Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Which Virgin STB do you prefer as it would be interesting to know what peoples thoughts are on the matter as there seems to be differing opinions about the pro's and con's of each box.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I can sort-of understand how some people might not "get" Tivo, or think it's not for them. Perhaps if you don't watch much TV, of any type at all (ie broadcast or OD) then perhaps you might wonder what Tivo can do for you.

However, surely even someone who doesn't watch much telly would have a favourite actor or director and so might find the Wishlist functionality useful. Though whether that alone is worth a fiver a month is also debatable.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

TIVO is the cleverest box that VM do

The old V+ was pretty good but frustrating always having to be careful what I wanted to record due to the lack of space

Being able to set up wishlists so that I don't have to keep a close eye on the listings

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

For someone who just wants to watch linear TV and maybe record a few shows, the V+ is by far and wide the simplest solution.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Which is what I said :)

However, I still stand by the fact that the features of the Tivo (find next-available recording, ability to record up to three things at once, wishlists) are still useful for someone who doesn't watch a lot of TV.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

In my household we have 2 Tivos and a Samsung V+.
After using the Tivos for 6 months i now find the Samsung V+ losing its appeal.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Quite apart from the fact that I love my TiVo, I think the v+ is an awful box. When I first moved from Sky I spent quite a while thinking I'd made a bit of a mistake solely because of the dreadful stb. Clunky, awful ui, slow, poor recording capacity. If everyone on this thread had come from Sky+ hd to V+ hd then there wouldn't even be a discussion about it, appalling piece of kit.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Where is the Pace 1000 ?

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

TiVo all the way. Fast and responsive. Bags off space to store recorded shows. Searching for shows is a breeze. And we all love the you tube app for a few funny videos with the kids.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Long dead and buried, I suspect :)

(That was my very first digital cable box back in the days of Telewest!)

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

There are still plenty going strong.

Samsung 2100 gets my vote for now. I'll form an opinion on the TiVos over the next few years. These things shouldn't be rushed. :)

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

That was my first box installed by Comtel many years ago.
I now have a TIVO 500gig.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I voted for V+

Have I had Pace 4000 and a Samsung 2110

I have not had a Tivo yet so i voted for a V+

andrewlutonuk

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

The Samsung V+ is Mega stylish, a real eye opener, Picture quality is real good as well on my ISF calibrated TV, we watch mainly Movies and Live Sports plus Corrie and Emmerdale, TiVo is going to be wasted on us because even if we wanted to expand our TV watching horizons, our current Life Schedule just wouldn't allow it.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

And therein lies the problem with this poll, not everybody has experience of all the options. Even so, its currently running at about 77% for TiVo, which is a huge majority. I suspect if you limited the respondents to only those who have used all of the options the percentage would be even higher. I doubt this will end the arguments, but in general people prefer TiVo.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I've used a PACE 1000, Samsung SMT-2100, SA V+, the Cisco VHD box and still find the TIVO the best of the lot

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Personally, I would like to take the speed of the V+ box and combine it with the TiVo box and that would be the perfect box for me. Speed of menus and changing channel is the only negative for me on TiVo so far.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Good old V+ HD box is the best one.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Unless your experience of a V+ was the SA version, then TIVO would be the fastest :)

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I used a Samsung V+ box yes, I just like channels to change instantly instead of the mini delay on TiVo box.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Best I have is V+, can't comment on Tivo.............

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

But remember Mark the TiVo is far far more Graphics heavy thus it takes that tiny bit longer.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Afraid I voted None Of Them as there wasn't an option for Don't Care As Long As It Records.

I know it's been discussed to death but a V+ with a bigger hard drive would have done me. If I owned the box I would have upgraded my V+. Around the time of the Tivo launch I could have upgraded the V+ to 2TB for less than the cost of a 1TB Tivo.

Cheers

Grim

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Pretty much what 90% of the UK public would vote.:)

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

So I have managed to find out how many are still in circulation who wants to guess ?

