 when it was launched in the UK, + £10 per month or £200 for lifetime service. I couldn't afford that, but when the last of them were for sale at £150 in Comet, I was delighted to get one, probably 2004 or thereabouts? Didn't do the lifetime subs, so paid about £600 in monthly subs until I changed to V+ in Nov 2009. Incidentally, before getting it, my wife grumbled about "VCR perfectly OK, don't need new tech." When it was over a year old and out of warranty and I was going to change the 40GB (yes, 0.04TB!) HDD to 120GB, she instead was worried, "what if you break it, we can't live without TiVo!"

So I was sad to stop using my TiVo S1, but the press release about Virgin contracting TiVo to develop the new boxes came out on the day that the V+ was installed, which seemed like a good omen!

It has been a long time coming, I've followed the news and rumours here and on DS and TiVo Community every day over the last 16 months, pre-reg'd on Dec 1st, didn't get a free remote, didn't win the other draw, did get my Hello Dean email today, and I'll definitely be ordering one. As you can see above, I wasn't an early adopter on S1, but £450 was a lot of money to me back then, £149+£40 is much more manageable, £3/month better than £10.

Nobody's being forced, but I think most people that pay up will be happy with what they get, and despite the disappointment of many posters on here, it doesn't matter whether you call the different fees activation, installation, whatever, pre-regs are getting £50 off the publicised price.

Derek

Re: TiVo
 

I think half the problem here is that if the 1st and only price/way to get your hands on a TiVo was £190 then that wouldn't be so bad. It's the fact that everyone else so far has either had one completely free including monthly sub, or a flat £149 charge which includes installation.

So in fact not only have they had it months before everyone else, they also got it completely free in some cases! :shocked:

Now VM expect me to pay £190 whilst also being at least 2 months late to the party.

Re: TiVo
 

They way I look at it pre-regs are getting £50 off the publicised price because the publicised price is inclusive of the standard £49 HD activation fee. As many pre-regs have already paid a HD activation fee at some stage, myself included, Virgin aren't really jumping through hoops to offer us a truly great deal. They simply couldn't ask pre-reg customers who have already paid for HD activation in the past, to pay the fee all over again.

I could well be wrong, and someone will undoubtedly correct me, however this is my own view and opinion on their deal.

Re: TiVo
 

Yay!!! Just got a corrective email from VM. They know I'm not called Dean, finally... :-)

It's a shame it still mentions a £40 installation fee :-(

Re: TiVo
 

Just got a new email:

I had to laugh at the title. :D

To be fair though, the account it my parents' and is in my Mum's name. ;)

Re: TiVo
 

New email arrived from VM with proper name. Same price though.

Re: TiVo
 

I'm not Dean either, I was getting used to it as well.

Re: TiVo
 

I wonder if that email will also go to peeps called Dean........

Re: TiVo
 

Pretty much same feelings as most on here on DS

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1455711

Re: TiVo
 

I wonder if they'll be clever enough to avoid this scenario.

Edit: With due deference to Cozmic, of course.

Re: TiVo
 

Haha getting there but still not right

My name is not Dean and its not S either :mad:

Re: TiVo
 

This is probably going to sound like a really dumb question, but can anyone who currently has TiVo please confirm that it has the basic functionality of the V+HD, such as fast forwarding at different speeds (x2, x6, x12, x30), pausing and rewinding live TV, being able to stop playback of a recording and then resume from the same point etc?

Cheers

Re: TiVo
 

Yes it does

Re: TiVo
 

I don't think you can start at a set minute like the current V+ but I'm not sure.

Re: TiVo
 

No you can't however it's much easier to skip within a recording i.e. you get 15 min markers throughout any recording alongside the usual FF/RWD options

Re: TiVo
 

plus the jump 30 seconds at a time as well.

