Dear TiVo,What I am about to say may come as a surprise, because we have spent three wonderful years together. There really were some good times. Remember when you thought I would like Rikki Lake because I had a season pass to Survivor and American Idol? We had a good laugh then, didn't we? I'll never forget the first time you remembered to record Scrubs for me when I couldn't make it home in time to watch. And, how about the time we upgraded our satellite to a dual input and you really got to show off how you could record two shows while we watched something from the Now Playing List? That was unforgettable.
Unfortunately, our good times are now few and far between. It's been months since you've recorded two programs at once, because you decided to stop recognizing the second signal. TiVo, you know I shouldn't have to choose between The Office and CSI. Often, you stop speaking to
The final straw in our tumultuous relationship came last night. As you have been prone to do lately, you decided to reset yourself. In the middle of 24. The reset hosed the first hour-and-a-half of the two-hour show. Now I'm left to wonder where the hell the hobbit came from. I can't even imagine how violent I'd get if you decided to pull that same stunt during a new episode of Lost.
That is why we have to break up. I just placed my order for the new DVR from DirecTV. Soon, your home will be in the garage, where you'll bunk with the VCR and the bread machine. It's been a wild ride, TiVo, but you just can't keep up with my needs anymore. I will miss your "ba-beep, ba-beep, ba-beep" sound.
Fondly,
Anna
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-20-2006 @ 6:02PM
Stephen Durfee said...
Wow. I'm blown away at your monologue. I've had DirecTV since 1996. Besides the occassional outage for 5-15 minutes (2 or 3 times a year during crazy-ass hurricane-like weather), it's been a gem! The Hughes Tivo/DirecTV unit I've had has changed the way our family watches TV. Granted, I wish it was even more friendly and allowed a wireless bluetooth or RF keyboard. As for as the technology, I want to be able to input queries with more intelligence using a keyboard (e.g. show me all suspense movies rated at least 3 stars produced before the year 2000 with the actor Robert De Niro). Back in 1996, I used a Windows-based software program that allowed such queries (Electronic TV Host I think). Why our search abilities are less these days, I don't know.
Even with it's shortcomings, the Tivo DirecTV unit is infinitely better than DirecTV's own PVR. I freakin' hate that peace of crap. We have one in our bedroom and we've yet to use the PVR functionality. The first new unit we purchased at Circuit City didn't record and made a funny noise coming from the hard drive. The second refurbished unit (direct from DirecTV) has yet to be able to even pause a show. Whoever decided to put this chuck steak into production should be BBQ'd.
A prime example of corporate America filled with dumb-ass executives making huge decisions that bring down the stock price and screw the customer at the same time.
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1-08-2007 @ 11:36AM
collisb said...
Direct tv hd dvr is the worst what a hunk of junk and once you buy it your stuck with it
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1-17-2006 @ 11:52AM
Tripp said...
I've heard nothing but bad things from DirecTV's DVR. It just seems like it was time to get a new Tivo. (I have two now.)
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1-17-2006 @ 12:03PM
maddr said...
Hey...dvr is great with direct TV..it is unbeleivable...but if there is something you really love and there is a "live" program before your show..just tape the show after your show..example..because FOX has NFL..on sunday and 24 comes on at 8 and last to 10..just tape the show after 24 from 10 to 11....just to make sure..!
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1-17-2006 @ 12:04PM
BGDC said...
My whole Directv setup is getting turned off. Everything I watch on TV - Arrested Development, The Office, SNL (more fast-forwarding than watching) is on OTA HD. there's no need to pay Directv 70-80 a month so I can watch Mythbusters once in awhile. so many channels and nothing at all on. EVER.
I'll miss my Tivo some but not so much as I can just download The Office off iTunes and AD is dead anyway.
In September, for football season, DTV will get reactivated.
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1-17-2006 @ 12:22PM
Kel said...
After 3 years, it "may" be time for a new unit. My oldest unit, SAT-T60, is 5 years old and still chugging along. (fingers crossed). Regardless, switching to Dave's DVR, sounds like an "out of the pan and into the fire" plan, so good luck.
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1-17-2006 @ 1:20PM
Dolf said...
This almost sounds like fake PR from a DirectTV employee... I too have heard nothing but negative reviews for the DirecTV DVR. Didn't they have to send multiple patches for it? It doessn't have autocorrect. If this post is real, Anna will probably be back in her garage after a couple days to recover her Tivo...
