HD Tivo basic review by CNet

[scottchez]

Cnet.com has release a review on the new HD DVRs

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7912_1-5116597-1.html?tag=ftnav

[jwwahly]

Now this is the kind of stuff i dream about,then i get a polite smack accross my head from the wife that says NO WAY ARE WE SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY ON TV. OH WELL MAYBE ILL HIT THE LOTTERY.

[kilowiz]

Cnet.com has release a review on the new HD DVRs

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7912_1-5116597-1.html?tag=ftnav

Verrry interesting ... "The antenna hookup is required since DirecTV can't deliver local HDTV stations, such as ABC and CBS, via satellite."

$1,000 for the HD Discovery Channel and HD ESPN? No way!

As the price goes up, DirecTV has to offer value to justify the dollars. They aren't doing it so far.

[DJSix]

Verrry interesting ... "The antenna hookup is required since DirecTV can't deliver local HDTV stations, such as ABC and CBS, via satellite."

$1,000 for the HD Discovery Channel and HD ESPN? No way!

Imagine a pipe with the circumference of 1 inch, which is providing current D* programming. Now from the specs of the HDTivo, we know that HD programming takes up to 6.67 times more space than standard programming (30 hours of HD recording vs 200 hours of SD recording). We also know that D* plans to ultimately offer locals in the top 210 markets. Lastly, figure around an average of 6 HD signals per local (abc, cbs, fox, upn, wb). So now we take 1 x 6.67 x 210 x 6 = 8,404.2 inches. Divide that by 12 and you get a pipe with the circumference of just over 700 feet. That's a lot of bandwith to provide. I have a feeling D* is going to same with providing HD locals as they have been with providing locals, bit by bit; city by city.

As the price goes up, DirecTV has to offer value to justify the dollars. They aren't doing it so far.

It's the law of technology, when a new technology is released, it's inherently expensive. Examples:

1) People who jumped into D* in it's infantcy, spent a few grand to get the service, now new customers get 3 rooms free.

2) I bought a 386-33, 1 mb Ram, 250 mb hd, 14.4 modem, etc for $1,500 in 1995, you can now get a p4 with a LOT more power for half the price (or maybe even cheaper).

3) My family won a drawing for a vcr in 1980 that was worth over $1,000, you can now get vcr's around $40.

I agree that the projected price of $999 is a bit high for the HD Tivo, that's why I plan to buy a standard Tivo reciever in the meantime. When the price comes down, as it will, I place the standard Tivo in the bedroom, and the HD Tivo where it belongs, with my HDTV. :)

[Chris Blount]

Bump

[willy]

Well, I highly doubt that D* will offer locals in many areas with HD. Thats an INSANE amount of bandwidth- and seeing that they cannot change compression algorithms or to 8spk/other without changing STB hardware, id say its all BS. All locals in 210 markets in HD = BS. Sure, they are putting new birds up. Still not enough room for 210 markets * 6 channels (Avg)... thats the equivilant of over 8400 SD channels of bandwidth. I'd say its doubtful IMO.

[jabroni]

Verrry interesting ... "The antenna hookup is required since DirecTV can't deliver local HDTV stations, such as ABC and CBS, via satellite."

$1,000 for the HD Discovery Channel and HD ESPN? No way!

As the price goes up, DirecTV has to offer value to justify the dollars. They aren't doing it so far.

I get CBS from direct via satellite and soon I will get the FOX digital channel as well (which will be HD this fall). Combine those channels with the two movie channels and I will be glad to have a HD DVR. Especially this fall when all of the Sunday ticket games are broadcast in HD!
;)