Introduction | Setup and Maintenance | Features | MythTV Only Options and Cost | Verdict

Comparison of the Features
The first feature that must be compared between the TiVo Series 3 and a MythTV box is operation. If no one in your family can operate or figure out the DVR, it’s useless! The TiVo remote is standard and well designed. For instance, anyone that has a TiVo can pick up the remote of another TiVo and instantly be able to use. Also, TiVo remotes are universal remotes and can easily be programmed using the TiVo software as help to determine the correct programming for other devices. MythTV obviously does not have a standard remote so you need to get a universal remote and program it. Since I use a Logitech Harmony remote and not a standard universal or even the TiVo remote, the debate over remote control operation does not matter to me; however, if you do not have such a remote, TiVo has an easy to use remote.

There are several times where more than one show is on at a time that I need to record. In rare instances I have wanted to record as many as three shows at one time. The TiVo Series 3 contains two CableCARD tuners and can record two shows at one time. The number of shows recorded at one time on a MythTV is limited only by the number of TV Tuners you can attach to the box. For instance, you could have a video server with multiple tuners that not only could record several shows at one time but multiple cameras around your house. MythTV’s flexibility wins this category; however, you cannot use a CableCARD with MythTV.

Since you are recording all these shows, you need somewhere to store them. TiVo Series 3 comes with 300 hours of SD or 32 hours of HD storage availability. TiVo uses a Western Digital 250GB Caviar drive. While there are upgrade kits to expand the drive space from third party vendors, you will end up paying a mark up of 40% for an increase to 500GB or 750GB. Since MythTV uses a standard computer, you can easily use standard components saving that 40% markup. You can string multiple drives together and expand the capacity as much as your budget will allow. Finally, you can easily backup your data with MythTV and use RAID functionality so if one hard drive fails you can still run without losing

any of your data. Again, MythTV’s flexibility conquers the storage category.

As far as outputs for network and audio/video are concerned, MythTV’s flexibility once again shines brighter than Series 3. To start with, the Series 3 includes a 100MB/s network interface card while you can cheaply include a 1000MB/s network interface in a MythTV box. You can also purchase a Wireless network interface card (USB or internal) for the MythTV box around $10-$40 while a Series 3 requires the use of a TiVo Wireless G USB Adapter which costs $40-$60. Series 3 includes support for HDMI, Component Out and DVI through a HDMI to DVI conversion cable (purchased separately). Outputs for sound include the Digital Optical Audio jack and standard stereo RCA jacks. The MythTV depends on the motherboard of the computer or an expansion card or USB device but in addition to the Series 3 outputs, MythTV could easily support DVI without a conversion cable, VGA and S-Video.

Usability of live TV and playback of TV is another important feature to compare since that’s one of the main reasons for the device. The first annoying feature of the Series 3 is the inability to continue to watch TV while paging through the menus. I still do not understand why TiVo has not modified this. MythTV on the other hand allows you to continually watch TV while navigating the menus. Both platforms provide for slow motion and frame advance and back as well as being able to change tuners while watching live TV. Also, the live buffer, fast forward and rewind, jump forward and backwards and auto skipback from fast forward and rewind are available however these options are programmable on MythTV and fixed on a Series 3. In usability of live TV and playback of TV, MythTV wins by a narrow margin again due to MythTV’s flexibility.

Another important feature used on both the Series 3 (TiVo service) and MythTV platforms is the search capabilities and program guide listing. Since both platforms can conduct searches on words anywhere in the title, keywords in titles or descriptions, by people, by category, by channel and by time and both platforms provide program guides as well as custom records according to rules or wishlists, a clear winner cannot be chosen for this section.

Introduction | Setup and Maintenance | Features | MythTV Only Options and Cost | Verdict

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