Re: TiVo
 

When I had Sky you could start a programme an hour in even when it was still recording that programme. Handy for going straight to the kick-off. The V+ doesn't let you do that, you have to start from the beginning of the programme and wait for it to fast forward.

Does anyone know if the TiVo box let's you start from anywhere when it's still recording the programme?

I just got an apology email as well, they said they know I am not called Deeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnn.

Re: TiVo
 

I've never use that. What's the reason to use it? I either start at the beginning or where I last stopped.

Re: TiVo
 

BTW it's culmnative.

Hit 30 second skip 3 times and you'll skip exactly 1min 30 ;)

Re: TiVo
 

Oh it was answered while I typed!

Re: TiVo
 

You can watch a program while it's still recording on V+ I think.

Re: TiVo
 

If the box crashes while you are watching a recording it doesn't remember where you were stopped. Trust me my V+ crashes that much that it's a necessary feature! :rolleyes:

Re: TiVo
 

You beat me to it and that has happened to me a few times.

Re: TiVo
 

Yup got the same thing, the data must be few days old because I updated the name on my account using the new VM Customer Zone the other day:rolleyes:. No price change though !!

Re: TiVo
 

The name on My VM is only used on My VM as far as I'm aware, it doesn't update the name of the billing account (which is where they would pull the name from for the emails)

Re: TiVo
 

Just had a new email .....

Did we say Dean? We meant Dean.

Hello Dean,

We're sorry about the last email we sent you! We know you're not called Dean. Here's your real update on getting our TiVo® service.

:D

Re: TiVo
 

First post on this forum,been using S1 Tivo since 2001 did not get special deal on new VM Tivo as was mooted in an earlier post. was very keen on getting the 'new HD VMTivo,now not so sure, very disappointed with Virginmedias' media fiasco, and my name is not Dean either!

Re: TiVo
 

TiVo only has 3 FF/RW speeds and these are undefined.

As others have said there are buttons for skip back 8 seconds and jump forward 30 seconds as well as a slow motion button so you can play director when watching sports :D

Re: TiVo
 

remember you have to pay £20.50 for hd on 2 boxes on sky

Re: TiVo
 

Brilliant :D

Re: TiVo
 

Undecided if I will pay the £189 or not, am usually very good at haggling with VM though.. might wait a couple months then try it.

Re: TiVo
 

I would have said yes a couple of hours ago, but I have just discovered that you can't copy your stored programmes to DVD, and thats a big thing for me, especially when I've just bought myself a new DVD recorder, so I'm struggling to make a decision at the moment, and yes there was also the £40 installation fee, that's also a bit of a put off

Re: TiVo
 

You can copy them to DVD, it's just that you have to be playing the programme when recording it.

You can always do it when you're using the TV to watch a DVD or something similar.

Re: TiVo
 

Hi All,

I've had TV XL and the V+HD since Jan 2011 and love the look of the new TIVO box (i've been on youtube and seen it in action) but i'm wondering what ebay and the other internet apps are like to control with a remote?

My opinion of the email/deal is this..

£149.95 one-off activation fee exclusively for existing customers
£3 additional monthly fee with TV XL
£40 installation fee applies.
TiVo box remains property of Virgin Media

Hmmm, too expensive i reckon. :td:

Throw in SKY ATLANTIC HD, add SKY1 etc to On-Demand and wave the installation fee and we'll talk! :D

Re: TiVo
 

Right first thing first l do not attach any blame to Digital Fantastic for Virgins almighty mess they have got themselves into, but what a shambolic mess they they have made of Tivo since the 1ST of December.
they have treated existing customers who have been very loyal poorly with this fiasco, sometimes l wonder who is running the company as they have to be the biggest bunch of amateurs l have ever known.

Re: TiVo
 

The fundamental issue here is that VM DID offer other new customers (Tivo1 owners) a Tivo with no install fee. I believe that if VM had offered Tivo to all customers with an install fee this BB wouldn't be full of people complianing. Fairness is all is asked for from people who registered back in December. VM have managed to make sure thier most keen/loyal customers are p*ssed off with them! Sack the marketing manager for this policy I would say!

