Tivo Will Change Your Life!
Written: May 21 '04
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Pros: I don't need a Palm Pilot to organize my TV Scheduele anymore!
Cons: Only works on one TV, but cheap enough to buy another.
The Bottom Line: Hughes DVR/Directv Receiver is a bargain, easy to use, and is a great luxury which will change the way you watch Television.
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| jadydangel's Full Review: Hughes SDDVR120 (120 GB) 100-Hours Video Recorder |
Darn!! I forgot Law and Order was on tonight!!!!
I will never utter those words again. Why?
TIVO!!!
Tivo has changed my life. I don't consider myself an avid TV fan. There are not a great number of shows I watch regularly. That's why I waited to purchase a DVR in the first place. But even with my light-Television-Habits, I still love the options Tivo and DVR have given me. I purchased my Hughes DVR recorder through Directv for $99.00. when my other DirecTV Receiver stopped working. This included installation and replaced my Directv Receiver as well. I have also seen the same receiver at Best Buy and other stores for the same price, but without installation. It has 40 hours of recording capabilities, and can be routed to a VCR to save my saved programs to tape. To use the DVR, you must subscribe to TIVO. This costs, in addition to what I am already paying for Directv Satellite: $4.99.
What a Baaaargain!
We remember those commercials when DVR technology was new: "It's PRIME TIME...and I'm LEAVING the house!! I am NOW....ON THE PORCH!!!" Let me tell you: They weren't exaggerating. A Slave To Your TV? Not Anymore! Read on...
Features:
I can set up a "Season Pass" for my favorite shows. This means that, every time a new episode of Stargate SG-1 is on, regardless of channel or time, my DVR will record it for me...even when I'm NOT THERE!
My Hughes DVR automatically records each half-hour block of a show I am watching...this way, when the phone rings and someone in Guam wants to know if I'd like to switch long distance carriers, I can Pause Live Television to answer the phone. I can even Rewind and watch again if I missed something!!
Commercials?? What commercials? I can record any show, and start watching it about 8 minutes in. When the show comes to commercial, I hit the skip button, which I've programmed to skip 30 seconds at a time. Viola! No Commercials!!!!
Insomnia? No More Infomercials!! With Hughes DVR and Tivo, I don't have to watch Frank's Amazing Food Dehydrating and Shower Massage Machine at 3 am when I can't sleep! I've got 5 shows in my "List" of digitally recorded items to choose from! I'll never buy another Salad Shooter again!
Dinner Ran Late!! We'll Miss That News Story
You can program your DVR to record a show ONE TIME, so you can go have that anniversary dinner, and you won't miss American Survivor of Dramatic Plastic Surgery with My Average Father!
But I want to watch Jeopardy AND Millionaire!! Not to worry...Hughes DVR has the capability to record TWO shows at once...OR record one show while you watch another!
Okay, Now How Do I Use It?
I set up my Hughes DVR on my own. I didn't even read the manual. There is a "Menu" button on the remote, and it will walk you through any actions you want to take. There is a live-action demo, and there are step-by-step instructions for each function as you choose it. Navigating the options is simple and before anything is changed, a prompt pops up to ensure no mistakes are made.
The Technology
DVR (Digital Video Recording) utilizes a hard drive, like a computer, to save a lot of data in a little space. In the space that my Hughes DVR/Directv receiver takes up, I can save 40 hours of data: TV Shows, movies, sports, etc. When I delete a show, the space on the hard is cleared, and I can use it again. Like a satellite receiver, a phone line connects to a modem, and is constantly updating the program guide, information, and clock. Your Hughes DVR receiver can only be used on one television, so if you want to use it on more than one, you'll have to purchase another receiver. I did, and found it well worth it!
The End
The Hughes' DVR/Directv Receiver was most definitely worth the $99.00 I paid for it and the installation. The $4.99 monthly fee to use Tivo is a small price to pay to not be a slave to my television ever again.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99.00
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Epinions.com ID:
jadydangel
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Location: Miami, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
~*No Day But Today*~
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