Blake Schwendiman's Blog and Blook

A DVR is a device the serves a very simple set of functions. For me, the purposes of a DVR are:

1. To ensure I don't miss my favorite shows
2. To allow me to watch my favorite shows whenever I get around to doing so
3. To re-watch shows if I so choose
4. To skip commercials

Now, in that order, the first one is like 10 times more important than number 2. Then number 2 is ten times more important than number 3 and so on. So when my completely useless Scientific Atlanta DVR (provided by Cox Communications) randomly decides not to record "The Office" or "24" I get really upset.

I had TiVo for years and never had a single issue with recording shows. I set them up and they would record. No problems, no questions, no hassles. My Cox DVR is a babysitting nightmare. Before every important show we have to check to see if the DVR is still set up to record. If not, we have to unplug it, plug it back in, wait for a reboot, then check again and possibly setup our recordings anew. Then occasionally other random weirdness occurs and shows get deleted or cancelled for other inexplicable reasons.

Another problem is this: TiVo sells hardware and its service. For an HD DVR from TiVo I have to pay $800 for the box and then a monthly fee. That's ridiculous. The fee should just be the fee and when my contract expires I send back the box. Like I do with my cable company. TiVo is completely in left field about how to market and place its far superior product. Think Apple computer. They have always had superior software in overpriced boxes. How can't TiVo see that? If you are a software and service company (TiVo, Apple), sell your software and services and let other people deal with the hardware. It's win-win all around.

Plus I'd never miss "The Office" again and that would make me very, very happy.