Alternative to Tivo
- Consider subscribing to a cable company that offers cable plus DVR service. Cable companies, such as Comcast and Optimum, offer the option of receiving a regular or high-definition digital video recorder that is integrated with the cable box. Purchase the cable company DVR if you want the ability to receive most of the same DVR features as TiVo with added benefits, such as receiving full support of interactive features and not being required to pay upfront costs. Keep in mind that some cable company DVR offers no networking features and according to TiVo.com, does not provide the ability to download or stream content from the Internet.
- Check out DVR service from satellite providers, such as DirecTV and DISH Network. DVR services from these companies offer the same essential features as TiVo and include multiple tuners.
Purchase DVR service from Dish Network if you want three tuners, 30-second commercial skip, large storage capacity that holds up to 350 hours of standard programming, and the ability to feed separate programs to two television sets. Keep in mind that deals on Dish Network's DVR service require a 24-month commitment and are only offered to new customers, according to Dishnetwork.com.
Purchase DVR service from DirecTV if you need HD programming, two tuners and storage capacity that holds 200 hours of standard programming. Keep in mind that DirecTV HD DVR cannot receive most local HD channels, according to Cnet.com. - Use an application, such as SnapStream's Beyond TV or SageTV Media Center, to turn your personal computer into an effective digital video recorder. Expect features comparable to TiVo from both services, such as the ability to record two programs simultaneously, store and catalog recorded programs, and watch, record, pause and rewind live television shows, according to PCWorld.com.
Purchase SnapStream's Beyond TV if you want an application that gives you the ability to record and compress programming in different formats to save space, burn shows to DVD and sync your recordings to Apple TV, iPods and iPhones. Purchase SageTV Media Center if you're looking for an application that works with basic, cable and satellite television, and offers more flexibility, such as extensive parental controls, widescreen TV support, and a library to organize music and video files.
Keep in mind that SnapStream's Beyond TV and SageTV Media Center require a PC with a TV tuner card, video card, a recommended 256MB of RAM, DirectX 9.0 or greater and Internet access. Be aware that Beyond TV requires 15GB of hard drive space and only works with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista or XP 32-bit operating systems, according Snapstream.com. SageTV Media Center requires 20GB of hard drive space and Java Runtime Environment, reports Sagetv.com. - Consider cost, usability, features, requirements, storage capacity and customer support before deciding which digital video recorder to purchase. Keep in mind that TiVo offers many benefits that you cannot get from other DVRs, including exclusive Internet and home-networking features, such as photo and music streaming, and the ability to receive video and music content from YouTube, Netflix, CinemaNow and Rhapsody. Be aware that you'll need to purchase the TiVo hardware as well as pay a monthly, annual or life (of the unit) subscription fee in addition to your cable or satellite fees---making TiVo more expensive than the other DVR services listed above, according to price comparisons from official company websites as of January 2010.
