TiVo Premiere XL user reviews

Pros Well made, simplicity of operation, quality.

Cons No complaints.

Summary This is my third tivo since 1998, once you have a tivo you never want to be without one. Tivo is very well made and very easy to operate, I have used other DVR's but none match up to tivo's simplicity and quality.

Pros Main menu interface. Ease of finding content, both on the Tivo and the internet.

Cons Standard definition menu screens.

Summary I purchased the Tivo Premiere and the Premiere XL version after deciding to switch to Fios and drop DirecTV. The boxes work flawlessly with Verizon service and the new HD interface is very well laid out. If you are familiar with Tivo, all the old functionality is there, plus some new exciting changes. Access to Netflix, Amazon on Demand, and others make this a more than just a DVR. THX sound on the XL version is excellent along with an expanded hard drive to store more programming. I have the XL in my living room and the standard Premiere in my bedroom. I have transferred programs between boxes without a hitch. They were easy to set up and have been humming along nicely since they were installed last month. A great choice if you have struggled with cable company provided DVRs with poorly designed interfaces and limited functionality. Keep up the good work, Tivo!

Pros The HD picture quality and audio processing are far superior to cable company DVR's I've had. It had plentiful storage space, and the connections to Netflix, Blockbuster and Amazon are incredibly convenient. Love Tivo suggestions and menu layouts.

Cons Interface is sluggish. Scrolling the recordings takes 5-10 sec / page. Freezes up. Requires restarts. Takes 15-20 minutes to boot up. Support is awful. "HD Menu System" consists of few screens. Most are in blurry SD, including the program guide.

Summary The box is promising on paper. It's full of great features. In my living room, it's so slow to respond and requires such frequent restarting that watching tv has become a hassle. I contacted Tivo, and while acknowledging "know issues," they wouldn't authorize a return just 15 days outside the money-back period. (I'm a four-year customer.) Stay away from this unit until Tivo resolves its issues.

Pros HDMI output
SD and HD GUI
TiVo overall user interface

Cons TiVo still takes 9 to 10 minutes to boot up (just like the old days with my Series 2 unit almost 10 years ago).
The Premiere series has a dual core processor, but is not using the second core yet.
My Premiere XL box freezes every now and then.

Summary I have had my TiVo Premiere XL box almost 2 years now. Even with the issue I experience with my TiVo, I still love it over other DVRs. I use TiVo Desktop Plus to export shows and movies from TiVo box to watch content on my computer or my iPod. TiVo has been doing several software updates lately, which have changed a couple of the features that I use a lot and have caused some concern. There is supposed to be an update that will take advantage of the second processor core, I hope it comes soon.

Unfortunately, my TiVo requires router restarts when attempting to update (Gateway not found error). It is funny that when I get this error, I have no other issues on my home network, in fact I can connect to my TiVo box with the Desktop Plus software and transfer shows. Go figure that one out as they are both using the same Ethernet cable. But after restarting my cable modem, router and TiVo (10 minute reboot time), it will connect fine.

I use the Comcast provided M-Channel cable card (only one card slot available) for the TiVo to use the dual tuner. Comcast had a lot of issues getting the cable card 'pairing' with the head unit down the street.

I had at one point 2 Premiere XL boxes, but found that if you do not have subscription service for that box, it is nothing more than a door stop. I confirmed thru TiVo support that you cannot do anything on the box without subscription service. Have had been grandfathered in on subscription on my original Premiere XL box, but the service on the second box was more expensive that the first box.

TiVo support is very good. I have contacted them several times in the past via phone, online chat, and even sent an email support request to TiVo that triggered a phone call from their technical support. I have not call about the Gateway not found errors yet. I am upgrading my router in the next few weeks and will call if I am still receiving the same error. TiVo should have any issues connecting via Ethernet cable. I can see wireless being an issue sometimes, but not a direct connection and everything else network related.

Sorry about being long winded, but I hope this is helpful.