TiVo Available in Canada - Page 6 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ladybugblue · 2007-11-30, 01:40 PM

The biggest improvement for using the networking or wireless (you can use either depending on how close your tivo is to your router), is that you can use the home media options. Tivo allows you to be able to download files from the tivo to your computer or laptop and burn them to DVD. Tivotogo is the software tivo provides for downloading the programs and there is other software that can encode the .tivo files to mpeg such as videoredo.

Also, you can schedule shows/movies through a web browser, so if you forgot to set up a recording you can tell tivo to record something. You can still do this but with the wireless tivo checks for updates about every hour so changes to your schedule or to the programming scheduling gets update more often.

Lastly, if you have more than one tivo in the home with the home network you can move programs from tivo to tivo. If you are using the phone line these options won't work.

salinger · 2007-11-30, 11:36 PM

Just looking around on the Tivo site... Am I wrong, or is the same box they're selling here in Canada for $199.99 selling for only $99.99 in the US?

I know sometimes our expectations with an at par dollar may not be fair to retailers (or so we're led to believe) but 100% markup? They limit their offering in Canada to the most basic box they offer, and then charge us double for it? Is it the same box, or am I missing something?

classicsat · 2007-12-01, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcclubs

Now that Tivo is offically here in Canada I am considering buying a unit. I downloaded the install instructions from the US and they recommend using a network (wired or wireless) over a phone line.

My wireless connection in my house seems unstable and I would think the phone line would therefore be preferred.

Any downside to using the phone line?

You might not find a local dial-in, so have to pay long distance charges to connect to a dial-in you can access.
There is no toll-free dial-in for normal the daily calls, just the initial dial-in to get your list of potential local dial-ins.

You won't get access to home networking and online features. If possible, use a wired connection to your router.

Yes, it is the same unit that sells for $199 in Canada that sells for $99 in the US. Sucks, but what can you do. It could be the "early adopter" pricing scheme TiVo has been known to do. Drop the price when you have all the first time payers sold.

ladybugblue · 2007-12-02, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salinger

Just looking around on the Tivo site... Am I wrong, or is the same box they're selling here in Canada for $199.99 selling for only $99.99 in the US?

I know sometimes our expectations with an at par dollar may not be fair to retailers (or so we're led to believe) but 100% markup? They limit their offering in Canada to the most basic box they offer, and then charge us double for it? Is it the same box, or am I missing something?

As the other poster indicated it is the same box. The problem I see is that Tivo directly is selling their boxes so they can take little to no profit so that you sign up for the programming. I am sure places like Best Buy, London Drugs, etc. wouldn't like that deal very much. Hopefully tivo will start selling the Tivo's directly to consumers in the future.

talldude123 · 2007-12-02, 10:19 PM

I don't see why TiVo needs $13/month when you purchase the box for $200. What does that go towards? I'll stick with my DVD recorder, even if it only does 480P

Nuje · 2007-12-03, 01:22 AM

Is TiVo still yet to turn a profit? I remember when they were first widely released in the US, and thinking that this would be a gold-mine (hardware PLUS monthly fee).....but they were bleeding red ink by the bucket.
I wonder if they're doing any better these days.... (?)

ladybugblue · 2007-12-03, 09:26 AM

I know it seems very steep, but the software and updates to programming and such are what you are paying for. The software for Tivo is better than for other products that I have looked at that are available.

classicsat · 2007-12-03, 12:35 PM

TiVo considers themseves an ongoing service first, mostly in the guide data and guide recording features. The hardware is a means to sell that service.

talldude123 · 2007-12-03, 08:00 PM

TiVo is now available at FS Langford, BC. I just stocked it in today at 10AM, and there is only one remaining out of the 5 that were available.

IanR · 2007-12-04, 09:42 PM

Others have mentioned that you can get a US Tivo for less and now activate it in Canada, but there's another reason to do so. It's not well known but there were a small number of Series 2 Tivo's that came with what is known as "Basic Tivo" support which means you don't have to pay the $13/mo but you do get 3 days worth of Guide data in advance. I think you do loss some other functions such as the profiling but some of these models also come with a recordable DVD drive for offloading which is a handy feature that most other PVRs don't offer. You also lose the Home Media Option which allows you to do things like offload over your network to another PC .. or vice-versa.
I picked up mine on eBay a couple of years ago for about $150 if I recall.
Here's a site that markets upgraded Tivo's for those who don't think 80GB is enough. The link will take you to their 'buyers guide' list of which models support what. Look in the last column for "Tivo Basic Support".
http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-guide.php

charlie3133 · 2007-12-09, 02:43 PM

So if i was going to buy this unit in the US, do I buy the subscription there too? Or do I have to buy a 'Canadian' subscription?

dschell_2000 · 2007-12-09, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie3133

So if i was going to buy this unit in the US, do I buy the subscription there too? Or do I have to buy a 'Canadian' subscription?

