The Series3 does record two different channels at once. It has six tuners - two analog, two ATSC for SD/HD from an antenna, and two QAM for SD/HD from cable. It features two CableCard slots so it can record every channel that your cable box can tune. With the off-air tuners, it can also record local HD/SD broadcasts that you don't get on cable. The Series3 records the original digital signal off cable and the airwaves so all SD/HD channels are recorded at 100% original quality.
At $799 MSRP, it is pricy. Hopefully, $799 MSRP will translate into $600 at Unternet vendors like Amazon.com and Buy.com. Tivo is currently running a $150 rebate for its DVRs, so perhaps that will be available as well.
You will have to pay for service -- $12.99/mo if you have one box, $6.99/mo if you have more than one.
Is it worth the price? Obviously that will vary from person to person. There's no question that the Tivo is substantially more reliable in its operation and recordings. It also incorporates a much larger hard drive and supports external expansion with SATA drives, for virtually unlimited HDTV recording capacity.
If you want a DVR with substantially more capacity, that is very easy to use, and offers a very high level of reliability -- i.e. no missed recordings -- then the Series3 may be for you. Personally, I don't mind paying for peace of mind. Coming home from work and finding that the DVR failed to record my favorite show the night before is not an experience that I care to repeat on a regular basis. With the Tivo, I don't have to deal with such things, and that is worth extra money to me.
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The Series3 does record two different channels at once. It has six tuners - two analog, two ATSC for SD/HD from an antenna, and two QAM for SD/HD from cable. It features two CableCard slots so it can record every channel that your cable box can tune. With the off-air tuners, it can also record local HD/SD broadcasts that you don't get on cable. The Series3 records the original digital signal off cable and the airwaves so all SD/HD channels are recorded at 100% original quality.
At $799 MSRP, it is pricy. Hopefully, $799 MSRP will translate into $600 at Unternet vendors like Amazon.com and Buy.com. Tivo is currently running a $150 rebate for its DVRs, so perhaps that will be available as well.
You will have to pay for service -- $12.99/mo if you have one box, $6.99/mo if you have more than one.
Is it worth the price? Obviously that will vary from person to person. There's no question that the Tivo is substantially more reliable in its operation and recordings. It also incorporates a much larger hard drive and supports external expansion with SATA drives, for virtually unlimited HDTV recording capacity.
If you want a DVR with substantially more capacity, that is very easy to use, and offers a very high level of reliability -- i.e. no missed recordings -- then the Series3 may be for you. Personally, I don't mind paying for peace of mind. Coming home from work and finding that the DVR failed to record my favorite show the night before is not an experience that I care to repeat on a regular basis. With the Tivo, I don't have to deal with such things, and that is worth extra money to me.