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1-17-2006 @ 1:30PM
Don Wilson said...
I can't believe you guys actually watch Lost.
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1-17-2006 @ 1:37PM
Anna said...
Oh, great. You guys are freaking me out.
Still, I'm going to give this thing a try because A) there's a huge rebate so, if it sucks, I'm only out $50, and B) TiVo and DirecTV are about to split up permanently, and I really like my DirecTV.
Rest assured, if the DVR sucks and I end up buying a new $300 TiVo, I will definitely write up a "you were right, I was wrong" post where you are all welcome to taunt me!
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1-17-2006 @ 1:48PM
Jason S. said...
If your TiVo has stopped recognizing the second signal, try unhooking the two satellite cables on the back, switch them and then unplug your TiVo for a minute and then plug it back in. My TiVo had stopped picking up a second signal and after following those directions, it is now working.
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1-17-2006 @ 2:09PM
dmb said...
Don't do this. Tivo is a good product with a few very rare bad apples, which don't spoil the bunch. My Tivo 1 which I bought in 2000 is still churning and I'm about to give it to my boss to try. My Tivo 2 has served me for four years. Yeh, I hit a rough stop a year ago after moving into a new place.Every three weeks Tivo would run out guide data and stop recording shows. But after several calls to tech support and help from tivocommunity, I was able to figure out that this was due to some changes in my home network setup (i'd put in a stricter firewall).
You are moving from a quality product to a product with bad reputation. With Tivo 3 coming on the market this year (6 tuners!!!!), I think this is a bad choice.
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1-17-2006 @ 2:09PM
La Rue said...
We recently switched from a 40hr Tivo box to a 110hr Dish Network DVR. The new box "burps" a lot more and is missing a lot of minor functions but overall it's not to bad.....of course this won't mean a whole lot since you have DirecTV.
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1-17-2006 @ 2:16PM
Matt said...
So, stupid question. Does TIVO have a dual tuner?
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1-17-2006 @ 2:32PM
Scott said...
I don't understand. Why can't you keep both hooked up?
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1-17-2006 @ 2:55PM
MySpace said...
Poor Tivo :(
Heh
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1-17-2006 @ 3:32PM
Mike said...
Anna: if you ask for a new Tivo, I believe DTV will provide similar rebates, i.e. $50 upfront cost -- you just have to specify you want Tivo.
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1-17-2006 @ 4:05PM
Carson said...
"Now I'm left to wonder where the hell the hobbit came from."
Oh man, I just hurt myself laughing.
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1-17-2006 @ 4:19PM
Chester_Lampwick said...
Anna,
You can send the TiVo my way. I've got what she needs, and I'll give her a good home.....
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1-17-2006 @ 4:26PM
Howard Owens said...
In one word, DirecTV DVR: SUCKS. There is no other way to put it.
Long story short, I let a DirecTV rep talk me into trying DTV DVR on my second TV. Within a week, the Tivo unit was back on it. It's much harder to use than TIVO (setting up a "season pass" ... not what it's called on the DVR) is not intuitive at all. Plan on wasting a good hour trying to figure it out. Also, forget about it learning what you like and recording recommended shows. It doesn't do that.
You can still get good deals on Tivo from DTV. I was in Circuit City yesterday and they had a DTV Tivo for $50 after rebate.
As we speak, a DirecTV installer is at my house upgrading my to HDTV. I got the DirecTV HDTV sans Tivo and bought a seperate Humax Tivo unit. Why? Because DirecTV doesn't support the latest Tivo (DTV is version 6.2 while Tivo is now 7.2), so I'm going direct to Tivo for my DVR business now. And I wanted HDTV in time for the Super Bowl.
I promise you. You will not be happy with DircTV DVR. Once you've used Tivo, no other DVR will do.
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1-17-2006 @ 4:32PM
Jorge Asch said...
If you ask specifically for a TIVO DVR DirecTV will send you a R10. They are still about $50 each (less than $100 I am sure before rebate). You can allways still get one from eBay also as a last resort.
Either way, if TIVO and DTV part ways, your TiVo DVR will still be able to receive the MPEG2 signal for a long as all the other DTV equipment is out there.
Remember, UltimateTV? (The DVR from Microsoft). It kicked the bucket years ago, yet still works with DirecTV, and DirecTV let's still use it.
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