I gave your post a thumbs up, because it discusses an important issue & does exemplify the frustrations felt by former TiVo owners with DirectTV service.
Not being a former Tivo owner, but rather a ReplayTV owner, DirecTV's HD DVR does have its problems, & I think some of the engineers who doesn't this machine had to be morons b/c of some of the stupid features & kinks with the software. Nevertheless, the machine is not as bad as this blogger would like all to believe.
Don't have personal knowledge of each owner's problems, but I'd have to guess some of the first boxes to be released might have all these problems notwitstanding all the software upgrades, which BTW, I've only had two since "leasing" my machine in February.
I got one of the boxes with "the most current software" installed, so I may not experience what others might experience who've had the machine for just under a year. I haven't had problems with recording shows, but have been growing increasingly impatient with what DBSTalk.com posters term "keybounce." Beyond that, there's just a lotta bad design that went into the user interface. My conclusion that whoever was responsible is pretty much clueless how to design a user interface.
Unfortunately, provider-furnished DVRs is what we have to look forward to in the future. Clear to me that w/o a solid-exclusive relationship with a provider, TiVo would be toast. Company, really, shoulda been bought by DirecTV a few years ago, but Murdoch wanted to steer business towards NDS, which he owns or has a controlling interest. With Murdoch out of the picture, & if the current HD DVR continues to be problematic & some subs go elsewhere, perhaps DTV under Malone might reconsider a new relationship with TiVo, in which present TiVo ownership would be amenable. Because MSOs rely upon MOT or SFA/CSCO for other equipment such as STBs, modems & the like, I just don't see TiVo ever having a "comfortable & secure" relationship with a Comcast or other MSO. JMO. |