I would have to say after the pre-reg offer expires I expect the full £199 box fee to stay for at least a year and it would seem existing and new customers will pay the same.

Re: TiVo
 

Its not a big issue but it seems odd if the billing account is not linked to my My VM especially with the enhanced on line billing function which is really good and surley must be linked to the billing account as it gives payment options :tu: :)

At that price TiVo seems too expensive for me at the moment. Perhaps I will wait six months and try for a retentions deal, you never know.........;)

---------- Post added at 07:19 ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 ----------

My father in law is with Sky, got an decent VM offer in the post with a free 2nd box and free install, told Sky he was going to leave Sky then dropped their price an offered a free 2nd SKy+ HD box.

Re: TiVo
 

He was referring to the misleading Sky pricing, which people often miss. You get a free +HD box (as you do when signing up) but you have to pay £10.25 per month per box for the HD channels. otherwise you have a spangly new HD box but SD channels.

I couldn't believe how the sales girl mislead me on the phone as the totted everything up and it was suddenly not the same price as my VM sub, but £10.25 more.

Cheeky, just like the £250 hard disk scandal.

Btw, mate of mine told Sky he just wanted the HD channels, and not the variety pack of SD channels, and after he threatened to leave, they gave it to him, so he pays £10.25 only for his TV sub. Now that's worthwhile!

Re: TiVo
 

Yes, but remember the billing account also goes onto a Credit File for proof of payment.

So to change your name you have to prove to Virgin that it is actually your legal name so they send the details to the right file.

The name on My VM is more so that the site says 'Hi <name>' correctly - especially when it comes to the additional accounts which won't have any entry on the billing account

Re: TiVo
 

friends of mine on xl all got the dean email and it seems another with their proper name. i pre-registered and havent got any email and im on vip50? maybe i was one of the lucky 1000 after all lol and just havent got a call yet

Re: TiVo
 

Thanks,

On the risk of going off topic, sorry, the name on the email, and the old name in the My VM website were wrong. How do I change that to make sure the billing account or credit file data is right, is it a phone call job?
:)

---------- Post added at 09:32 ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 ----------

Thanks for the advice :) I will pass the message on although given the size of the second room and the quality of the TV I don't think HD will be an issue.

Re: TiVo
 

Like many, I'm a bit disappointed that pre-registered customers are not to get free install, like those lucky pre-registered people who got an early install and only had to pay the £149.95 activation charge......

....but let's not forget that Virgin Media are a business and quickly calculate how much (potential) profit they would lose by giving free install to all of the remaining pre-registered people, estimated at 50,000.

The answer is £2 MILLION pounds. A not insignificant sum of money for any business in today's business climate.

I estimate this to be four times the cost in lost revenue of the completely free TiVos given away to S1 TiVo users and lucky draw winners.

Will having to pay £189.95 rather than £149.95 really make the difference if you really want to be an early adopter of TiVo?

If yes then perhaps waiting for a few months might be the best approach.

As an early adopter of the Telewest TVDrive (aka V+), I had to pay £75 install charge then £10 a month for 15 months until the charge was removed for new customers in June 2007 and I as an early adopter had to pay £150 to have the £10 per month charge removed.

I make that £375 to be an early adopter of V+. At £189.95, TiVo is a snip.

Re: TiVo
 

because we were told we would maybe ;)

Re: TiVo
 

I also pre-reg and entered draw. I have not received the Dean or I am not Dean e-mail.

One of the Virgin guys who post here said that they where still sending out in batches last night.

Though I am assuming that they have all been sent out now?

Re: TiVo
 

Yes

Re: TiVo
 

Might as well state from the start.. as far as TIVO is concerned "I'm out", it's just taken too long, and no way now i would sign a new 12 month contract irrespective of the price.

