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| Date Reviewed: 11/07/2004 |
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Strengths: Super easy to install! It walks you through every step and comes with all the cables and gadgets you need to set it up. Even the bypass cable and telephone split line were provided.
Weaknesses: No detail titles for saved programs on the Now Playing screen. You have to go down an extra level to see the episode titles.
Summary: After 4 different orders were cancelled from 4 different companies due to lack of stock, I finally got a hold of one and LOVE it! As with all things, there are some drawbacks.
As a mom who gets requests for various Blues Clues episodes throughout the day, it is annoying having to go down an extra level (or memorize the positioning) of a specific episode on the Now Playing (i.e. saved programs) screen. It would be so much better with more detail in the title header. Even if it is only a couple of words of the episode name.
Also, it is too bad I can't choose how long I want to keep a saved movie DURING the set up process. Instead I have to change it from the default 3 day min. timeframe to "until I delete it" option AFTER the episode has recorded.
Otherwise, I'm really excited about this. I can still use my VCR or watch TV (thanks to the bypass cable provided) while it records away at my families favorite episodes. Even better, I don't have to find out when they're on or take note of special episode timeframes and dates. Note that I did pay to upgrade our TiVo to take advantage of the Season Pass feature (it will record an entire season of a show and skip the repeats).
I'm also exited to try out the option of using the Toshiba RS-TX20 to convert my VHS camcorder home movies to DVD.
I read about this unit having a noisy hum 24/7. I installed it in my bedroom and can hear a hum if I listen for it, but it is barely audible. It is a computer afterall so the processors are whirling away.
 97% of People (86/89) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 02/22/2005 |
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Strengths: TiVo basic is included and FREE. Set-up fairly simple. Ability to pause, FF and Rewind live TV. Recording programs is easy. Ability to copy to DVD is a great feature.
Weaknesses: Picture was dark when Toshiba box was channeled through cable box. Once hooked up directly to cable line, picture was better.
Summary: First of all, love that TiVo basic is included and FREE. Set-up was fairly simple. Recording is a breeze. You can either record a single program or set up to record at the same time every week. It is great to be able to copy programs to DVD. This way, if you run out of hard disk space on the Toshiba, you can burn the program to DVD to watch at your convenience. One feature this box has that its competitors do not, is the ability to plug in your camcorder and transfer its contents to the hard drive.
Also love the pause, FF and Rewind live TV TiVo features. I've been watching my favorite shows about 15 minutes after they start, this way I can
'rewind' to the beginning and skip through the commercials while the Toshiba is recording live.
We're using the bypass cable so we can record one program and watch another simultaneously.
I did a lot of research before purchasing this product. Feature-wise, it offers more than the Humax and the Pioneer. I'm glad I decided on the Toshiba, it was worth every penny.
92% of People (12/13) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 07/23/2005 |
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Strengths: 120GB Hard Drive, DVD burner, Tivo Basic included, component outputs.
Weaknesses: None
Summary: This is my 1st Tivo unit and I am 100% satisfied with it. Simple to use, even the wife can use it to record her favorite programs. 120GB hard drive is HUGE. My only wish is that it was a HD Tivo, but you'd have to pay more for that.
83% of People (5/6) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 07/21/2005 |
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Strengths: I was able to record from VCR, DVD, Camcorder and TV which I liked. Also TivO is great.
Weaknesses: Nothing so far.
Summary: I just got into this, buying from Bestbuy for $100 after mail-in rebate and instant off. That was a great deal, I can say. Tivo is simply superb, recording from TV whatver you miss. Also we can record from a multiple of soyres DVD, VCR , Camcorder and TV. I love this player.
75% of People (3/4) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/14/2004 |
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Strengths: User friendly interface. As far as set-up is concerned, a child could do it. As far as setting up to record, a child could do it (with one eye closed!)
Weaknesses: Can only record one thing at a time. I think this is true for all DVR's but I know it will soon change so I guess it really shouldn't be considered a weakness! Surfing the channels is a bit slower.
