Dish Network's PVR vs. TiVo
Sep 05 '01
The Bottom Line Don't let Dish Network tell you "it's exactly like TiVo", because it isn't.
I too will put this opinion here until Epinions updates their categories to include all of the video recorders available on the market today.
We have a Tivo unit and absolutely love what it can do for us. After a few months of having it in the living room we started wanting one in the bedroom as well. Dish Network (our satellite provider) came out with the PVR 501 receiver, which they claimed was "everything TiVo is" for a special price of $199 with no monthly service. We thought this would be a great purchase for a second recorder.
Let me make this absolutely clear, Dish's PVR is nothing like TiVo..it is simply a digital VCR and nothing more.
TiVo records shows on a "season Pass". This means that if you say choose "Friends", it will record every episode of Friends that comes on that channel, whether it is a one hour special or even changes time slots or days for one week. Dish's PVR does not do this. With PVR, you must manually change the time it will record as it records off of the time slot rather than the program guide. Alot like a VCR huh? TiVo is much more sophisticated.
TiVo keeps track of shows that you like and dislike so that it can find shows that are similar to your likes and tape them as a suggestion for you to watch at your leisure. This sounds like a trivial thing, but one you grow to really like about TiVo. Face it, many of us have 150 or more channels, how can we possibly surf through all the shows and see everything we like? PVR does not do this.
TiVo allows you to see what is playing on any channel at any time by using wish lists. These wish lists can be arranged by theme (comedy, drama, etc.) by actor (you input which actors you like) or by director (again, you input your favorites). TiVo will tell me whenever a movie with let's say Samuel L. Jackson is playing and on what channel. PVR does not do this.
TiVo will scan every show/movie that is on at all times and if it sees a movie come on that includes one of my favorite actors, it records it for me as a suggestion. PVR does not do this.
All in all, PVR is simply a digital VCR. You must tell it when exactly to start recording and when to stop. If a line up change occurs, you must reprogram. The only difference between it and a VCR is the lack of tapes. TiVo is far more intelligent and user friendly than Dish's PVR.
I tried to return the unit one hour after setting it up only to be told "Sorry, we don't offer a return policy on that. It's a $500 unit that we sold to you for a special price of $199. No returns". Wow, I'm glad I've been a loyal Dish customer for 5 years, not. At least with TiVo, you get to try it out for 7 days to decide whether or not you like it.
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Epinions.com ID:
Beachbummin
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Location: Ruffs Dale PA
Reviews written: 50
Trusted by: 23 members
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