Home > Consumer Reviews > Philips HDR612 TiVo 60 Hour Digital Video Recorder

I started out about a year or so ago with a 14 hour Tivo unit and LOVED it. The problem was they lie about capacity... sort of. 14 hours or in the case of the 30 hour unit are really more like 6 hours and 11 hours with the recorder set to record at BEST quality... anything lower and the picture looks bad. I then paid Tivo to send me a new unit that had been upgraded to 3 hours.... Then that was still not enough time with the system set at best quality.

I finally found out I could upgrade the thing myself... so my recomendation is to get the cheapest on that you can and upgrade it. This VOIDS you tivo warrenty but hey we all like to live on the edge right :)

I now have a 117 hour Tivo because the company I used to upgrade my Tivo (http://www.digitalrecorder.tv/) added an 80GB disk and now instead of having to delete my recordings early or being more picky about what I record I can go nuts and record anything and everything. I even saw on one website (http://pvrhack.sonnik.com/tivo/tivoking.htm) a guy who has a 151+ hour Tivo.

Another good website for Tivo upgrade information is http://www.9thtee.com/tivoupgrades.htm. They have parts for sale and directions on how to upgrade your Tivo (The easiest is a 14 hour unit since you just add a "blessed" drive)

happy Tivoing and hack away!

PS If you can't tell I love this thing!

This device has completely changed the way I watch television. Now, whenever I feel like watching TV, I have dozens of my favorite shows ready and waiting, plus occasional new shows TiVo has recommended to me. I never watch live TV anymore unless I want to check the weather or news. No more channel surfing.

That being said, I have been given 3 defective units. The first unit shipped to me would not boot up. I returned this to Amazon (very nice returns process, btw) for a new unit. After 2 months, the tuner on the new unit failed. This one was returned to TiVo, who shipped me a new unit. This third unit had the incorrect software installed on it (the 30-hour-unit software). TiVo tech support helped me correct this issue by having the unit dial in and download the correct software version. So far, there haven't been any problems since then.

On the plus side of all the problems I've had, I can say that TiVo's customer support is excellent, and a pleasure to deal with. I just wish their Quality Assurance was as good.

Even with all the problems, I have still recommended TiVo to my friends and co-workers, and I will continue to do so.

It's impossible to put into words what TiVo will do for you. To most it seems like a glorified VCR. However, only until you spend some time with TiVo you will truly begin to see how incredibly convenient the product really is. I don't watch any more TV than I used to, I am just better at it. :) Now I really do watch what I want, when I want.

I bought the 14 hour Phillips unit when it first came out and recently performed a "custom upgrade" to 60 hours. The unit has been running flawlessly for well over a year now and I have had no problems. I'm currently running TiVo with a AT&T Digital Cable and a Motorola Cablebox without any compatibility problems (I'm not sure what the other reviewer was doing wrong).

Recently the TiVo operating system was upgraded to Version 2.0.1. This new version addresses the problem of a Season Pass taping shows you don't want and adds many nice features that TiVo users have suggested (keyword search, future program notification, season pass manager, etc).

I'm a TiVo believer.. great product, incredible convenience, can't recommend it enough!

The HDR612 is a great device. You can't beat the pause live tv feature or the instant replay. It adds a whole new dimension to watching sports. It truly will change the way you watch TV. On its own merit, I would give it 5 stars.

So why only 3 stars? If you activate your service after 8/7/2001, and do not live in one of the areas that have a local dial-in phone number, you will have to pay long distance charges to get your daily programming update. They don't tell you this in advance and all their literature indicates that you will have access to a toll-free number. This is no longer the case. They can also add or delete local numbers at will depending on the amount of subscriptions & cost effectiveness of the local number. If you live in a highly populated area this is not going to be a problem. If you live in a rural area - BEWARE! They say this is unlikely, but it happened to me. I found out the hard way and am now trying to cancel my service and get my money back. The device is next to useless if you do not subscribe to TIVO.

They state that they can change any of their contractual conditions at any time - and obviously will, with no notice.

Of ANY electronics purchase I've ever made, TiVo is the one item I would NEVER give up. My ENTIRE family loves it --and uses it. We're not big television watchers, but what's great about TiVo is that when we DO watch, we can watch what WE want...and WHEN we want it.

As far as my kids are concerned, they now watch what they like, but what WE'VE approved...this because of TiVo. It's great! No more waiting for a show to start. No more missing portions of a show for a bathroom/snack break. No more fumbling for VCR tapes! No more "what'd he say?" just-- "CLICK"..."oh, THAT'S what he said!"

And I'm STILL blown away while watching a TV show (live) and being able to pause it.

I've heard some people say "buy ReplayTV...there's no monthly fee like TiVo." Well, TiVo is also CHEAPER than ReplayTV, and once you pay for the service, they're both the same exact price. The difference for me is, I didn't have to pay the ADDITIONAL money for TiVo up front; it was my choice. I liked that.

I also found TiVo to be easier to use. My wife felt the same way.

I've owned a TiVo for 4 months now, and cannot truly express how great this thing is. I've purchased one for my parents (they're in their 70's) and they too are hooked.

Check TiVo out. You won't be sorry...you'll LOVE it!