Things that irritate..

Time it's taken,

Signed up begining of December, no contact until early march (4 months), then told they would be in touch end of march to organise an install. Which turns out to be middle of April. So if you get the email early on the 11th i'll be amazed if most people get an install before may. Which effectively means you might get TIVO 6 months after you signed up.

The Price,

People won raffles got it for free, fair enough, others got called and got it for £149+ free install. The rest of us get slapped with a 40 install charge. So not only have we had to wait longer, we're paying more for the privilege.

Everyone knows new customers will not pay £239, they will get free installs, probably also half price charges for 6 months etc. We all understand this game, it's the same in mobile phones, but VM seem to be particularly in yer face about it.

VIP

We've been promised a revamped deal for ever. Nothing has appeared except a price rise. At over £100 per month, you really do start to feel like a cow being milked..

The Tease

Well sorry guys but this constant wait and see there is something special coming round the corner, is really getting tired now. Just stop it.

Re: TiVo
 

I feel the same a rattus it was all a big let down in the end. Oh well I'll just wait and see what happens in the future and probably go for Junes smaller hard drive TiVo box for less money.

Re: TiVo
 

TiVo box question.

How does the channel navigation compare to V+?

For example, can you make a list of favourites, or group channels?

I ask cos VM seem to enjoy moving channels all over the place, and it'd be nice to have a quick list of favourite channels, ordered the way I want them.

Screenshots/vids appreciated.
Boz

Re: TiVo
 

In the Electric magazine just delivered through my door, it says a lower spec TiVo box will be available soon. Lower spec, lower price?

Anyone know anything about that?

Re: TiVo
 

I was told it's out in June and for £49. It has a smaller hard drive

Re: TiVo
 

That would be a great deal! (although don't forget the probable £40 installation fee).

I wish I wasn't such an early adopter moron... it would make sense to wait. :monkey:

Re: TiVo
 

And how would you watch a DVD if you are burning a copy?:D

Re: TiVo
 

If the 1TB version stayed at £199 when the smaller model launched at £49 (if it does), then VM would be guilty of the same hard disk scam Sky are. :mad:

Re: TiVo
 

What about the 3.00 a month charge will this be a standard feature of all TIVO boxes ?

Re: TiVo
 

I wouldn't say either are 'guilty' of any scam.

Sky and VM probably know these current boxes appeal to a very, very small group of their customer bases and price the kit accordingly to cover their manufacturing and development costs.

I doubt 1TB of HDD capacity is something the masses will go for and VM are very wise to go down the smaller capacity route.

In my opinion.

---------- Post added at 13:22 ---------- Previous post was at 13:18 ----------

I suppose it depends if it has the same features.

Re: TiVo
 

Yes you can create a favourites list although you cannot put them in order yourself. There isn't a favourites button on the remote but you can access your favourites with 3/4 button presses IIRC.

Re: TiVo
 

This TIVO launch is worse than when I started that Fat man Society.

Re: TiVo
 

Yes, if you have XL tv.

Re: TiVo
 

For this lesser box that's launching later on as well ?

Re: TiVo
 

Yes it is a standard monthly charge for XL customers getting TiVo. The other box will probably just be the same but with a smaller hard drive.

Re: TiVo
 

Surely £3/m is for the service, not the box. The £199 and possible £49 is for the boxes.

Re: TiVo
 

Ups...

Very sorry, I must remember not everyone has 10 million DVD/BR players hooked up.


Play a game on a Xbox or something...?

Re: TiVo
 

It is , but I can't understand how all there subscriber base is going to end up on TIVO over the next few years at £3.00 a month , aren't they just driving people to competitors.

Re: TiVo
 

If that is vms aim ie to have all customers on TiVo in ex years time the price will have to be considerably lower then now,or any new box (not this one) with lower spec, will just have to be swapped out after all many customers not on this forum will be relectant to pay for another box if they do not want it,as they will consider they have paid for the one they already have.

