Dueling DVRs

We switched from cable to Verizon's FIOS for our Internet and TV services back in September. Since FIOS was delivered with its own DVR, we put our Tivo in mothballs and checked out the new technology. So far, we've been disappointed with the FIOS DVR and the service behind it. It pales in comparison to Tivo in so many ways. Here's a partial list of Tivo's qualities and FIOS DVR's shortcomings:

• Tivo is more flexible in letting you move around within a show. It allows you to jump through a recording in 15 minute increments or all the way to the end or the beginning using a fast forward or rewind jump feature. It has a smart slow motion feature that FIOS doesn't seem to have. FIOS cannot easily put you 43 minutes into an hour long show.
• Tivo has extreme details about the current show -- episode number, episode title, date of first broadcast, stars, special guests, genre, detailed summary, and a list of shows you might like if you like this show. FIOS seems to be adding features to its summary, but it has a long way to go to compete with Tivo's guide.
• The Verizon salesman bragged about the signal quality, which would be excellent due to the fiber optic delivery system. He'll have to drop by sometime to see how many times per show I lose segments of video and audio -- whole words are often dropped and little squares of video go black or flicker.
• Shows sometimes record for 59 minutes, without explanation, and we lose the exciting conclusion of an episode. Sylar was just about to toss a chair through the glass in Chapter Twelve of the latest Heroes series when FIOS decided to stop recording. Argh!
• If someone skips a planned recording or deletes a show, Tivo leaves forensic clues so you can determine the culprit and poison his/her broccoli at dinner. FIOS leaves ne'er a breadcrumb for you to follow. If your show isn't on the list of new shows, it's simply not there. No explanations. It is certainly a simple lifestyle, maybe even peaceful if you can cope with that sort of thing.
• Once in a while the FIOS set box stops showing the time, even though I've opted for the time instead of the channel to appear there. To get FIOS to show the time again, I have to opt for channel to appear then go through the motions to select time to appear. I do that about once a week.
• The movies in Pay Per View are the lamest ever. I won't test your patience (or your taste) with a list.
• The long list of channels is more a burden than a resource. We have tons of channels that are not in use yet. And lots of sports channels, foreign language channels, HBO and Showtime and other premium subscription channels, none of which I receive. I've not discovered a favorite channels feature yet. Fast forwarding through the channels is a hyperdrive experience that leaves you without your bearings.

I had to put the Tivo on the second tv set upstairs. My wife and daughter are disgusted with the FIOS DVR and prefer the features on the Tivo, so they go upstairs to watch tv. I'm all alone because of you, FIOS!

We spent $65 at Best Buy buying a special antenna for my wife's laptop downstairs because the Verizon wireless router is so much weaker than our old Linksys wireless router. My daughter goes to a friend's house to check her email rather than struggle with her laptop, which is so slow now. Maybe FIOS has a thing for laptops? My desktop computer is fast and furious, but it is hooked up with a wire directly to the modem.

The benefit of FIOS is that we get home phone service, Internet, and TV (replaced cable) for a lot less money. We'll see if FIOS will be in our household's future when the contract is up.