Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2010) Vol. IV

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by mattboothers

Dont be so negative. Tivo is better than Sky. The options available will be great and should only really range between £100-£200.

I honestly hope I am in the minority but Tivo dosen't appeal to me purely because it dosen't sound like it will provide me with content that I cannot already get with a V+ or a PC. Obviously it will be connected so you can view websites and there will be a great UI and 1TB HDD but to me TV is about content, Sky prove this time and time again, as far back as BSB they have had inferior technology but hold the rights to content people will clearly pay for.

[clinteastman]

Originally Posted by mersey70

I honestly hope I am in the minority but Tivo dosen't appeal to me purely because it dosen't sound like it will provide me with content that I cannot already get with a V+ or a PC. Obviously it will be connected so you can view websites and there will be a great UI and 1TB HDD but to me TV is about content, Sky prove this time and time again, as far back as BSB they have had inferior technology but hold the rights to content people will clearly pay for.

Saying that you can already get the content to me is erelevant, it's the ease (and speed) of accessing that content. Using your logic it's just as good to have thousands of VHS tapes with said content on, which I'm sure you would agree would be horrid. It's all about ease.

On a side note you can't view websites on the TiVo, what it does it consolidate all the content in one place under one search scheme.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Hiroki

I was expecting Virgin to do something with tivo's awful menu system which it seems like they haven't.

I'm not negative because anything Virgin do will be better than what we have now anyway.

Have you ever used the TiVo service? there is nothing awful about the menu system.

Its fantastic.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by mersey70

I honestly hope I am in the minority but Tivo dosen't appeal to me purely because it dosen't sound like it will provide me with content that I cannot already get with a V+ or a PC. Obviously it will be connected so you can view websites and there will be a great UI and 1TB HDD but to me TV is about content, Sky prove this time and time again, as far back as BSB they have had inferior technology but hold the rights to content people will clearly pay for.

Its not about accessing more content, but about making that content easier to discover - its has content discovery at its heart.

Sure, you could find trailers for the next episode of Chuck on YouTube via your PC - but I'll prefer to have Tivo find that YouTube trailer along with all episodes of Chuck on the Virgin EPG, plus in Catch-Up VOD, in TV Choice VOD and in any other sources internet sources VM add to Tivo....in a single search via the TV:
http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/howto/get...chbytitle.html

God knows how much time I waste checking the EPG and various VOD menus to see if there's anything interesting on - with Tivo I'll spend less time searching for content and more time watching it.

As for content compared to Sky - we have most of the Sky HD channels and Red button and Sky VOD content is coming soon. There isn't that much significant content which is exclusive to Sky these days unless you count the as yet-launched Sky Atlantic and HD exclusives like the missing Sky Sports HD channels.

[Hiroki]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Have you ever used the TiVo service? there is nothing awful about the menu system.

Its fantastic.

Yes I have not so long ago infact and I found it to be cluttered, clunky and awkward. It's a step backward (menu wise) and I was expecting something more tbh but that's just me.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by clinteastman

Saying that you can already get the content to me is erelevant, it's the ease (and speed) of accessing that content. Using your logic it's just as good to have thousands of VHS tapes with said content on, which I'm sure you would agree would be horrid. It's all about ease.

On a side note you can't view websites on the TiVo, what it does it consolidate all the content in one place under one search scheme.

I have no problems currenty accessing the content available on V+ which is fast and simple, I don't understand your comparison to VHS as I am talking about VM on demand content which will be the same content on Tivo as we have now. By websites I mean the likes of YouTube which by all accounts (from a VM member of staff on DS) you will be able to access, I don't mean using Tivo as a web browser, I use a PC for that.

---------- Post added at 16:38 ---------- Previous post was at 16:37 ----------

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

Its not about accessing more content, but about making that content easier to discover - its has content discovery at its heart.

Sure, you could find trailers for the next episode of Chuck on YouTube via your PC - but I'll prefer to have Tivo find that YouTube trailer along with all episodes of Chuck on the Virgin EPG, plus in Catch-Up VOD, in TV Choice VOD and in any other sources internet sources VM add to Tivo....in a single search via the TV.

God knows how much time I waste checking the EPG and various VOD menus to see if there's anything interesting on - with Tivo I'll spend less time searching for content and more time watching it.

As for content compared to Sky - we have most of the Sky HD channels and Red button and Sky VOD content is coming soon. There isn't that much significant content which is exclusive to Sky these days unless you count the as yet-launched Sky Atlantic and HD exclusives like the missing Sky Sports HD channels.

Horses for courses I suppose, it dosen't appeal to me as I find the V+ excellent and easy to use as it is.

[clinteastman]

Originally Posted by mersey70

I have no problems currenty accessing the content available on V+ which is fast and simple, I don't understand your comparison to VHS as I am talking about VM on demand content which will be the same content on Tivo as we have now. By websites I mean the likes of YouTube which by all accounts (from a VM member of staff on DS) you will be able to access, I don't mean using Tivo as a web browser, I use a PC for that.

Horses for courses I suppose, it dosen't appeal to me as I find the V+ excellent and easy to use as it is.

