Interesting - if you go to the TiVo website it only lists the $14.99 month to month option. The $400 one time payment for lifetime puts it exactly on par price wise with the Tablo Quad tuner. Except of course that’s only for one TV and you don’t get remote streaming. So for a one TV option, it could be a decent alternative.
For one TV, the difference is $20, Tivo is cheaper by $20 bucks. Once you start adding additional TV’s, the Tablo is cheaper because you can get a decent Roku or Android TV for $70-$100.
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That was a sweet deal and it they continue it then I could see it really hurting Tablo. TiVo has been in the game for a long time and I first looked at them but because of the high price I opted for Tablo.
If Tablo can get their channel working faster with more features then they should be ok. The development of the Tablo channel seems slow and so so.
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Well said!
Let’s not forget Tablo setup with Chromecast works great for some & can be found for $25 a crack! I’ll never give TiVo thugs my cash. TiVo is who they are only because USPTO let them run wild with questionable patents.
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Dude, I didn’t even know Chromecast was supported! Now I can watch recordings in the Master Bedroom. Sick!
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Also please remember the Tivo software that recommends movies and shows is based on cable and not OTA. I lived with Tivo for a few years and hated that I could find anything using there software. Tablo is purely based on OTA and shows you exactly what you get. I have found more shows to watch on tablo than the tivo.
Also, don’t forget, every Tivo you add you have to pay for there service and you need to run coax to that. With Tablo add a Roku and stream wireless. No mess no fuss. I also have my Tivo and a Tivo stream, they are just collecting dust.
Whoops, double-post!
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Mostly agree @Kaelon - except Tablo remote access is not all sunshine & unicorns as “sales engineering” will have you believe.
When Tablo remote streaming works, it works great. Blow on it, look at it the wrong way, IP change, router or Tablo update - unless you’re able to physically visit your LAN, you’re left with no way to stream OTA until you’re able to re-pair locally. Or, you understand VPN enough to trick it into pairing.
I don’t believe TiVo suffers this serious flaw but you do need to pay, pay, pay and pay some more for their devices, guide and streaming setups.
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I do not think that a Tablo update requires repairing. In my sample of one user, I have never had to re-pair when Tablo has a firmware update or if my router has to be rebooted (I have assigned the Tablo a fixed internal IP address). That said, like everyone else (including Tablo Support) I would like to see Tablo Connect without the need to pair.
TiVo isn’t a threat to Tablo with a Legal User agreement that is eerily similar to Cable/Dish/Cellular/Telco contracts. The deal was probably a mistake as it didn’t last very long. After TiVo was finished battling it out with their questionable patents on the Dish/Cable interest they needed something to do.
https://www.tivo.com/legal/terms
https://www.tivo.com/legal/privacy
They sure are proud of these:
http://www.tivo.com/legal/patents
The back story:
https://gigaom.com/2013/06/07/learning-lessons-from-tivo-dont-make-patents-your-business/
They have 6 different plans that are as confusing as walking into a Verizon/AT&T store, what a joke.
https://www.tivo.com/TLP1
https://www.tivo.com/TLP2
https://www.tivo.com/TLP3
https://www.tivo.com/TLP4
https://www.tivo.com/TLP5
https://www.tivo.com/TLP6
My wallet is never opening up to the greasy lawyer run TiVo conglomerate.
Kick their butt @TabloTV!
End TiVo rant, have a great weekend fellow cord cutters!
I received the $300 Tivo OTA and have been able to test it for the last several days and compare it to Tablo. I so wanted for Tablo setup to work, because for me it would have been the cheapest route, since I have already 3 Rokus and 1 Chromecast stick. In the end, I have decided to keep Tivo and send back Tablo for the following reasons:
- I couldn’t get used to the inability to change channels on the fly.
- Even after connecting Tablo to the router via ethernet, it was taking on average 30-40 seconds for a channel to appear.
- Out of home streaming setup has never worked consistantly. I’ve constantly had to re-sync the devices to get that function working.
- Tivo has something that I was looking for in terms of all-in-one box. With just 2 clicks I’m able to switch from live TV to Youtube or Amazon Prime video, and yet I could go back to live TV with just one click.
- Tivo remote is far more superior than one that comes with Roku.
I do really appreciate the help and suggestions that I have been given on this forum. I sincerely wishTablo luck and hope that in the future they can bridge the gap with Tivo. I think the concept of Tablo is absolutely wonderful, I just wish the the execution at this point was better than what I have experienced. Thanks everyone!
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Sorry to see your go.
- This is annoying but not a big deal to me. Others have their OTA go into the TV as well to channel surf and use the Tablo as a DVR
- That’s long, should be less time to load channels.
- Seems like some people have issues, others like me don’t.
- That’s really interesting, I hope Roku comes out with a new remote. I like the idea of “fewer” clicks but I also don’t like the 10 million button on the Tivo. can’t I have my cake and eat it too?
There is alternative for remote access if you use PLEX. If you have the TABLO channel installed on PLEX, then you can access PLEX while away from home on your Android device. A downside is you can’t get closed captions.
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I haven’t found Tivo remote to have too many buttons. In fact Tivo remote is much smaller and has less buttons than dish remote.
For those who are looking, lifetime is back but at $399 now.
http://www.tivo.com/roamioota2176
Tivo is testing the market again. At $300, it was an attractive alternative. At $399, not as good a deal, at least for me.
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Agreed.
Only 75 hours of HD recording ability? Sorry but I like saving a season worth of episodes so 75 hours is WAY too limiting.
It is pretty easy to replace the 500 MB internal hard drive with a 3 TB drive in the Tivo, so you can greatly increase the capacity.