But I Want Need a DVR

One of the biggest selling points of satellite and cable offerings is the convenience of having a DVR that allows you to record hours of television to watch at your leisure. That’s what keeps many consumers from leaving their current provider. So, what can you do if you want to cut the cord?

Plenty my friend, plenty!

TiVo Premiere
This is probably the ideal option for anyone who wants to stick with the tried and true DVR technology they are likely familiar with. The only drawback is that TiVo does charge a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 for their service. However, in my opinion, the benefits are well worth it. So unless your primary goal is to spend the least possible on your entertainment, the TiVo Premiere is an outstanding choice.


Photo credit: tivo.com

The TiVo guide usually offers better detailed information for shows than you will get elsewhere and the TiVo Central dashboard offers great search functions, among an assortment of other slick features offered through an easy to use interface.

An added feature with the current models of TiVo Premiere (list price $149.99 with up to 75 HD hours recording – Amazon.com usually offers this model for a little under $140) is that they come with several of the most popular services built in. Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, YouTube and Pandora are available and more services are being added regularly. This means you don’t necessarily need a separate device such as a Roku (although, of course, an internet connection is needed if you want to use these services).

TiVo also comes with two tuners so you can record two shows at once and it works well with over-the-air antennas or cable. Plus, with apps for Apple iOS and Android devices, you can schedule recordings, share, or transfer recorded shows to your mobile device. Sweet!

For my setup, I have a TiVo in the main room and use the Roku on my secondary television. And with the small form factor of the Roku, I can easily connect it to the main TV whenever desired should there be something I can’t access through the TiVo.

All in all, it’s a nice solution for my needs and will likely fit the bill for most people looking to cut cable or satellite but not wanting to give up having a robust, easy to use DVR. Keep in mind that if you want to use a cable connection and get the digital channels, you will need to get a cable M-card from your provider to work with the TiVo guide properly.

Using a Computer
The most flexible option for a DVR is to use a computer. You can repurpose an older PC that is no longer being used or buy a new PC that can fit right into your entertainment center. If you are technically inclined, you can also start with a barebones PC and add your own components to finish the build. Windows Media Center is a solid choice for the software side of things, assuming you have a Windows based-PC. It will provide you with a free programming guide and does a good job recording HD video if you have a tuner card capable of receiving the HD signals. You can check out this link from PC World for a simple solution.

There are options for Linux and Mac operating systems as well. In my opinion, they just aren’t quite as straight forward as the Windows options readily available.

Simple.TV
You can also go for a new product that just hit the market in October of 2012. It’s called Simple.TV and it has many of the same features you receive from a DVR service – pause live tv, schedule series recordings, an electronic program guide, and more.

You can use your antenna for the TV reception or a basic cable TV connection (where no box is required) with Simple.TV. The base price is $199. You do have to provide a hard drive to go with it, so plan on another $75 or so if you want to go this route.

The concept is pretty slick and aimed directly at the cable cutter community. The main question is whether you want to commit to the upfront cost involved.

Boxee TV
I already mentioned the new Boxee TV in a previous section. It has a DVR option, available in limited markets at this time, which does sound promising. One advantage it has over Simple.TV is that it has two tuners so it can record two programs at once.

Disadvantages? Besides the limited availability, Boxee’s DVR service costs $9.99 per month. Still, when you consider the higher upfront costs for other options (other than an old PC that’s largely ready to go as a DVR), the Boxee TV option is very intriguing if you can get it.