I bought mine in September from the web site, but had to have it shipped to a USA address, and paid for with a USA credit card.

After purchase, I changed the credit card that they bill to to my Canadian card.

When setting up the TiVo, I was able to set it to my Bell ExpressVu time and channels.

Dave S.

classicsat · 2007-12-10, 09:10 AM

There are no "Canadian" TiVos, nor "Canadian" TiVo service (although some features change or disappear when a DVR is set up for a Canadian provider). The DVRs are US modesl, and any other US Series 2 will work in Canada (I am using older models myself). The service one subscribes to is the US service, in US dollars. They accept Canadian CCs though.

To be clear on the TiVoBasic thing. Only Toshiba and Pioneer opted to offer the TiVo Basic service. All their TiVo DVRs are DVD recorders, except one Toshiba unit, the SD-H400, which is a DVD player only, with TiVo DVR.

charlie3133 · 2007-12-10, 09:24 AM

OK, thanks for the info

clomas · 2007-12-10, 07:23 PM

I picked up my Tivo Series II 80 hour towards the end of October in Seattle. I paid $250USD with the assumption (hope) that I would be able to get $150 back as a promo. Once back home I signed up for 3 years service ($299 USD) and figured my total payout was 550USD (worst case if I dont get rebate) or 400 USD for three years of analog PVR use with the best UI out there.

I have not been disappointed with my Tivo. It changes everything about watching TV. Last night I was using swivel search to find everything that Bette Davis had done. I have successfully played pictures and music from my computer on my TV and have moved videos back and forth from my wireless mac laptop (using Visual Hub to make convert videos to Tivo ready MP2 and Toast 8 to get things off the Tivo).

I guess I will use this thing until I switch to HD and then give it to my sister in law or mother for the rest of my contract.

When I signed up I had to do this weird kludge where I gave a ZIP code from an obscure place in the states but wrote in my city. It worked fine. I wonder if this is still the setup procedure for Canadians?

I saw a stack of about 8 Tivos at London Drugs Broadway & Heather (Vancouver) the day after they were announced in Canada but I have no idea if they are selling.

Can you tell I'm a fan?

2007-12-02, 10:19 PM	#80
talldude123 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 135	I don't see why TiVo needs $13/month when you purchase the box for $200. What does that go towards? I'll stick with my DVD recorder, even if it only does 480P __________________ Dynex 32 inch LCD / Panasonic 1000-watt HT / Apple TV 160GB / Motorola SD digital box / PS3 500GB / Eee Box B202 500GB

2007-12-03, 08:00 PM	#84
talldude123 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 135	TiVo is now available at FS Langford, BC. I just stocked it in today at 10AM, and there is only one remaining out of the 5 that were available. __________________ Dynex 32 inch LCD / Panasonic 1000-watt HT / Apple TV 160GB / Motorola SD digital box / PS3 500GB / Eee Box B202 500GB

2007-12-04, 09:42 PM	#85
IanR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Regina Posts: 99	Basic Tivo Others have mentioned that you can get a US Tivo for less and now activate it in Canada, but there's another reason to do so. It's not well known but there were a small number of Series 2 Tivo's that came with what is known as "Basic Tivo" support which means you don't have to pay the $13/mo but you do get 3 days worth of Guide data in advance. I think you do loss some other functions such as the profiling but some of these models also come with a recordable DVD drive for offloading which is a handy feature that most other PVRs don't offer. You also lose the Home Media Option which allows you to do things like offload over your network to another PC .. or vice-versa. I picked up mine on eBay a couple of years ago for about $150 if I recall. Here's a site that markets upgraded Tivo's for those who don't think 80GB is enough. The link will take you to their 'buyers guide' list of which models support what. Look in the last column for "Tivo Basic Support". http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-guide.php __________________ Pany 50" X77 plas; 60" DLP; S97 DVD; Yam 6090 AVR; Avel Linkplayer; Sony HC3 HD ccorder; Haup HD PVR; PCH A100

