Panasonic DMR-BW500i 500GB Blu-Ray Disc Recorder

[aaronwt]

It seems it would be cheaper and easier to just get a PC burner. I can already transfer my HD recordings to my PC with my TiVos, then I could burn them to BD if i wanted to, but with the TiVo I can just archive it on the PC(I have around 20TB available on my Network) and watch it from any of my TiVos later, or transfer it to a portable hard drive(I have a several with 1TB) and take it to my girlfriends to watch the HD on her TiVos.
I've been recording and archiving HD since 2001 so I have many Terabytes of recordings. Way to many to put them on an optical format. Hard drives are much cheaper and hold much more content.

[crazzeto]

You know... I really do feel that Tivo is the best of the stand alone PVR designs by far... If it didn't cost so much I would so trade out my Scientific Atlantic for a series III

[chipvideo]

You know... I really do feel that Tivo is the best of the stand alone PVR designs by far... If it didn't cost so much I would so trade out my Scientific Atlantic for a series III

$299 is MSRP on it. You can get it cheaper like $249. Best thing is you own the recordings on it. With the comcast box if you lose your cable connection you can't even watch the stuff you have recorded on it.

I have 2 tivo3's and they are so much better than the POS moto boxes. Add a 750gig ext drive to it and you have 1TB storage.

Even my 5 year old knows how to watch her recorded dora and other stuff.

[hifiguymi]

Ahhhh - you will still need cable cards - the cbl. co. has to have the ability to make money off you even if you buy your own STB. The TIVO is about the only consumer owned CBL STB (HD) that you can buy. Cisco and Motorola don't sell to the public.

This is the "operating system" for the CC's.

A SAT STB would be different.

Don't these sell for something like $1500 to $1800 in Japan?

I know you will need cable cards with Tru2way. My point is the current ones, and the hardware that uses them, will be phased out. All of what is currently availible is only one way. That is why you only see one arrow pointing to the cables end (the end that would go into the TV or DVR) on the logo for cable card product. In the future there will be two (if they keep that logo).

[Lee Stewart]

$299 is MSRP on it. You can get it cheaper like $249. Best thing is you own the recordings on it. With the comcast box if you lose your cable connection you can't even watch the stuff you have recorded on it.

I have 2 tivo3's and they are so much better than the POS moto boxes. Add a 750gig ext drive to it and you have 1TB storage.

Even my 5 year old knows how to watch her recorded dora and other stuff.

What about the Tivo Fee? How much is the "lifetime fee?"

[Lee Stewart]

I know you will need cable cards with Tru2way. My point is the current ones, and the hardware that uses them, will be phased out. All of what is currently availible is only one way. That is why you only see one arrow pointing to the cables end (the end that would go into the TV or DVR) on the logo for cable card product. In the future there will be two (if they keep that logo).

What hardware are you speaking of (phased out) . . HD capable?

[chipvideo]

What about the Tivo Fee? How much is the "lifetime fee?"

The lifetime fee was pretty expensive, but I was so fed up with missed recordings and glitches with my moto box that the tivo just made sense. Reliability is worth it to me.

I pay $6.95 for the service on my second box.

Like I said I rather own my recordings with the tivo. Got all 6 star wars recorded in OAR and all 3 Back to the Future movies.

[Lee Stewart]

The lifetime fee was pretty expensive, but I was so fed up with missed recordings and glitches with my moto box that the tivo just made sense. Reliability is worth it to me.

I pay $6.95 for the service on my second box.

Like I said I rather own my recordings with the tivo. Got all 6 star wars recorded in OAR and all 3 Back to the Future movies.

You may also pay annually for your TiVo service at $129 a year, prepay for three (3) years at $299 (renews annually after 3 years) or purchase a Product Lifetime Service (as described below) at $399. Promotional Pricing may be available from time-to-time.

For service plans activated before May 15, 2008, see prior terms & conditions.

http://www.tivo.com/abouttivo/polici...onditions.html

[hifiguymi]

What hardware are you speaking of (phased out) . . HD capable?