I think that must be where our experiences differ, my V+ is slow and painful to use. Good old SA!

I can kind of see your point if your current box isn't dreadful, unfortunately mine is, and the UI and process isn't great on the current implementation.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by mersey70

I have no problems currenty accessing the content available on V+ which is fast and simple

But it's not fast and simple is it.

If you want to watch a program you currently have 3 places to look for it, the EPG, catch up on demand, tv choice on demand.

Fine if you know which of those you'll find it under, but if you don't? Welcome to the hell of scrolling through countless lists.

Tivo = search and you'll find it wherever it is. Have you tried using the epg search on the V+? Slow isn't a word I'd use to describe it, barely moving is far more apt.

People always moan about missed recordings as well, if something changes channel your season record on V+ won't pick it up (how many people's season records were messed up when BBC 1 HD launched moving programs from BBC HD onto that?) but your TIVO will, because it's season passes aren't just a case of "we'll keep checking this channel" it checks EVERYWHERE to find episodes for you.
You don't even need to find somewhere it's on, if you want to record all of a show, it'll find every single episode it can, on whatever channel it can, and record them for you. Try doing that with your "easy to use" V+.

It's not a matter of Tivo doing a ton of things that V+ can't, it just does a ton of things far better and quicker. If you're happy with how the V+ does it that's simply because you haven't experienced how Tivo does it. It completely removes the concept of channels and differing on demand sections.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by clinteastman

I think that must be where our experiences differ, my V+ is slow and painful to use. Good old SA!

I can see your point if your current box isn't dreadful, unfortunately mine is! Although the UI isn't great on the current implantation.

I see, I find the V+ fine but it is a Samsung, maybe me saying it is excellent was going a bit far though, it normally works which is the important thing. Sometimes it is a little bit slow but it's very easy to find content with the search function which is why I doubt I will invest in Tivo as it just dosen't appear it will offer enough for me to justify another set up fee and possible ongoing monthly sub.

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Ah damn that tivo menu system is so clunky and awkward I had high hopes that Virgin would have done something to improve the situation and not just turn the damn thing red.

Well that's me sticking with sky then

When tivo was announced you said that VM would mess it up. Link here. Now your not happy because they haven't meddled with it.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by TheDon

But it's not fast and simple is it.

If you want to watch a program you currently have 3 places to look for it, the EPG, catch up on demand, tv choice on demand.

Fine if you know which of those you'll find it under, but if you don't? Welcome to the hell of scrolling through countless lists.

Tivo = search and you'll find it wherever it is. Have you tried using the epg search on the V+? Slow isn't a word I'd use to describe it, barely moving is far more apt.

People always moan about missed recordings as well, if something changes channel your season record on V+ won't pick it up (how many people's season records were messed up when BBC 1 HD launched moving programs from BBC HD onto that?) but your TIVO will, because it's season passes aren't just a case of "we'll keep checking this channel" it checks EVERYWHERE to find episodes for you.
You don't even need to find somewhere it's on, if you want to record all of a show, it'll find every single episode it can, on whatever channel it can, and record them for you. Try doing that with your "easy to use" V+.

It's not a matter of Tivo doing a ton of things that V+ can't, it just does a ton of things far better and quicker. If you're happy with how the V+ does it that's simply because you haven't experienced how Tivo does it. It completely removes the concept of channels and differing on demand sections.

Forgive me but I do find it fast and simple, don't you use the search function? I do and it finds content in either TV Choice, Movies OD, TV Guide, Catch Up, Music or All OD. Type in the title and toggle between categories, it couldn't be simpler to me.

[clinteastman]

Originally Posted by mersey70

Forgive me but I do find it fast and simple, don't you use the search function? I do and it finds content in either TV Choice, TV Guide, Catch Up, Music or All OD. Type in the title and toggle between categories, it couldn't be simpler to me.

Do you not find it incredibly slow? Also I hate using the remote for text input, that one thing the TiVo is miles ahead in, the peanut remote has a fold out Qwerty keyboard. That feature alone is enough for me to change (although it does mess up my Harmony One setup).

[Perfect Choice]

The V+ is a perfectly good box (I have one) and while the Tivo sounds like it has a much better interface, excellent search anywhere facility and 1Tb storage at last for HD, it is a matter of whether you want to pay for the upgrade. I hope many don't yet on the basis I want to be first in the queue for a Tivo, as I do like "what is says on the tin"

[toady]

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Yes I have not so long ago infact and I found it to be cluttered, clunky and awkward. It's a step backward (menu wise) and I was expecting something more tbh but that's just me.

Strange, after trying V+, Sky HD and the old Tivo myself, I find Tivo easiest to use, then VM, and Sky is the worst of the lot by a long way

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by clinteastman

Do you not find it incredibly slow? Also I hate using the remote for text input, that one thing the TiVo is miles ahead in, the peanut remote has a fold out Qwerty keyboard. That feature alone is enough for me to change (although it does mess up my Harmony One setup).

No I really don't, it's just the same as sending a text message.

Having seen the picture of the remote on the VM website it must be a tiny querty keyboard.