TiVo : So Long Tivo - Back to Sky - Close but no cigar!

[andy_m]

Virgin said some time ago now that they have TiVo buddy, and it all works. The fact that it still isn't available is a farce.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by andy_m

Virgin said some time ago now that they have TiVo buddy, and it all works. The fact that it still isn't available is a farce.

l am sure there is some good reason why it is not available andy.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by jempalmer

Although Carl, I for one would say (and hope that you would agree) that VM have been somewhat less than on top of their game in certain regards.

Can't say I've noticed really. But then I don't go looking for problems. My Tivo works fine for me, so I'm happy

(Though please don't mis-interpret that as an "I'm alright Jack" attitude as that is not what I mean at all.)

No technology is perfect...

True. I have even pointed this out about the Tivo myself and, IIRC, someone ridiculed me for ir. Funnily enough they never replied as to why

That being the case, why do some people seem to think that some of us think the Tivo is?

..yet some companies try harder to resolve the problems.

How do you know they're not trying hard to resolve the problems? Some problems can't be solved quickly.

Tivo is not the pinnacle of pvr anymore..

You know of something better that works with cable?

---------- Post added at 20:29 ---------- Previous post was at 20:28 ----------

Originally Posted by denphone

l am sure there is some good reason why it is not available andy.

As am I.

I think that most of us would agree that there could be improvements made. I am not interested in starting an argument, selective quotes aside. It's not perfect and may never be so.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by jempalmer

I think that most of us would agree that there could be improvements made.

True.

I am not interested in starting an argument...

It's a discussion. It's what we do on forums

..selective quotes aside.

Again, huh? I have quoted the relevant bits I wanted to respond to. No point in quoting everything if there's no need.

[Denyo1977]

Going back to the original post on here, in general I have to say I think TiVo is a disappointment. I am not a Sky fanboy (actually quite the opposite), but all the hype there was at the beginning you could believe the box would make you a 3 course meal besides all the "normal" things. Yes, the UI is an improvement. But what happened to all the promised apps (crap games you have to pay for weren't quite what I expected)? It doesn't really matter why they are delaying the TiVo buddy, but it was promised at the end of last year. And sorry, their reason of people not being able to use it, due to the box not being close to the router, is pants! This would/should have been obvious from day one that some customers wouldn't be able to use it. And are they going to give every customer an iPad if they haven't got one, so they can use the TiVo buddy too? Suggestions didn't do it for me either. Mostly the box recorded old episodes of e.g. The Simpsons, because I gave it the thumbs up (even went down from the 3 to 1 thumb). I had a series link for new episodes and I really don't care for old ones to be recorded.
I can't really complain about amount of HD channels as I hardly use any besides ITV, BBC, National Geographic and ESPN. And there is only so match TV I can watch. But again I think Virgin Media promised a lot more than they have got now. Sometimes it seems they are over enthusiastic newbies, full of energy and ideas, who think they will deliver whatever they want to, only to realise that there are "evil" enemies like Sky, who have exclusive rights to HD channels, or there being the obstacles of connecting a tablet with the box.
In the end I don't pay extra for my TiVo box, so I'm not overly fussed. But the way it is now, I don't think it can be justified asking customers to pay a fiver on top.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Denyo1977

Going back to the original post on here, in general I have to say I think TiVo is a disappointment. I am not a Sky fanboy (actually quite the opposite), but all the hype there was at the beginning you could believe the box would make you a 3 course meal besides all the "normal" things.

Enough said. Ignoring rest of post.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Denyo1977

