You must be comparing the 522 to a "standalone" Tivo... DirecTivos also have dual tuners and only record in "best" mode (i.e. they record the MPEG compressed satellite data - you get the identical video on playback as when viewed live).rolandv said:
Help: Should I or Shouldn't I???
- Thread starter palermo22
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palermo22 said:
Honestly, if I had DirecTV already I MIGHT go with a DirecTivo box, but probably not. The thing is you can't use a DirecTivo with 2 TV's. The 522 can connect to two TV's in two different rooms. Both TV's have the ability to record and watch their own shows using the 1 box. Also, I could be wrong, but I think DirecTivo's only give you 40 hours of recording. That's nothing compared to 100 hours. The ability to use one box for 2 rooms saves me $5 because I don't get an "additional receiver" fee. I'm not sure how much the DirecTivo programming costs, but I think it's more than $5 unless you have like one of those $90 premium packages.
So, there are pros and cons to both, but for me the 522 is more bang for the buck.
I have the Directv tivo - I purchased mine a little over a year ago and I get 35 hours worth of programming. I also do pay for one additional outlet. For their total choice package with HBO and local channels and using the Tivo and one additional outlet - I am paying $62! For that reason and because I can get the Sprint $5 discount - I am contemplating a change.
I think that E* has decided to extend the promotion until the end of the year so you have time to make your informed decision. I have seen a few quirks with the 522 but not all that bad. I used to have the 501 and really do like having 100 hours over 20 hours of storage space. I essentially had no problems what so ever with the 501 so it amazes me that E* cannot get the 522 worked out. I work for a company where I am a Test Engineer, our products are buggy as hell at first, but we work them out, it does boggle my mind E* cannot get theirs worked out. In addition, I may be wrong but does the 522 not remember the last two hours of recording (bearing you have not changed the channel)?
palermo22 said:
I have the DN Americas Top 120, local channels, and HBO/Cinemax package. For this I pay $56 plus taxes. Right around $62 all in all.
I have the 522 unit connected to two separate TVs and a phone to the unit so I don't have to pay the $4.99 charge if you don't have a phone to it.
But heres my stance on the DVRs. "If" I had never had a Tivo before I would be tickled pink in what the 522 can do, DVR wise that is. But since I have had, and still do have, Tivo I can see the many short comings of the 522 as a DVR.
Not to say I'm ragging on it or anything like that. I think its a great unit. Granted its in its infancy and has lots of bugs that may or may not affect you. I've had the stuck recordings that you discover 8 hours later and have to cancel before it wipes out the rest of your recordings. I've had the failed timer events. I've had the 1 or 2 hour updates too. But I still like this unit. Since I do still have a Tivo I'll trust it to record what I definitely don't want to miss and let the 522 catch the rest.
So in essence I think I'm saying what some others have said. The $5 savings is not going to materialize as savings. If you have DirecTivo and like it you may get a sour surprise with the 522. Not to say the 522 is POS just that its a very buggy, unreliable, DVR at this point. But it will get better. Even Tivo wasn't 100% on day one.