Summary: Overall I would buy again, and plan to very soon for the bedroom TV. The TivoPlus service ($12.95/mo) is not needed with this unit as it comes with TivoBasic. We are using the TivoPlus service as it is much better than Basic of course.
73% of People (11/15) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 03/27/2005 |
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Strengths: TiVo features such as pausing live show, easy user interface; Hard disk based DVD recorder, Firewire port.
Weaknesses: Switching channel by itself; questionable TiVo rebate practice; DVD-R recordable only; No component (HD) input port.
Summary: I bought this Toshiba DVD record for my wife as a Christmas gift. It had been a struggle for her to use PC or other non-hard disk based DVD records to create or copy recordings from her camcorder. I thought a hard disk based DVD recorder such as this one should be easier for her. The other reason I bought this was because this TiVo Series2 box came with $100 rebate and I thought it was time to try TiVo services I had heard a lot of people praising. $100 incentive would help to make the jump.
This recorder was easy to setup. I just followed the 'Start Here' guide without reading the well written Viewer's Guide. Since I was new to TiVo, I was surprised that it works totally different from what I had before with non-hard disk based DVD recorders from Panasonic, Philips, and Lite-On. The setup was more like PC. The recorder even needs to be booted every time it powers on. Because I am working in computer industry, I was right at home in setting it up to use my home network connection to activate TiVo Plus services and downloading programming information the first night I got it.
I'll skip the usual TiVo features such as pasusing life show which my wife loved and go to the areas that seem odd to me.
First of all, there is time delay effect comparing to the real time feed. When I switch my TV's input feed from Dish Network Set Top Box (STB) to TiVo recorder, I can see two to three seconds delay difference. If you have both of your TiVo and STB audio feed through A/V receiver, it easy to make the wrong switching on you receiver and make audio part not sync with video part. I ended up disconnect the audio feed from TiVo's optical port to my receiver and just used the RCA audio connection to my TV.
My TiVo some time would switched to another channel by itself. No, I did not program to record that channel. At the first two months it happened five to ten times each night. Very annoying. Recently it happened less often, around two times. I still have not figured out the reasons. It may be caused by IR control setup on STB. Maybe I should call customer services for help. That raises another question: do I call Toshiba or TiVo for help for question like this? I'll let you know after I call them up.
I just found from TiVo rebate Web site that my rebate of $100 had been denied because I did not activate their service within the required time period. But I did it on the first night I set up my recorder. Either TiVo has record keeping problems or they had troubles keeping their promises. Buyer beware!
70% of People (7/10) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 09/24/2005 |
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 Okay Strengths: The ability to use as a TIVO unit and copy stuff to DVD's
Weaknesses: MUST have phone line, newest software not on unit, crushed blacks, doesn't recognize some DVD media
Summary: Well I was all happy that I got this unit until I started having problems. You get basic service which is nice and 45 days of full service. The 45 days does not allow you to try Tivo to go so you do have to pay to try that feature out. I haven't been able to record anything to a DVD as of yet. It says that they're not DVD-RW's even thoguh the front of the unit claims they are. At times play backs of TV will pause for a moment and then jump ahead half a second. Very annoying. :( If you put in media with divx or mpeg encoded files and try to play or do anything with them, it will lock up the unit forcing you to pull the power cord. Also the standby feature is not easily accessed as you need to go through multiple screens. I was very happy that i'd be getting this unit only to be disappointed. The crushed blacks problems is definitely with this unit. Even using a direct connection results in crushed blacks on playback and initial viewing. This leaves you missing most of what's happening on the screen.
