| Amid the price breaks on mp3 players and wireless computer technology, it’s clear this winter gadget season has brought TiVo to the tip of the tech-loving tongues.
Much like Kleenex, Q-tips or Wal-Mart pop, though, TiVo is a brand name masquerading as a product name. And that’s good for the marketing department, but confusing for the shopper. If this is the year a satellite finally helps bring in the sight of Jimmy Stewart on Christmas Day, you have two major options: DirecTV and Dish Network. Each comes with its own option in digitally recording TV shows to the hard drive, showing |
| DirecTV |
| A DVR saved my life |
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| Mr. TiVo always smiles. |
| VCRs just what Betamax felt all those years ago. If your decision comes down to which satellite company offers a better DVR (digital video recorder), here are the pros and cons. DirecTV DVR with TiVo Price: $100 for entry-level equipment, $4.95 per month subscription Size: Entry-level holds 40 hours worth of programming Options: A more expensive model allows for greater storage. And while a TiVo for cable viewers is an additional box under the television, the DirecTV TiVo is combined with the normal satellite receiver. Cool points: TiVo stakes its reputation on ease of regular recording. Viewers can search television shows by title and decide to record either every time the show airs or every time a new show airs (ignoring reruns). Also, the software allows for recording by actor/actress for ease in pop culture stalking. Viewing those recorded shows retains such ease. The fast-forward button almost sticks to the points when a show returns to commercial, which allows for fast searching without having to go back and forth. Also, a dual-tuner dish allows you to record two programs at the same time. But … The initial equipment price is a turn-off, and the random shows TiVo thinks you might like can be a pain to delete. No one wants the Spanish-language version of Cannonball Run. No one. See next week’s Aisle Buy That for Dish Network’s offering. |
| Originally published in a December 2004 edition of the MidWeek, as written by Hank Brockett |