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2007-11-30, 01:40 PM	#76
ladybugblue Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kanata, ON Posts: 176	The biggest improvement for using the networking or wireless (you can use either depending on how close your tivo is to your router), is that you can use the home media options. Tivo allows you to be able to download files from the tivo to your computer or laptop and burn them to DVD. Tivotogo is the software tivo provides for downloading the programs and there is other software that can encode the .tivo files to mpeg such as videoredo. Also, you can schedule shows/movies through a web browser, so if you forgot to set up a recording you can tell tivo to record something. You can still do this but with the wireless tivo checks for updates about every hour so changes to your schedule or to the programming scheduling gets update more often. Lastly, if you have more than one tivo in the home with the home network you can move programs from tivo to tivo. If you are using the phone line these options won't work.

2007-11-30, 11:36 PM	#77
salinger Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 142	Just looking around on the Tivo site... Am I wrong, or is the same box they're selling here in Canada for $199.99 selling for only $99.99 in the US? I know sometimes our expectations with an at par dollar may not be fair to retailers (or so we're led to believe) but 100% markup? They limit their offering in Canada to the most basic box they offer, and then charge us double for it? Is it the same box, or am I missing something?

2007-12-03, 01:22 AM	#81
Nuje Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Location: A charted un-desert isle Posts: 2,465	Is TiVo still yet to turn a profit? I remember when they were first widely released in the US, and thinking that this would be a gold-mine (hardware PLUS monthly fee).....but they were bleeding red ink by the bucket. I wonder if they're doing any better these days.... (?)

2007-12-03, 09:26 AM	#82
ladybugblue Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kanata, ON Posts: 176	I know it seems very steep, but the software and updates to programming and such are what you are paying for. The software for Tivo is better than for other products that I have looked at that are available.

2007-12-03, 12:35 PM	#83
classicsat Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kincardine ON. Posts: 3,942	TiVo considers themseves an ongoing service first, mostly in the guide data and guide recording features. The hardware is a means to sell that service.

2007-12-09, 02:43 PM	#86
charlie3133 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 153	So if i was going to buy this unit in the US, do I buy the subscription there too? Or do I have to buy a 'Canadian' subscription?

2007-12-10, 09:10 AM	#88
classicsat Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kincardine ON. Posts: 3,942	There are no "Canadian" TiVos, nor "Canadian" TiVo service (although some features change or disappear when a DVR is set up for a Canadian provider). The DVRs are US modesl, and any other US Series 2 will work in Canada (I am using older models myself). The service one subscribes to is the US service, in US dollars. They accept Canadian CCs though. To be clear on the TiVoBasic thing. Only Toshiba and Pioneer opted to offer the TiVo Basic service. All their TiVo DVRs are DVD recorders, except one Toshiba unit, the SD-H400, which is a DVD player only, with TiVo DVR.

2007-12-10, 09:24 AM	#89
charlie3133 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 153	OK, thanks for the info

2007-12-10, 07:23 PM	#90
clomas Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9	I picked up my Tivo Series II 80 hour towards the end of October in Seattle. I paid $250USD with the assumption (hope) that I would be able to get $150 back as a promo. Once back home I signed up for 3 years service ($299 USD) and figured my total payout was 550USD (worst case if I dont get rebate) or 400 USD for three years of analog PVR use with the best UI out there. I have not been disappointed with my Tivo. It changes everything about watching TV. Last night I was using swivel search to find everything that Bette Davis had done. I have successfully played pictures and music from my computer on my TV and have moved videos back and forth from my wireless mac laptop (using Visual Hub to make convert videos to Tivo ready MP2 and Toast 8 to get things off the Tivo). I guess I will use this thing until I switch to HD and then give it to my sister in law or mother for the rest of my contract. When I signed up I had to do this weird kludge where I gave a ZIP code from an obscure place in the states but wrote in my city. It worked fine. I wonder if this is still the setup procedure for Canadians? I saw a stack of about 8 Tivos at London Drugs Broadway & Heather (Vancouver) the day after they were announced in Canada but I have no idea if they are selling. Can you tell I'm a fan?