My ReplayTV review
A ReplayTV, like a Tivo, is a digital video recorder. It is like a VCR, except that rather than swapping tapes, it has built-in storage that holds up to 40 hours of video. You tell it what shows you like, and it automatically records them every week.
I’ve been living with my ReplayTV 5040 for more than a month now and it has definitely changed the way I watch TV. For starters, I’ve stopped giving much thought to when my favorite shows are on. They’re always there waiting patiently for me.
One of the features ReplayTV offers over Tivo is the automatic commercial advance. It is supposed to detect the beginning and end of commercials and automatically skip over them while playing a recorded show. In practice, this only works about half the time. However, there is a button that jumps ahead 30 seconds and another that backs up 7 seconds. This lets you manually skip over commercials pretty quickly. The upshot is that I make a point of never watching “live” TV, even if I’m there when a show I want to watch is on. I’ll watch one of my recorded shows while it is taping so I can watch it later without commercials.
It takes several seconds for the ReplayTV to change the channel, so surfing isn’t really an option anymore. Instead, it presents you with an easily-scannable on-screen program guide that shows you everything that’s on. It updates every night using my cable modem. Tivo needs a phone line to do this and, since I only own a mobile phone, that’s what made it easy for me to choose ReplayTV instead.
In general, however, the interface is sluggish. This sort of sluggishness I’ve come to expect from my PC, but I find hard to tolerate on an “appliance”. Clicking around with the remote control, the response may be instantaneous or may take several seconds to have an effect. This is complicated by the fact that I’m trying to aim my remote control either over or under my coffee table and frequently miss. Since there is no immediate feedback, I don’t know if my button press was registered and is just taking some time, or I missed and need to press it again. A nice clicking noise would go a long way here.
Does having instant access to my favorite shows make me watch more TV. After an initial frenzy, I think I’ve settled down to my pre-ReplayTV levels. I do spend a lot less time wandering around the dial and more time watching shows I like. On the whole, I’ve been very happy with it.
cheyne posted on 2003-01-29 (source):
All of those commodities sound great. I doubt however that the service is available in my area, specifically Hawaii. Or as in the case with Road Runner, they can't install it because my building's so old. Damn landlord needed to be old-fashioned. How much does it cost for ReplayTV? Cheaper than Tivo or not?Amy Phillips posted on 2003-01-30 (source):
We don't have phone service either, but we hacked our TiVo and put in network capabilities, so now we get the onscreen guides and everything too. It's great, although I miss my DirecTivo that we had in our old building, because it has 2 tuners, enabling you to record 2 shows at once. I'm pretty sure it's the only one out there that does that.Dan Herron posted on 2003-05-05 (source):
I pretty much agree with everything here, but the one thing not mentioned is that ReplayTV has an ethernet port, which can take the place of the POTS (telephone) port. Replay is now part of my network, so it's easy to update through my computer.Carric posted on 2003-06-11 (source):
The MOST abysmal consumer experience I have ever had. The unit sucks, and the support is worse. I think they have outsourced support to India, and they have used mostly substandard parts (a 4200 RPM drive versus a 5400.. whey the hell would you do that with a PVR?? Stupid..). Anyway, after about a day or so, the thing starts skipping and artifacting (the blocky stuff), and I have to turn it off. The fact that it touts wireless on the box (got it for Christmas) and they STILL have not put drivers in for anything wireless really pisses me off. I have called for support and various complaints NUMEROUS times, and the all pretty much just have me reset the unit to factory defaults, and tell me to call back if I have further problems. I am truly stunned that a company would conduct themeselves this way. I have e-mailed, called (tech support and customer service) and finally this last time they said I would have to a factory reset ONE MORE TIME, and if the problems persisted, they would replace the unit (of course I have to ship my pile of crap to them at my expense, then they will ship me a new one). ReplayTV/SonicBlue/Whoeverthehell.. you really screwed the pooch with me. I am looking to just get the Dish receiver with built-in PVR now. I hope you people do a little research on what people are saying about you as a company, because when you fail, I probably throw a party. You just CAN'T treat the people that buy your product like that... you should be ashamed.Lee posted on 2003-06-13 (source):
I just got mine yesterday. Has anyone else noticed that their picture quality has diminished? I love the idea of FF, REW, Pause ...etc. But my picture sucks! I have an older projection big screen. It looked great running directly from my dig cable box. Now it looks like I am watching everything on tape!! Please let me know if you have had the same trouble.Mike posted on 2003-09-28 (source):
If somebody has had the same problems, please let me know. I cannot get customer service because I cannot understand them. When I can, they have no clue. I have recieved 6 software "fixes" and am on my 3rd unit (that they were going to make me pay for shipping until i complained enought). They will not refund my money for the unit or my sevice. I have never dealt with a company like this and think that maybe I can get help if I have a number of irritated consumers. Please let me know Mike 602-312-6116Luis posted on 2003-10-03 (source):
Have owned a Panasonic Showstopper (I believe it's the model 3000, one of the early several ReplayTV units) for about one year. The most I had to do was to reset the unit a couple of times because it hung up. It has never failed otherwise (this must be because I purchased a 3 yr warranty plan with it). Now I wish I had more recording time (it is only 30 hours). It has definitely changed the way I watch TV (less time in front of the screen, watching just what I choose, and no chaff in between). What a joy.hkypatriot posted on 2004-06-23 (source):
I must agree with Carric, my replay 5040 is the biggest hunk of junk ever. I bought it to replace a Tivo that was so old it only held 14 hours of shows. I read some reviews decided to try the Replay big mistake! First unit was dead in a month hard drive locking up blocky picture had to pull the plug 3 times a day to restart it. Went through the same crap with the tech support who are in INDIA, I asked. Finally they had me ship it back at my expense. They sent a new unit it arrived DOA they must have never even tested it when it left refurb. I called India 12 times in one day got disconnected all 12 times because they where having phone difficulties, they promised to call back, so far they have not. They keep wanting to trouble shoot it, the RCA jacks came so screwed up you can't get the connector over 1 how can you fix that over the phone??? I'm sure they will want me to pay shipping again even though I called the day it arrived. I'm just going to toss it and get another Tivo. The picture was better, it changed channels faster, the interface was more user friendly and it WORKED. Dont buy a Replay, with this kind of service they will be sure to go under soon.SSG Plazmoid posted on 2004-06-25 (source):
Unsure if these comments are from this year or not since there's no year on the date of posts. If these posts are from 2003 or 2004 I feel sorry for any of you that bought a replaytv since the parent company Sonicblue went out of business due to just the sorts of complaints I'm reading here. If it's not in the script the Indian support people can't help you. Pretty much any company that was formerly good that was subsequently purchased by sonicblue is suspect. This applies to diamond multimedia and rio. Both decent brands until sonicblue acquired them. Buyer beware ;)Matthew Simoneau posted on 2004-06-30 (source):
I added the year to the comments, as some of them are quite old.