@ScottBren wrote:I have been with FIOS for 7 hours and I hate it already. There are sooo many things that I could do with Directtv that I am not able to do with FIOS. They make it sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread. I think it really stinks and I am not happy
If that is an honest statement, then you should go back, very quickly, run don't walk. In my opinion, if you are unwilling to invest more time than 7 hours trying to understand what is avalailable and what isn't in FiOS, and perhaps adapting to the new (and better?) ways of doing things, then you will never, ever be happy.
On the other hand, if you are willing to give FiOS a fair shake, what problems or issues do you have with FiOS besides the one item you mentioned in your original post? There may be simple answers to your issues.
__________________________________JustinVerizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phoneIMG 1.6.2, Build 08.58Keller, TX 76248
Your criticisms are really with the standard FiOS DVR.
You can get a TivoHD for FiOS, which is essentially a much newer version of the DirecTiVo DVR...except it works with FiOS. That product allows you to select a folder, click play, and all recordings in that folder are played sequentially, in order from oldest to newest.
I'd say calm down and give it a chance. I used to have the Directv Tivo SD DVR and loved it. I was worried about switching to FIOS and using their HD DVR, but decided to give it a chance. It's working out OK. There are some things I miss about Directv, but FIOS offers some features Directv didn't have. I really wish Verizon would buy TIVO but guess that's not going to happen (even if it would create an entertainment juggernaught). If FIOS eventually offers a bigger hard drive and better program information, they will have addressed the two biggest complaints about their HD DVR. What specifically is bugging you? As far as I know my TIVO DVR didn't allow for playback of multiple recorded programs.
@kschles wrote: As far as I know my TIVO DVR didn't allow for playback of multiple recorded programs.
As far as I know my TIVO DVR didn't allow for playback of multiple recorded programs.
TiVo added that feature to their standalone DVRs in late 2007. I don't know whether the DirecTiVo DVRs ever got it.
DirecTV's TiVos got most DVR improvements 12-24 months after they were made available on the standalone boxes for cable / ota.
@ScottBren wrote:The whole point behind me switching from Directtv to Verizon was about saving $50/month. I was very happy with Directtv. I had heard about how great the picture was with Verizon Fios, but it is not any better than D-TV. If you compare Apples to Apples the cost is the same or more expensive with Fios. Fios does not offer anything over D-TV.
I find the picture quality to be noticeably better on my 58" and 60" screens. The difference is more obvious on some channels than others. If you have a 42" screen, I can see how you might not notice a difference; FiOS PQ is not a "not and day" improvement over DirecTV. DirecTV still offers very good PQ on most HD channels.
As for the cost, I'm saving about $16/mo over DirecTV. Below is my bill:
I have the "FiOS Flex Bundle." My total bill for 20/5 Internet, FiOS HD Extreme, and 2x CableCards is $89.82/mo after tax.
If I canceled FiOS TV and just subscribed to FiOS 20/5 Internet, I would pay $52.99/mo. That means I get FiOS HD Extreme with ~60 HD channels and two CableCards for an extra $36.83/mo. For essentially the same programming, DirecTV charges $59.99/mo for the first 12 months, and $75.99/mo after that, with a two-year commitment required.
The total cost of the two-year DirecTV commitment with one "free" HDTV DVR is $1631.76. The two-year cost of Verizon FiOS is $883.92 without a DVR, or about half the price. Even if you add in the cost of a new TivoHD from Amazon.com ($250 + $129/yr subscription) with CableCards, Verizon FiOS still works out to $392.84 less over two years, the equivalent of $16.39 less per month.
Each year after the second, I would save closer to $40/mo, because DirecTV's promotional rate of $59.99/mo is only good for the first 12 months, and you have to pay $75.99/mo after that. Verizon FiOS allows you to keep re'upping your programming at the bundle rate; the bundle discounts aren't limited to your first year or two of service.
If you subscribe to premium movie packages, you save even more money, because DirecTV charges more for those packages than does FiOS.
I totally understand what you are saying . I have the phone, Internet 20/5 and the TV package. It came to a $28.99 savings/month. That includes the Media DVR which I ordered. This is where it is not apples to apples. The Media DVR stinks since you are not able to pause or record when you are in a different room. The phone rings and you are not able to pause your show, that is the whole point behind a DVR. The Verizon DVR is $15.99/each compared to only $5.00/each at D-TV. So now if I put a DVR on each tv the Verizon cost goes up $21.00. Now I am at a savings of $7.99/month. Saving $96/year is great but the DVR works much better on D-TV. The picture is identical on my 50" Plasma for either network.
I think more people are unhappy when they make the switch to Verizon than people are happy. Fios is not as great as they make it seem. The DVR is definitely not as good as the D-TV DVR. I have always said that you get what you pay for. Just because something is on sale does not mean it is a good deal. This is definitely not a good deal.
I must be crazy, but when I had DirecTV (after they broke away from Tivo), their DVR's were the worst pieces of **** on the planet. Having to reset them almost on a daily basis to get them to function properly. Replaced both because of constant issues and the two refurbs they sent me were just as bad.
Besides that, their hardware wasn't free when I signed up a few years ago. Even though you spent several hundred on the hardware, you *still* didn't own it. It all fell under DTV's lease agreement.
DTV blows. And without a doubt: DTV PQ < FiOS PQ.
Oh... and I will never understand why people switch when they are perfectly happy with their current subscriber. Just to save a few bucks? Give me a break. If you really want to save a few bucks, you should have just called DTV to cancel and they would have probably given you a discount to keep you as a customer.