Going back to the original post on here, in general I have to say I think TiVo is a disappointment. I am not a Sky fanboy (actually quite the opposite), but all the hype there was at the beginning you could believe the box would make you a 3 course meal besides all the "normal" things. Yes, the UI is an improvement. But what happened to all the promised apps (crap games you have to pay for weren't quite what I expected)? It doesn't really matter why they are delaying the TiVo buddy, but it was promised at the end of last year. And sorry, their reason of people not being able to use it, due to the box not being close to the router, is pants! This would/should have been obvious from day one that some customers wouldn't be able to use it. And are they going to give every customer an iPad if they haven't got one, so they can use the TiVo buddy too? Suggestions didn't do it for me either. Mostly the box recorded old episodes of e.g. The Simpsons, because I gave it the thumbs up (even went down from the 3 to 1 thumb). I had a series link for new episodes and I really don't care for old ones to be recorded.
I can't really complain about amount of HD channels as I hardly use any besides ITV, BBC, National Geographic and ESPN. And there is only so match TV I can watch. But again I think Virgin Media promised a lot more than they have got now. Sometimes it seems they are over enthusiastic newbies, full of energy and ideas, who think they will deliver whatever they want to, only to realise that there are "evil" enemies like Sky, who have exclusive rights to HD channels, or there being the obstacles of connecting a tablet with the box.
In the end I don't pay extra for my TiVo box, so I'm not overly fussed. But the way it is now, I don't think it can be justified asking customers to pay a fiver on top.

Find me another box that can get a good selection of pay channels, has 3 recordable tuners, automatic search for repeats on recording clashes and whishlists and I will pay attention.

The last three features alone make the Tivo box, for me, way ahead of the competition by miles.

Yes, I'd like the other things, and I think VM should be severely critisised for being very slow to get them sorted, but the core functionality that is already present on Tivo, make the missing bits seem relatively insignificant.

[Denyo1977]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Enough said. Ignoring rest of post.

People like you can't just sit there and say nothing? If you have got nothing to say, why bother posting?

Find me another box that can get a good selection of pay channels, has 3 recordable tuners, automatic search for repeats on recording clashes and whishlists and I will pay attention.

The last three features alone make the Tivo box, for me, way ahead of the competition by miles.

Yes, I'd like the other things, and I think VM should be severely critisised for being very slow to get them sorted, but the core functionality that is already present on Tivo, make the missing bits seem relatively insignificant.

Why should I find another box? I have never claimed there is anything better out there. But like I said suggestions for me are no added bonus, I personally don't need a 3rd tuner (do people watch TV 24/7?). If you think the three features you mentioned are worth £3, £5 or whatever you pay a month, fair enough. I don't think it is.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Denyo1977

People like you can't just sit there and say nothing?

Geez. I can't win. I say something and I'm branded a 'fanboy'; I don't say anthing and still get compaints

If you have got nothing to say, why bother posting?

Because after the complete and utter stupidity of your opening sentence, anything I could have posted would be a waste of my time. Besides, passingbat has said pretty-much what I would have anyway

[Stephen]

Enough with the personal insults.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Anymore and there will be infractions issued.

[andy_m]

Just to pick up on Denyo's point about suggestions, I actually think they're one of TiVo's best features. I regularly watch a suggestion, and in fact find myself watching less and less on demand as a result. I do, however, think that there is an issue with the way in which Virgin have explained suggestions which has resulted in people not understanding how to get the best out of them. You saying that you've reduced the number of thumbs up for the Simpsons just to stop it recording episodes of it is a case in point. I know it's annoying, but you have to be prepared for your suggestions folder to be full of stuff you don't want otherwise there's no chance it will ever be full of stuff that you do. You really only should give a programme thumbs up or down because you do or don't like it, and for no other reason, and then most importantly, you need to give it some time. Your TiVo now thinks you only like a show a little bit, when in fact you like it a lot. Hardly fair to complain about the suggestions it's making when you're not telling it the whole truth.

[Denyo1977]

Not sure where "Tivo is a disappointment" is stupidity. And I clearly said you COULD think it would make a 3 meal course after all the hype.

Btw, I changed it from three to one thumb as I read somewhere that apparently the box wouldn't record exactly that program (old episodes) again. I know it didn't change it, so I simply switched suggestions off. I fully understand that suggestions won't be spot on and it might end up recording stuff I don't like. I just don't think it's done in a good way that I have got a series link for Simpsons for new episodes, I gave it the thumbs up and it continues to record all the old ones too in suggestions and to top it all off, I can't stop it from doing that.

[andy_m]

"We think it's the best way to watch TV, ever". You could certainly make a case for it being overhyped.

[Denyo1977]

Originally Posted by andy_m

"We think it's the best way to watch TV, ever". You could certainly make a case for it being overhyped.

I'm gonna be a happy bunny at some point anyway when the TiVo buddy is ready and hopefully let's me watch live TV and/or recordings