Re: TiVo
 

£3 seems fair to me. If the competitors were cheaper and had on demand services, I'd consider being driven away.

Re: TiVo
 

Hi,
I definately pre registered as I remember getting the email telling me to wait until the end of March. However, no Email (for Dean or me). Have all the emails gone out? Is there anyway of checking whether Virgin think I am on the pre reg list?

Thanks for any ideas in advance.

Argy

Re: TiVo
 

Name another UK TV platform what charge a monthly fee to a subscriber of their service for using their PVR ?

Re: TiVo
 

This thread is going around in circles. We've done that whole argument already

Re: TiVo
 

I'm simply asking a question as someone is stating the 3.00 charge isn't bad. And your right BenMcr we did have this sometime back and as I remember you conceded then as you can't argue with fact.

Re: TiVo
 

BTW, if I'm reading their website correctly, Smallworld Media are going to charging for their PVR

Smallworld HD+ from £5 a month

Re: TiVo
 

How many times are you going to keep repeating yourself. Its not a charge for using the PVR. Its for the extra TiVo service, if you don't want to pay the small £3 a month then you can stick with V+.

In the grand scheme of things £3 a month is hardly anything.

Re: TiVo
 

But one of the tivo services is suggested programs and i have had to turn it off because all it seems to record is sd and ad programs when hd ones are available,Luckly i won a tivo so i dont after pay £3 per month for 12 months.If i was i would certainly be questioning the charge.

Re: TiVo
 

Us punter's will decide that!

Re: TiVo
 

I am still a customer too and really for the extra stuff that TiVo has over the V+ I honestly don't think £3 a month is too much at all. Maybe if it was £5 I could see your point however I think £3 a month is fair.

Especially considering the last time TiVo was available in the UK it was £10 a month.

Re: TiVo
 

I think the £3 a month is definitely worth it. As is the £149 for the box which is what I paid when I got it in Feb. The installation charge is a bit much I think and probably would have caused me to wait till the price dropped if that's the price I had been quoted.

Everyone is going to have a different view though and because of that no company is going to make everyone happy with a decision.

Re: TiVo
 

With respect you have previously said you get staff discounts on your services so £3 may not be much to you.

As I said us punters will decide if £3 is hardly anything, it's not as if it's for content.

Time will tell.

Re: TiVo
 

I still think that £149 and £40 is a lot better than £199 and £40 :)

£50 off the cost of the box is better than nothing at all.

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:12 ----------

All I am saying is if you are already paying about £60-70 a month for all your VM services then an extra £3 isn't that much of an increase, where as if VM/TiVo were asking for £10 extra a month like they did when TiVo last launch in the UK it would be a totally different matter.

Re: TiVo
 

yes £3 would be fair but currently they cant even get the clock right on the menu screen,Half of the new programs are not showing up as new so you have to set series links for new/reruns.Keeps switching from 1080i to 720p and as i mentioned on prevoius post doesn`t record hd channels on suggested programs,Really these things need sorting before expecting people to pay out £3.People are going mad about the cost as it is,There gonna expect a fully working box and currently that is not the case.Yes i love my tivo and it will be well worth the money and i recommend people to get one but to charge the £3 currently i think its a tad unfair,Not moaning (i can`t won mine).But others will if these points are not addressed/sorted.
Also the lack of new channels to support it is very annoying also

Re: TiVo
 

As I say time will tell, it's a tricky area asking for money when content isn't involved but we will see.

Out of interest did you pay the going rate to have Tivo installed?

Re: TiVo
 

So you'd rather turn suggestions off and miss programmes you might like, just because they're in SD?

It's been said on here that it's going to be fixed and the suggestions will be set to record in HD in the future.

In the mean time, If suggestions picks up a programme that is part of a series, that you like, you can just set a series link for the rest in, HD.

