Depends on the price and the monthly fee - G Dub of the Carolinas

Gunny, I'm asking more about features, usability, etc. than price at this point. - Justin Korn

Tivo has the most user friendly experience of all of the options out there. The only thing a Cable Co branded DVR gives you is true VOD. I don't know if the TiVo enabled comcast boxes offer that, but I know from Tivocommunity.com that the Comcast Tivo boxes are buggy and unreliable. A Tivo just works. - G Dub of the Carolinas

I made that choice about six months ago when I moved to Portland; I was extremely happy with my Time Warner HD DVR in New York, so I started with Comcast's DVR. It would freeze almost every day, stop recognizing the remote several times a day, and the UI wasn't as polished as Time Warner's version. In addition, it cost like 14 bucks a month whereas Time Warner's was only $5/month. I went with Tivo's unit, although begrudgingly, because Comcast's DVR was so bad. But seriously, DVR service is commoditized so much now that paying $300 + $12.95/month feels like paying a protection racket: pay up or Tivo Johnny will break your TV's kneecaps. - Mark Trapp

wait wait wait, you know from (insert fansite) that (insert competing product) is buggy and unreliable? I know some people have had problems with their cable DVRs, I haven't. The one I got in '04 went bad and started resetting about a year ago, and so it got swapped out. I haven't opted for tivo because the overall package hasn't appealed to me for the upfront cost. If my DVR really were buggy and unreliable, it would be a different story. - Richard Lawler

I'll be the first to agree with you Richard; I loved my Time Warner DVR. In my case, I went through 3 (or 4?) Comcast DVRs before I said screw it. Almost felt like Comcast purposely had unreliable DVRs to make you opt not to use it. - Mark Trapp

Tivocommunity is the original Tivo support site that has been around since Tivo came out in 1999. They are NOT a fansite and perhaps if you had gone there and looked around at their forums you would have seen that and I wouldn't have had to post this comment. Justin is looking at Comcast. Not TWC. Comcast's Tivo powered box is buggy and unreliable. - G Dub of the Carolinas

I know nothing about the NON TiVO Comcast DVR it may be just fine. The TIVO one however isn't good. - G Dub of the Carolinas

Just to be clear, my experience with Comcast's DVR was their actual, non-Tivo DVR. I don't think they still offer the Tivo version. It was balls, and the monthly was more than Tivo's monthly, although there wasn't a $300 upfront cost or a 12 month commitment that Tivo mandates. It hardly seems like a fair tradeoff, but I needs me some TV. - Mark Trapp

Know what you mean Mark. I have Uverse and if I had a DVR choice with them I'd choose something else. :D - G Dub of the Carolinas

We have Comcast and a Tivo! I like it. - Rochelle

The Comcast DVR is just horrible. Unless you like frustration. Then it's fantastic. Get the Tivo. - The original Kevin

What I don't get about TiVo is what you get for the monthly service fee? Do you need to pay it? I think they should buy Netflix (or vice versa) and then I can see how the service fee would be justified. But, paying both monthly fees just seems ridiculous. - Justin Korn

Only thing I miss on the TiVo is OnDemand. - Akiva from FreshFeed

The service fee is part of what keeps TiVo in business. They are using Tribune for guide data which isn't free. You CAN buy lifetime service from Tivo for about $400 and you break even in less than 5 years. Tivo has been the most successful dying company in recent years. They only turn sporadic profits. I wish they would get bought by Apple or Netflix or just get out of the hardware business altogether - G Dub of the Carolinas

Dish TV or are you truly only going to be able to get comcast? - Dan owns Comicsforge.com

One TiVo to rule them all would be nice. Once that can handle OTA, Cable and Sat in HD and makes coffee. Well, Diet Coke in my case. The newly announced TiVo Premiere will do 2 out of those 3. So if I HAD to use Comcast (EGADS!) then I would go with the Premiere box, based on reputation alone. - Josh Haley

Dan - yeah, truly only able to get comcast. Stupid monopoly! - Justin Korn

Cristo, Tivo doesn't do Sat. yet...but says it's coming this year. - Justin Korn

Okay, so let's say I get TiVo and I want to watch my recorded stuff in another room...is there a way to do it WITHOUT shelling out for another TiVo box? - Justin Korn

Cristo - Thanks for the info. There is no existing wiring, new place. - Justin Korn

Tivo for the UI and usability. That is what we have with our comcast cable. Comcast can be dicks about it, but in the end they want our business. - Rachel Lea Fox

In case it wasn't clear, I have comcast. Also, i'm very familiar with TiVoCommunity. - Richard Lawler

It seems like the upfront cost for TiVo is steeper, but in the long run, TiVo might actually be cheaper. (haven't actually done the calculation yet). - Justin Korn

We have a TiVo Series 3 (bought 3 days after release, at the original inflated price! yes, I'm a fanboy) and love it. We'll probably buy a Premiere after we move into our new house and have more than one TV, especially if some of my newfound friends who work for TiVo can hook us up with a friends-and-family discount :) - Tudor Bosman

TiVo HD (Series 3) - xero

Thanks for all the opinions and feedback! - Justin Korn