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Ill have my 2 cents worth as well. I have had the Pace 1000, the V+HD, V HD and Tivo oh and Sky+HD. I prefer Sky+HD :D no seriously out of the VM STB's i prefer Tivo. YEs some tasks take more button presses but overall its worth it. The best box IMO

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Why don't you vote great man as you might find it invigorating.;):D

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I don't have a VM STB so my votes irrelevant , I'm in agreement with Grim so long as it records what I ask of it and seldom requires a reboot it'll do for me. If I'm honest people's affinity to a STB leaves me bemused but each to their own I guess.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I can only speak for myself, but it's not the affinity to a set top box that I'm interested, it's my affinity to the features it provides. If Sky, BT or youview made a box with the same features as Tivo, especially 3 recordable tuners and whishlists I'd be equally enthusiastic about those.

Peoples' requirements depend on their TV viewing, but I can never imagine myself going back to a box without whishlists and series links that have to be re-set for new seasons, (or even part seasons). But that is partly down to my viewing habits. Thankfully the days of me spending time checking the Digital Spy Premier list and other online 'New show UK air date listings' are over thanks to Tivo's whishlist. It's not just a nice feature, it's a time saver for me.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I wouldn’t embarrass myself by guessing, but would be interested to know how many.

Cheers

Grim

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

its got to be under 200.000 surely

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

yes a lot less than 200,000 about 5% of that. 10,509 ;)

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

And I was going to guess at about 10,510 :D

Cheers

Grim

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

We have a faulty V+ box which can now be replaced as we have removed the stuff we wanted to keep on it.

This was replaced by a 1TB Tivo, (plus Sky Sports & Movies in HD).

The V+ will go nicely with my HDTV

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I nearly got it right :D

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I had a Pace 1000 in my bedroom up until about 7 months ago. I got TiVo in the living room and my V+ box moved to the bedroom. I've still got the remote for the Pace 1000. In the 6 or so years I hade the Pace 1000 I never had a problem with it.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Preferred the V+ in it heyday. Miss the red button ( that gave what I wanted) the clock/timer & reminders that did just that .

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I think the best picture quality was on the SA V+ box. When that broke I can remember being disappointed with the Samsung's picture quality in comparison. But the SA used to light up the room when it was switched off!

I suppose the TiVo box is a step up although it does frustrate me with some of its ways.

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

Yes I was thinking of the SA . Remember the bright light problem was "fixed"
Still have one in bedroom - no light :)

Re: Which Virgin STB do you prefer
 

I have never looked back since replacing my V+ with a TIVO box. When i look at the V+ box now, I am reminded how bulky, clunky and noisy it was, although we preferred that to the Sky HD box, mostly for the extra tuner, though!

Being able to record three programmes at a time, the intelligence within the box that will find another time to record when there is no capacity for a recording at the time you've tried to set it, the displays and that delicious red background, the fact that you can 'undelete' your deleted programmes and set up wishlists.... I could whitter on for ages.

VM made an excellent move when they decided to run with the TIVO box. I only hope they now utilise its full potential. I'm still waiting to get more from the internet through the TIVO, such as streaming movies/box sets through providers of my choice, like Netflix and Lovefilm!

---------- Post added at 16:29 ---------- Previous post was at 16:25 ----------

H'mm... that doesn't tally with the votes on this thread....

---------- Post added at 16:37 ---------- Previous post was at 16:29 ----------

I disagree. It is just as easy to use a TIVO to watch linear TV, and the recording functionality is much better and transfers recordings where there are clashes to an alternative repeated listing. Additionally, there is so much more recording space that you don't have to keep deleting programmes you haven't yet seen to make room for new ones.

There are three tuners on the TIVO, the box does not seize up at midnight and is far quieter than the V+.

You don't have to use the other functions if you don't want to.

If that is all you want to use the TIVO for, how is it more complicated?

I think it is better for people to try to keep up, because as technology gets more advanced, they are going to get left far behind. Not only will they be losing out on what is available, when they do eventually change because the older technology is no longer around, they will find it a far bigger leap than if they took the bite size advances and got used to the latest technology that is available now.