V+ : Virgin to stop giving out V+ HD Boxes.

[chunkymonkey]

Originally Posted by andy_m

You don't want a V+ in your bedroom-I've never slept so badly. As sales ploys go, giving us multi room for free, putting a bundle of noise in your bedroom and waiting for the inevitable upgrade to the whisper quiet Tivo is up there with the very best!

That's a very good point actually, totally forgot about the noise. The little V HD is silent.

[Superblade7]

This thread surprises me a little to think that VM will no longer offer a PVR that doesn't have a monthly fee with it. I know that people on packages lower than XL tv pay £5 a month for V+ but obviously this encourages people to take out XL tv to avoid the £5 fee. I would imagine there would be little cost difference between say L tv + £5 fee and XL tv with no fee if you have a bundle.

It is a bold move from VM to think that they can increase the charges for the tv packages, increase the TiVo fee and remove the V+ all at the same time as this will ultimately mean an increase in charges for a lots of existing customers (triggering the release clause) and higher costs for potential new customers.

It will be interesting to see the 1st quarter results for 2012 to see if this strategy works as I can only see this backfiring on them and not only losing customers but not attracting new ones due to the higher charges and current lack of top quality content.

I personally think the TiVo box is great and am currently willing to pay the £3 fee. However, unless they have something big up their sleeves (which potentially they do according to other threads) I don't really believe it's a service worth £3 a month (let alone £5) as whilst there are some useful features on it (wishlists) they really haven't delivered on it's potential and the biggest draw for most has got to be the additional storage compared to the V+.

Compared to Sky, they offer the Sky+ HD box as standard with no monthly fee, a HDD similar to the 500GB TiVo and the option to add HD if you wish. This is a clever strategy as you already have a PVR capable of doing everything, the customer just needs to decide how many services they want to take.

I'm not sure whether they can but obviously VM could use a bit of this clever strategy and offer a fee free TiVo box which only has basic PVR features but the option to upgrade to the monthly fee version to add the extra stuff such as wishlists, apps, etc.

I've been with VM for over 5 years and am extremely interested in where they are going at present as they seem to be focused on delivering super fast broadband (so they can advertise as the UK's fastest) at the expense of their tv side as TiVo has great potential providing they deliver key content and super apps but it's been a little stale since launch.

The big test I see on the horizon which has already been mentioned on here is BT Infinity, especially when Sky get access to it as the content of Sky tv accompanied by fibre broadband could (dependant on price) encourage many people to switch to what would be a superior product unless VM deliver something to encourage people to stay.

Interesting times ahead and come on VM, deliver on TiVo's potential!!!

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by andy_m

You don't want a V+ in your bedroom-I've never slept so badly. As sales ploys go, giving us multi room for free, putting a bundle of noise in your bedroom and waiting for the inevitable upgrade to the whisper quiet Tivo is up there with the very best!

Ok its my age - Had V+ upstairs ( before the Tivo got to much to bear) and had no problems with noise.

Originally Posted by Itshim

Ok its my age - Had V+ upstairs ( before the Tivo got to much to bear) and had no problems with noise.

I have to agree i took TiVo for the living room and had the Samsung V+ put into the bedroom no problems with noise whatsoever.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by passingbat

I find it hard to understand why anyone would not use the Tivo whishlist feature.

Never ever used it - horses for courses. But I have no use for it what so ever.

I must say if I had NEVER had a V+ then yes its a great box, but its still lacking somethings & for ME has pointless features, that apply`s to most things these days. Have Air con/fog lights in my car never used them.That`s just the way it is.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Itshim

Never ever used it - horses for courses. But I have no use for it what so ever.

I must say if I had NEVER had a V+ then yes its a great box, but its still lacking somethings & for ME has pointless features, that apply`s to most things these days. Have Air con/fog lights in my car never used them.That`s just the way it is.

Aaah a technology refusenik

[Jong1]

Originally Posted by Itshim

....that apply`s to most things these days. Have Air con/fog lights in my car never used them.That`s just the way it is.

Use your fog lights!!. They are as much, about making sure you are visible to others as improving what you can see.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Jong1

Use your fog lights!!. They are as much, about making sure you are visible to others as improving what you can see.

So you are the person that blinds me !! . To be honest never had to drive in fog hence never use them. & Air con costs to much to make it worth while.

refusnik - my eye ! I use the new fangle flushing toilet nearly every day !!!!
No it more a case that I do not watch something because its "stars" someone.

Different story with my Kindle (that is something I would never give up with out a fight )- have large collection of story's on DVD`s & that I sort by author.

[Jong1]

Originally Posted by Itshim

So you are the person that blinds me !!

Clarification: Use your fog lights!!.... but only if its foggy!!!

All: sorry for OT. That's it now.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Jong1

Clarification: Use your fog lights!!.... but only if its foggy!!!

All: sorry for OT. That's it now.

I never thought of that

---------- Post added at 14:48 ---------- Previous post was at 14:44 ----------

Just a thought if my box breaks down, for the foreseeable future I would get a second hand one? - always was a chance of that I know. Any idea how many are out there ?
Can not see them being scraped as they are collected etc.

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Itshim

I never thought of that

---------- Post added at 14:48 ---------- Previous post was at 14:44 ----------

Just a thought if my box breaks down, for the foreseeable future I would get a second hand one? - always was a chance of that I know. Any idea how many are out there ?
Can not see them being scraped as they are collected etc.

Plenty in stock, don't worry.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Itshim

Just a thought if my box breaks down, for the foreseeable future I would get a second hand one? - always was a chance of that I know. Any idea how many are out there ?
Can not see them being scraped as they are collected etc.

They get refurbished and given to other customers as the box is always Virgin Media property so the is no need to issue new ones.

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by Itshim

Ok its my age - Had V+ up stairs ( before the Tivo got to much to bear) and had no problems with noise.

I think I drink too much coffee, doesn't take much to wake me up, which then requires more coffee :-(

[kostan]

So with the Tivo can HD content be transfered to a Pc ?

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by kostan

So with the Tivo can HD content be transfered to a Pc ?

No