60% of People (3/5) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 10/25/2005 |
- deshwasi
from PA
- Member Since:
Apr 2004
View Member's:
Reviews
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Strengths: NA
Weaknesses: NA
Summary: This is a very useful TiVo with integrated DVD recorder from Toshiba with good hard disk size (120GB). Its easy to archive any recordings from the Tivo onto a DVD. Has all the necessary inputs and outputs (although a few more would have been better). Picture quality is not as good as regular Tivo boxes. With the latest firmware updates from Tivo a wireless network adapter can be used to connect to Tivo. I am very happy with this purchase.
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| Date Reviewed: 07/18/2005 |
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Strengths: NA
Weaknesses: NA
Summary: I bought this tivo to upgrade my Toshiba SD-H400. I love these systems, and I haven't had any problems with either of them. Basic tivo is included free. This system is nice because you can record directly to DVD, which is an advantage over the older tivo. The hard drive is nice sized too, and it was a great price.
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| Date Reviewed: 07/17/2005 |
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Strengths: Unlike with Toshiba's earlier SD-H400, anything recorded on the RS-TX20's hard drive can be archived to a DVD-R at the touch of a button. And while the RS-TX20 will function almost identically to the Pioneer DVR-810H, the Toshiba includes some notable enh
Weaknesses: Unfortunately for hard-core archivists, commercials can't be edited out before burning a DVD. Toshiba teases you with a 45-day free preview of the TiVo Plus service, but maintaining access to that full range of TiVo conveniences--such as 14-day programmin
Summary: I have the rs-tx160 and it is great I can save 6 hours of programming to dvd in 1 hour. When I want to watch the recording it comes back up as if it were a tivo system and functions the same way on any other dvd player. It works great so that you don't use up your 200 hours for shows you don't want erase. Since this is my second tivo it also is great for transfering stuff on my network from one tivo unit to the other.
This recorder was easy to setup. I just followed the 'Start Here' guide without reading the well written Viewer's Guide. Since I was new to TiVo, I was surprised that it works totally different from what I had before with non-hard disk based DVD recorders from Panasonic, Philips, and Lite-On. The setup was more like PC. The recorder even needs to be booted every time it powers on. Because I am working in computer industry, I was right at home in setting it up to use my home network connection to activate TiVo Plus services and downloading programming information the first night I got it.
I'll skip the usual TiVo features such as pasusing life show which my wife loved and go to the areas that seem odd to me.
First of all, there is time delay effect comparing to the real time feed. When I switch my TV's input feed from Dish Network Set Top Box (STB) to TiVo recorder, I can see two to three seconds delay difference. If you have both of your TiVo and STB audio feed through A/V receiver, it easy to make the wrong switching on you receiver and make audio part not sync with video part. I ended up disconnect the audio feed from TiVo's optical port to my receiver and just used the RCA audio connection to my TV.
My TiVo some time would switched to another channel by itself. No, I did not program to record that channel. At the first two months it happened five to ten times each night. Very annoying. Recently it happened less often, around two times. I still have not figured out the reasons. It may be caused by IR control setup on STB. Maybe I should call customer services for help. That raises another question: do I call Toshiba or TiVo for help for question like this? I'll let you know after I call them up.
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
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| Date Reviewed: 07/11/2005 |
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Strengths: Includes Free Tivo Basic Service - Built in DVD Recorder
Weaknesses: Slow with Dish Network
Summary: This is a great unit by Toshiba. Tivo only allows their Basic service on a few select models, so that in of itself is a great feature of this unit! Otherwise, you'd be paying $13.99/mo, but here you get the free basic service.
It also includes a built-in DVD recorder, which is great for archiving any shows you really like. And of course you can watch your DVD movies using this unit as well, so no need for another box to clutter your TV area.
Guided setup is also a breeze, although if you don't have a regular phone line, and only have VoIP, it might be a bit of a hassle. However, the process itself is very simple, and anyone can do it!
The only problem is using this with a satellite receiver from Dish Network. There is no special connection between the 2, so you have to use the IR blaster, and it takes about 3-5 seconds to change a channel. However, if you have any other service, is should work without any delay! Besides, most people say that once they start using Tivo, they never watch live TV again!
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