DVRs, Comcast showing off TiVo-powered DVR
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jan 8th 2007 3:30PM
posted Jan 8th 2007 3:30PM
They took their freaking time getting around to this, but at CES this week Comcast is showing off what they'd been promising to deliver for nearly two years: a cable DVR box with TiVo software on it. It's good news for subscribers who know the pain of Comcast's current DVR offerings, though as of right now we still have yet to learn how much a TiVo-enabled box will cost or when exactly it'll be available.
How does having Tivo software on my Comcast box improve my viewing experience? I can record and playback up to 2 analog or hd channels as it is. So how will having Tivo software improve this is what I want to know?
The basic functionality won't change. As in the amount of channels that you can view and record. The difference is that you'll be using the Tivo software and remote, both of which are widely recognized to be superior and much more intuitive than Comcast's DVR offerings.
Tivo just does everything a little bit better. For example, when you're fast-forward commercials on the Comcast DVR and then hit play, it'll start playing exactly where you hit play, (probably a second or two into your program) but the Tivo is more intuitive and will start playing a couple of seconds before you hit play. Thus your show starts closer to when you intended.
It's a little thing, but all the little things that Tivo does adds up to a much better product. On the other hand, I can think of nothing that the Comcast DVR does better than Tivo.
The best advise would be to just use a Tivo for a couple hours. You'll notice the difference.