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ael719 · Jul 22, 2006, 06:04 AM

I'm not sure which one to get. The Miglia TVMicro will be cheaper in the long run, because of the monthly service fees for Tivo. Right now on Tivo.com I can get the Tivo equipment and service for $150 for an entire year. I'd only have to pay monthly too, so it would only cost me $13 every month.

Miglia TVMicro cost $100 upfront, but thats all I'd ever have to pay. The only downsides of owning the Miglia TVMicro that I can think of is I'd have to burn the recorded shows on DVD in order to watch them on my TV. Also I'd be forced to stay in one place because I'd be hooked up to the cable box.

I think Tivo would be easier and cheaper in the short run. Allowing me to buy more RAM or an external harddrive right away.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

kaido · Jul 22, 2006, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by ael719

I'm not sure which one to get. The Miglia TVMicro will be cheaper in the long run, because of the monthly service fees for Tivo. Right now on Tivo.com I can get the Tivo equipment and service for $150 for an entire year. I'd only have to pay monthly too, so it would only cost me $13 every month.

Miglia TVMicro cost $100 upfront, but thats all I'd ever have to pay. The only downsides of owning the Miglia TVMicro that I can think of is I'd have to burn the recorded shows on DVD in order to watch them on my TV. Also I'd be forced to stay in one place because I'd be hooked up to the cable box.

I think Tivo would be easier and cheaper in the short run. Allowing me to buy more RAM or an external harddrive right away.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I was in the same boat and I ended up ordering a dual-tuner TiVo last week. I actually have a Plextor recorder for my Mac with the EyeTV software, but I mostly use it for converting tapes to DVDs. Each option has it's pros and cons. EyeTV is great because it's flexible as far as what you can do with a show, but you also would have to leave your computer running all the time to record your shows and, like you said, burn the shows to DVD when you want to chill out and watch them on your TV. EyeTV is making progress (they recently released a full-screen menu-based frontend for their software), but it's still not 100% compatible with iTunes/Front Row. That and I wanted something my wife could operate and the TiVo software is really easy to use.

TiVo has the TiVo Desktop 1.9.3 for OS X, which lets you play music and movies on the TiVo (you can tie in iTunes to listen to music and so on). If you have a PC, you can download the shows to your computer and burn them to DVD. The OS X software is free and the PC software is like $25 (it lets you convert movies to iPod, PSP, etc.). Here's the link:

http://www.tivo.com/4.9.4.1-2.asp

By the way, if you buy your TiVo non-direct (not from TiVo.com), you only have to pay $13 a month. If you buy the multiple-year package, the price drops, but only for that contractual period afaik. I just ordered mine from Buy.com. The dual-tuner came out to about $75 after the rebate instead of $30 direct from TiVo, but the service is only $13 a month instead of $16+ a month (adds up in the long run).

ael719 · Jul 24, 2006, 11:16 AM

Well, I was sold on the Tivo, but for whatever reason Tivo.com keeps telling me my billing address doesn't match my debit card. I decided to buy the Miglia TVMicro today.

Now I have to decide on updating my 80gb hd to a 120gb or buying a 120gb external Seagate hd.

mikochu · Jul 24, 2006, 09:31 PM

I bought a TVMicro at the Lincoln Road Apple store grand opening. They didn't have them on display, but I asked if they had any tv tuners. After 3-5 clerks asked each other what a tv tuner was, one of them went into the back and found some. I'm impressed with the TVMicro. It works well on my pmac, but kind've chugged on my ibook. I recommend it to anyone who leisurely watches tv like me.

ael719 · Jul 24, 2006, 10:58 PM

The TVMicro is pretty awesome! Probably the only disappointing thing is that I can't record 2 shows running at the same time. I still need to figure out if I can record a show, while watching another channel. I still think Tivo would have been a better choice, but I plan on getting an iMac before the end of the year, so my MacBook won't be restricted by the cables.

This little doo-hickey just breathed new life into my 60gb iPod that was about to go on the selling block.

mikochu · Jul 25, 2006, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by ael719

Probably the only disappointing thing is that I can't record 2 shows running at the same time.

Who do you think you are? God? lol j/k

Originally Posted by ael719

I still need to figure out if I can record a show, while watching another channel. I still think Tivo would have been a better choice, but I plan on getting an iMac before the end of the year, so my MacBook won't be restricted by the cables.

This little doo-hickey just breathed new life into my 60gb iPod that was about to go on the selling block.

I don't think you can watch a "live" show while recording another. I don't see the TVMicro having that kind of power, but I might be wrong.