Re: Media Center Vs Tivo On Engadget
I’ve been a long time Tivo user and just recently started using Win 7 Media Center. I had been using XP Pro and BeyondTV 4 for my OTA DVR chores as well as watching various types of video clips, DVDs, and Blu-Ray rips stored on an unRAID server. With the (hopefully) upcoming arrival of my Ceton tuner I will finally be retiring my Tivos after a 10+ year association.
I didn’t read through the full laundry list of advantages for each setup on Engadget, but I do take exception when they call it a tie with regards to storage space. They indicated that either platform can be upgraded to as much storage as you want. They obviously did not do their homework in this area or they would know that Tivo has a limit on the size of the hard drives they can use. You’re also limited to the internal drive plus an add-on external drive. I could easily set up a shared folder on my 18TB unRAID server for use with the DVR function in Win 7 MC. I still have lots of room for expansion should I ever decide to upgrade it further.
I don’t recall reading the cost advantages of a Media Center PC vs. a Tivo in the article. Had the author actually done such a comparison he would have quickly realized that a Media Center PC with a Ceton card is an absolute steal in comparison. The only monthly fees attached are for a single cablecard. You’d need two Tivo Premieres with two cablecards and Tivo service agreements for both Tivos, which could easily meet or exceed the hardware costs of a topnotch Media Center PC. If you add in the capability to play DVDs and Blu-Rays, then the HTPC wins hands-down.
I love my Tivos, but I won’t miss the expense of owning them.