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Unlike analog VCRs, Philips's HDR312 personal TV receiver uses TiVo technology to store compressed audio-video data to a computer hard disk. When you're ready to watch a preselected program, the HDR312 retrieves it upon command from a list of shows you've recorded. Among the most revolutionary aspects of the Philips/TiVo server is the ability to pause live broadcasts and either resume a program where you left off or return to the program in real time. For example, while watching live sporting events, you can replay the last eight seconds of the action. You can then return to the live broadcast at any time. Using the palm-size remote, you can rewind and fast-forward pretaped programs, skipping through recorded commercials if you choose. Philips supplies all the necessary cables for setting up the HDR312, including a 50-foot phone line and splitter. You don't need a separate phone line; simply connect the splitter to the wall, connect your phone and receiver cable to the splitter, and you're in business. The phone line is vital, however, for downloading TV listings; recording shows; and receiving TiVo's Suggestions feature, which suggests programs you might enjoy based on your previous selections, and TiVolution Magazine, which offers recommendations on the best programs to watch. After the initial download, the receiver spends about five minutes updating your programming data each night. TiVo's onscreen setup guide includes easy step-by-step instructions. TiVo charges $12.95 a month for its weekly listing service, TiVolution Magazine, and its Suggestions feature, or you can pay a one-time service charge of $299. Once you've selected a program to record, you have four choices of picture quality: basic, medium, high, or best. The higher settings take up more storage space, which translates into fewer hours of available record time.
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 For once, a product that lives up to its ad slogans |
| Review Date: December 18, 1999 |
| Reviewer: E. Yasi, Waltham, MA USA |
| TiVo's claim that they'll change the way you watch TV is completely true. Being able to pause or replay whatever you're currently watching to grab a snack, answer a call, etc. is great. You can't imagine how helpful it is to have almost two weeks of programming information available to pick and chose what to record for the next few days. I'd recommend the 30hr unit over the 14hr if you can afford it. After you start searching the two week guide by program name, channel name, favorite channels, or by time of day you'll quickly find plenty of things you want to record. DirecTV viewers will especially find this useful...it makes all those channels much more manageable, and I prefer the TiVo on-screen guide to the one my DSS box provided. All of the TiVo menus are well thought out, attractive, and *very* easy to use. They include lots of cables - including S-Video, a phone jack splitter (nice touch), and other goodies so almost anyone will find everything they need to hook TiVo up right out of the box. The User's Guide is helpful too, for people who are a little less sure of themselves around stuff like this. I picked TiVo over ReplayTV because of their close alliance with DirecTV (DirecTV has invested in them), and from reading other people's comments in newsgroups and other forums. After I spent about half an hour going through the program guide and giving various programs 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' ratings (one of the cooler features of TiVo), it came up with a whole bunch of other programs it suggested I might like. I'm probably sounding like a company spokesperson, but I'm not, I'm just a *very* happy new user of TiVo! |
More TiVo is better TiVo
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| Review Date: February 5, 2000 |
| Reviewer: Rachael Bellomy, Knoxville,Tn. |
| I'm now a two TiVo family! Iput my model 112 in my bedroomand hooked up my model 312 tomy living room televison.My new 312 looks identical to the112 but does weigh a few morepounds.I now have enough storage capacity to record just about everything I'd wantto see that comes out of thecable company's wire!The onlythings I watch live anymoreare news and sports.I use my312 to record mostly movies and documentaries.I use my112 in the bedroom to recordStar Trek and 20/20.I lovewatching an episode of Trekevery night before slumbering.The 312 is everything the 112is but double the recordingcapacity. Be warned that thisis not really a 30 hour unit!The lowest record quality (basic) will yield 30 hours ofrecording but the quality stinks! Basic quality is best-suited for recording radio! The three higher video qualities designated medium,high,and best all look goodon my 32 inch TV.I use mostlymedium and high,so my "30 hourunit" gives me 14 to 18 hoursof space.The big model,312,isvery-much the one to get ifyou want to grab movies offpremium channels,like I do.If you have a big projectionTV,you might want to use "best" video quality for movies.You would stille get9 hours of space with the 312.The small unit would only hold4 hours at "best" quality,noteven enough space for two longmovies.I have a Super VHS VCRand TiVo equals or surpassesit in every respect.The onlything I use it for is to duba program off TiVo that I wantto keep,ocassionally.I no longer care what time showsor movies run in.Networkschedules are irrelevant to me.TiVo puts me in charge.TiVo comes with more cablesthan any other audio/videodevice I've ever bought.There's no way you'llhave to run to the store fora cable.S-video,RCA type,IRblaster,serial (to controlsattelite or cable box),50feet of telephone wire,justabout anything you might need,it's included!Buy TiVo if youwant to grab all the bestprograming off your TV serviceand watch it at your convience.Buy the big unit,model 312,if you need space torecord movies.If all you wantto do is record a few shortshows a week buy the littleunit,model 112.If you're anaudio vidiot like me buy both!Take control of your TV withTiVo, you'll be glad you did! |
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