TiVo HD (series 3 lite)

Looks like the Series 3 lite version is official, dubbed TiVo HD. The "buy now" link currently goes to an error page, but I suspect any day now that will be a live order form.

The specifications are up and it sounds like it has a 160Gb hard drive instead of the full Series 3's 250Gb drive and the FAQ answers just about every other question imaginable.

It's good to see a cheaper dual-tuner HD recorder come out of TiVo and I think it'll sell way better than the Series 3 did, but as I've said before, it confuses their product line to have two products of similar capabilities at vastly different pricing.

Comments

[Dave Zatz]

"it confuses their product line to have two products of similar capabilities at vastly different pricing."

It'll only confuse things for another few months as I expect they'll retire the original Series3. And once they do I expect they'll offer another TiVo HD with a larger capacity drive. The crazy thing is that they began planning this new model months before the Series3 launched.

[MegaZone]

Yeah, I said the same thing in my review (http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/07/24/tivo-hd-aka-series3-lite-announced-and-reviewed/) - they'll either have to drop the price on the original S3 drastically, or discontinue it.

The TiVo HD platform seems to be positioned to replace the S2DT and the existing S3 over time, and I think the S3 would go first.

Perhaps they'll stop manufacturing it and just sell the existing stock to 'high end' buyers for now.

[Eric J]

I'm tempted, because I really hate Cox's interface. But I just added a 500G external drive to my SA 8300, and I'd hate to lose all that space. Plus, I saw Verizon Fios trucks laying fiber in my neighborhood yesterday, and I'd like to give them a chance.

Is Fios required to provide a Cablecard on demand, or is the technology and regulatory structure different enough that they don't?

I do miss my TiVo guy. Bloo-doop!

[Eric J]

Also, when the SATA port is activated, is it going to be proprietary drives only, or will you be able to bring your own? (And if it is proprietary, how long before it's hacked?)

[Matt Haughey]

The SATA port is already active on the Series 3 Tivo, and any SATA drive works in it.

[Scott]

Biggest question to me is whether the TiVo HD will have the eSATA port to be able to add capacity. The other "downgrades" seem to be livable.

[Scott]

Ooops, missed that the first time through reading the specs. Looks like eSATA port is there!

[Anders Bjers]

The TiVo HD is a great option for consumers looking for a way to make a smooth and smart transition to DTV in the U.S. The Tivo HD is a less pricy PVR for those who are looking for a box that can convert digital broadcasts to analog. Will manufacturers of converter boxes w. built in PVR match this TiVo? Will TiVo target the consumers affected by the transition in 2009?

[Wendell]

So I paid a $500 premium for 90GB of Hard Drive space?
Thanks Tivo!

[Adam]

Kind of crappy that there's no TVtoGo or multi-room viewing.

I haven't moved up to an HD TV yet anyway, so I think I'll keep holding. Maybe by Christmas of '08 there will be a model that has all the bells and whistles.

[Ben]

Did the eSATA come enabled by default on the orignal S3, or was it hacked? I ordered one of these new guys and the only thing I wish it had was the eSATA enabled. 20 hrs of HD is not that much.

[Wayne]

Putting in a 160GB is ridiculous in 2007. They shouldn't be putting in anything smaller than 500GB - the wholesale price difference between 160GB and 500GB can't be that much as the retail difference is about $40 or less. I personally stopped buying drives smaller than 250GB a couple of years ago as they are a waste of an interface.