Interesting. DirectTV had some arrangement with Tivo in the beginning but they moved to their own DVR or licensed tech from Tivo.

Can't believe you can patent a feature like stop or rewind. Almost as bad a copyrighting everday words and then claiming someone is using "your" word.

__________________
2006 X5 Sport 4.4i

I've been reading the debate on the Sat forums, ranging from blather to patent lawyers posting...
hard to figure; it seems it is more than the stop/rewind part of the DVR, as in the whole DVR process or,
the DVR gizmo/electronics that DISH uses.

Fwiw, our old/current Dish DVR has been glitching since we got back to this house, and DISH has been belligerent
in replacing/upgrading it to a 2 show DVR, (non-HD), without considerable expense, an additional iron clad re-up contract, etc.

I was pizzed at them and was about to call Direct, when this news hit the fan...hmmm. Ergen The Genius, CEO of DISH will probably
cave and pay some license fee, but it is of concern to us that have DISH and have only one other choice in Direct.

But, this may force my hand, as DISH may have The Worst customer service, esp for exisitng customers, on the fookin planet, imo...

I'm happy with DTV.....prefer their menus, features, etc more than FIOS. FIOS is a different animal but there is no snow/rain fade and or compression issues...

It's kinda crazy how much ~we~ pay for such services. Me wonders when will it become a *limit cap* on how much we pay monthly for such services. I pay DTV around $90 a month and this is with some discount applied on it...

MD - I'm sure you gonna do the math on this, and I'm not sure what's up in your neck of the woods (literally) but here's a TIVO alternative as well if you are looking at a provider that uses CableCards

Moxi, HD DVR, HDTV, Digital Video Recorder, Premium Media Center

I had DISH--now Uverse for over a year. I will never go back to having equipment again.

BTW, if you are DVR junkie, note when comparing if the provider will allow you to *hook up a external hard drive* to the DVR so that you can add additional storage capacity.
FIOS has small hard drives in their DVRS to start and their DVRS won't allow you to hook up a external hard for additional capacity.

At the end of the day, it's going to be both a #s game if not features/GUI usability, etc.

Chef,
We have 2 choices here on the Mtn...Dish or Direct; well actually 3 choices,
if one counts an antenna in the attic for only local stations.

Charter, the cable provider is a mile down the road below us and hasn't
"moved" up the road in the 9 yrs we've been here.

Thus, it is my current DISH or, call Direct and get in line, with wallet open...
it will be interesting. The tolerable side is that most shows we watch are
near completion for the summer season and we don't watch a lot of TV
here at the Mtn house in summer. And, we do catch an occasional show
on Hulu or the network repeats via computer.

It's been awhile since doing A/B comparison bot both SAT providers but the general consensus was DISH was cheaper and DTV had a far superior product...channels, gui, DVR, Remote Scheduling, Sports, etc etc.

I'd choose DTV over DISH anyday for a SAT provider anyday, but this is within *my budget*. BTW, spring for the protection plan if you do switch. It's $6 a month but covers all equipment, any service visits, etc, etc.

ChefW,
Thanks for the tip on the service; something to consider.

I never felt Dish sucked, in terms of the transmission/programming etc.,
but their customer service did, and still does. Some neighbors have
Direct, some have Dish. And, as we don't have HD here at the MtnJoint
that debate was moot. Also 8 1/2 yrs ago, Dish had a real DVR and Direct
didn't, when we got the TV going here, so it was an easy pick.

Will be interesting to see how the Dish/ErgenEgo vs Tivo plays out. I watch
too much HD TV via Comcast, in the 5 month FL house, anyway, lol!