In addition to a brief demo (keeping in mind many 921 customers do not have a 721), I would also like to see an expected release timetable for features that won't be available at time of release. A number of potential customers are particularly anxious to see a release timetable for features such as JVC D-VHS support and OTA network program guide information. A number of customers will hold off on the 921 until Firewire is either active, or there is firm information on when it will be active.
During the chat, I would like to see one or more slides something like:
These timetables will probably have a lot to do with whether new customers (who won't see the chat, but will read about it online) will buy the 921, or elect to hold off until the HDTV Tivo is available late next spring. Without these timetables, some customers may just elect to hold off for the HDTV Tivo instead, figuring that "the 921 will be buggy like the 721...Dish makes all these promises about features but they never deliver." Of course, the more reasons people are given to fork over money for the 921 (available HD programming will play a big part too), the less incentive they will have to wait for the Tivo.
In the ideal case, Dish would show demos of some future functionality -- like a brief demo of a future beta release with D-VHS support in action--so customers can see that Dish is actively working on it. Recent delays in the 721 software have not helped to quell anxiety over the question of timely software updates. Some of Dish's detractors have argued that Firewire D-VHS support will never be enabled on the 921. Clarifying the reason(s) for the delay in Firewire support, and a demo of the D-VHS in action might help to quell some of these concerns.
I would also like to see Dish briefly address the question of upgradability, specifically that relating to the potential installation of a second hard drive. The 921 customers will be, on average, more interested in the possibility of expanding the capacity of the product, particularly given it's comparatively limited capacity for HD relative to SD-only models. The ability to add a second 250+Gb disk should be a big selling point for the HDTV Tivo among enthusiasts, and the 921 might be seen as less capable if it lacks upgrade capability. This is not like a $99-$299 SD DVR that many can afford to easily replace for capacity reasons; a $1000 investment is one that most people expect to last for at least several years, so they want to know that are set for the future (and upgradability/expandability is a big part of that).
During the chat, I would like to see one or more slides something like:
These timetables will probably have a lot to do with whether new customers (who won't see the chat, but will read about it online) will buy the 921, or elect to hold off until the HDTV Tivo is available late next spring. Without these timetables, some customers may just elect to hold off for the HDTV Tivo instead, figuring that "the 921 will be buggy like the 721...Dish makes all these promises about features but they never deliver." Of course, the more reasons people are given to fork over money for the 921 (available HD programming will play a big part too), the less incentive they will have to wait for the Tivo.
In the ideal case, Dish would show demos of some future functionality -- like a brief demo of a future beta release with D-VHS support in action--so customers can see that Dish is actively working on it. Recent delays in the 721 software have not helped to quell anxiety over the question of timely software updates. Some of Dish's detractors have argued that Firewire D-VHS support will never be enabled on the 921. Clarifying the reason(s) for the delay in Firewire support, and a demo of the D-VHS in action might help to quell some of these concerns.
I would also like to see Dish briefly address the question of upgradability, specifically that relating to the potential installation of a second hard drive. The 921 customers will be, on average, more interested in the possibility of expanding the capacity of the product, particularly given it's comparatively limited capacity for HD relative to SD-only models. The ability to add a second 250+Gb disk should be a big selling point for the HDTV Tivo among enthusiasts, and the 921 might be seen as less capable if it lacks upgrade capability. This is not like a $99-$299 SD DVR that many can afford to easily replace for capacity reasons; a $1000 investment is one that most people expect to last for at least several years, so they want to know that are set for the future (and upgradability/expandability is a big part of that).