The suggestions part of Tivo is just a small part of the tivo functionality that the £3 is going towards anyway.

Re: TiVo
 

Staff do have to still pay for the TiVo box and an install fee but I did not pay for the TiVo I have. However when I got mine I had to sign an NDA for various reasons.

Re: TiVo
 

For me I would have paid upto £149 plus the £3. But when its closer to £200 AND you know that new subscribers won't pay that I can't face forking out £200.

However...:D:D:D The thought of a smaller say half or quarter terrabyte box for £49 plus £3 in June does appeal. It has extra services so the the £3 I can take.

I am going to wait and see.:)

Re: TiVo
 

You basically create your favourites list in the settings menu (similar to V+).

Then when you go into into the Guide, you press the blue button which then gives you a list of filters such as HD, Sport, Kids, etc, plus your Favourites. Select the Favourites filter and the Guide is then filtered appropriately.

I think it's actually a better system, as let's face it the V+ system was pretty basic. With TiVo you get the full guide and what's more it's fast. Not like the full guide on the V+ which would take half a minute to load.

Edit: Forgot to say, sadly you cannot re-order your Favouites...

Re: TiVo
 

As many times as I see fit , so I can use TIVO as a PVR and pay nothing can I , if I don't want the other features.

Re: TiVo
 

I see.

Re: TiVo
 

Fair point but if suggested programs in hd is coming soon like new hd channels,Need i say anymore

Re: TiVo
 

That is a bit of an over exaggeration. There are not that many issues with the epg data.

I currently have my TiVo set to 1080i and don't have 720p checked so for me it doesn't switch at all.

Ok so there was a small issue with the STB changing to summer time. Its not service affecting and it is being fixed asap.

Am not so bothered about suggestions not being in HD. If there is a prog I really want to record I will already have it set to record in HD. Recommendations I think are better in SD as then they don't tak up much space on the HDD.

Any small niggles or issues are constantly being reported and looked into, and TiVo are constantly working on fixes. Remember this isn't just the same TiVo sereis 4 that they have in the US but a heavily customized version for VM and we are getting them to add a lot of things that TiVo has never had before.

Re: TiVo
 

So where do you stop another 3.00 here and there soon mounts up.

Re: TiVo
 

Actually IMHO I think they need to rework some of the these controls.

Firstly I don't think the skip back is long enough, should be more like 10-15sec.

Second, when you rewind at the 3rd (fastest) speed, it should not then jump forward again when you go into play. It is a nice feature that it jumps backwards when coming out of fast forwarding, but when you are rewinding it shouldn't jump forward. I often find I'm "too quick" hitting play and then it jumps back in front of where I wanted to be. Much better that it simply starts playing from the instant I hit play.

Re: TiVo
 

Stephen maybe look at the poll were over 60% of people said there subs are already high enough.

Re: TiVo
 

If you just want a normal PVR function then VM have V+ available.

Re: TiVo
 

If people think the prices are to high for a state of the art set top box such as the TiVo then they should look elsewhere but nothing else will come close, you want the product then you pay the product price simple.

Re: TiVo
 

In 3 years time it will still be available will it ?

Re: TiVo
 

The skip back is more of an instant replay.

I have started to get in the habit of slowing down the rewind to the second speed and then the first speed when I think its getting near to where I want it to be so it doesn't jump forward ;)

Re: TiVo
 

But not with a 1TB hard drive.......

Re: TiVo
 

Well if you want it then you will have to pay for it.;)

Re: TiVo
 

Dont get me wrong,I love my tivo and am very impressed with it and its only gonna get better,If you look at my post i even recommend people to get one.But some people(especially people on here) complain about anything and vm are leaving thereselves wide open to justify the £3 charge to some people.
As for my problem with 1080i keep switches to 720p if you look on vm`s own forum other people are having the same issue,I shouldnt have to ever time i turn my tivo on to watch programs have to go into my settings first and check my video output