I guess I should have said compatibility will be phased out. If someone has a current Pioneer TV, for example, and is using a cable card on the existing system (the one way system) it will not work with the new Tru2way system. They will have to switch to a cable box (or get a new TV). Things like the current Tivo boxes will be phased out and replaced with units that will be Tru2way compatible. It remains to be seen if Tivo will offer a low cost, or free, replacement when that time comes.

One good thing about the new system is it will make integrators, like myself, jobs easier not dealing with cable boxes unless someone wants a DVR. And who knows, maybe TV companies will start offering DVRs in their TVs like LG did for a little while.

[badasscabletech]

Ahhhh - you will still need cable cards - the cbl. co. has to have the ability to make money off you even if you buy your own STB. The TIVO is about the only consumer owned CBL STB (HD) that you can buy. Cisco and Motorola don't sell to the public.

This is the "operating system" for the CC's.

A SAT STB would be different.

Don't these sell for something like $1500 to $1800 in Japan?

They all make money off us no matter which provider u use. Even with TIVO Series 3 or HD u still need cable and cablecards. But on the Tru2way front there are a slew of new devices that are consumer owned that will be available in the coming months. From Tv's to DVR's and DVD-R's (hopefully that BD-R as well.) And since Sony is a major player in the whole Tru2way I can see it being placed in their BD-R first at a price that makes it hard on all the other CE's.

[Lee Stewart]

They all make money off us no matter which provider u use. Even with TIVO Series 3 or HD u still need cable and cablecards. But on the Tru2way front there are a slew of new devices that are consumer owned that will be available in the coming months. From Tv's to DVR's and DVD-R's (hopefully that BD-R as well.) And since Sony is a major player in the whole Tru2way I can see it being placed in their BD-R first at a price that makes it hard on all the other CE's.

Were these products announced at CES?

Sony is a major player? How is that? I am under the impression that Tru2way is the work of CableLabs - the R & D company that works for the entire cable industry. Is Sony part of CableLabs?

[hifiguymi]

Were these products announced at CES?

Sony is a major player? How is that? I am under the impression that Tru2way is the work of CableLabs - the R & D company that works for the entire cable industry. Is Sony part of CableLabs?

Did you read the article from TWICE that I linked to? If so, there is another link in the article about Sony's involvement in Tru2way.

[badasscabletech]

Were these products announced at CES?

Sony is a major player? How is that? I am under the impression that Tru2way is the work of CableLabs - the R & D company that works for the entire cable industry. Is Sony part of CableLabs?

Read my name buddy. I'm in that business. Tru2way has been in development for quite a few years now. The original CC was a good idea but was flawed by every CE, The only 3 CC mfgs, and cable companies not agreeing on a standard. That's why there were so many compatibility issues that crippled it's success. Not to mention that it was obsolete b4 it was even launched. The original CC1.0 devices can be compared to BD 1.0. Funny thing is the TIVO is like the PS3 for CC devices. the only one that is close "futureproof."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-99...tml?tag=blog.1

[Lee Stewart]

Did you read the article from TWICE that I linked to? If so, there is another link in the article about Sony's involvement in Tru2way.

OK - I read that article and I believe we are discussing two different things here - It appears I have not understood what you said.

You gave me the impression that Sony was involved in the creation of Tru2way - they were not.

They are the first CE who has committed to sell Tru2way equipped devices but not the first to announce a Tru2way device - Panasonic did at CES - according to the CNET link.

So aren't all the CEM's going to sell Tru2way devices (those that sell HD related products)?

Why would this be special for Sony?

[badasscabletech]

OK - I read that article and I believe we are discussing two different things here - It appears I have not understood what you said.

You gave me the impression that Sony was involved in the creation of Tru2way - they were not.

They are the first CE who has committed to sell Tru2way equipped devices but not the first to announce a Tru2way device - Panasonic did at CES - according to the CNET link.

So aren't all the CEM's going to sell Tru2way devices (those that sell HD related products)?

Why would this be special for Sony?

Yes they all are, but Sony is going to be the first to flood the market and they are helping to finalize the standard so there are no more compatibility issues. So believe if there's a BD-R coming out by Panny, believe Sony's is in the wings and loaded w/bells and whistles. And as of late Sony has been doing very well buy pushing new tech in the market (PS3). So it only fits that they release a 2.0 BD-R w/ Tru2Way to continue sticking it to every other BD CE.