Question regarding TIVOs and DVRs?

Question

I'm thinking about purchasing one of these this weekend. Is there a big difference or can anyone tell me something pertinent regarding these? I don't have cable I just get home late and often forget to tape shows for my hubby (or start recording late, or the tape wasn't rewound...). Is a TIVO just a brand of DVR? When I get cable will one be more compatible than the other? I'm clueless about this stuff... :(

Answer 1

A Tivo is a DVR in the sense that a Camry is a car.

If you get cable, a normal off-the-shelf DVR (like Tivo) will work with the basic cable that uses your TV's tuner. However if you get digital cable or a satellite dish that requires its own tuner, it may not be compatible.

It's probably better to wait until you get cable, because that's when you can make sure you get a DVR that's compatible with whatever you go with.

Answer 2

There are essentially three ways to record TV, all of these are variations of Digitial Video Recording (DVR) technology

(a) Using the cable or satellite company's Set Top Box (STB) with built in DVR technology

(b) Using a special PC (includes a TV signal tuner card and software) - sometimes called a Home Theater PC (HTPC). There are different kinds: Microsoft's version is called Media Center PC, Apple is working to add this to Apple TV, SageTV offers a software alternative to Microsoft's Media Center, etc.

(c) Non-PC, Non-STB solutions like TiVo, which are essentially PCs in the form of STBs.

If you don't have cable, option (b) is worth considering because it does allow for antenna-based signals including digital. The digital over the air (OTA) supports HD signals and is free - eventually it is going to replace our old free analog over the air TV.

If you go the (b) route, the advantages are:

- Supports Digital OTA

- Can host all your other digital media (music, photos, etc.)

- It is a computer, so you can add/modify functionality, and you can do all the other things that you can with a computer

The disadvantages are:

- It can be complicated to set-up if you're not technical.

Dr.Hubris

Answer 3

TIVO is just a brand of DVR. I have TIVO , I like it. it seems to work pretty well. I haven't used a different DVR system so I can't really comment on them but I do hear that TIVO is more geared towards those who are less than technologically inclined.

Answer 4

I have a DVR and I love it.  I can pause live TV, record anything without a tape at anytime... I just can't tell you how I enjoy it during the Minnesota winters!  We also get high def, on demand programs for free... it's very cool!

I don't know how Tivo is different, sorry...