Home Networking & Tivo Desktop

[petestrash]

I went to Google and typed in Tivo. Top sites are www.mytivo.com.au, wikipedia, and then www.tivo.com - not Tivo.com.au. Normally an international company would have a country selector if things are remarkably different, take Sony for instance: http://www.sony.com/.

As they say, garbage in garbage out. If you had used Google correctly and only specified that you were after pages from Australia you would have received relevant search results.

As an example if you do a Google search for "landcruiser features" you will probably find information on Landcrusier from all over the world. They will describe standard features not found on Australian Landcruisers. Are you going to complain to the ACCC because a Google search told you the car had a feature only to find that it does not after buying it?

At least the bones of the Lancruiser are similar the world over (except what side the steering is on). The US TiVo HD uses the NTSC broadcasting format while we use PAL. The US TiVo HD uses ATSC for Digital broadcasts while we use DVB-T. The US TiVo HD has a connection for Cable TV and a Phone line, but ours does not. The US TiVo HD is 110V only, while ours are universal 110V-240V. The US TiVo HD is actually vastly different to ours, in both physical hardware and software features.

Really you should have only looked at the first hit you got www.mytivo.com.au for official information on the Australian TiVo.

The Australian TiVo is not sold by TiVo and TiVo Inc have no stake in Hybrid who sell the TiVo under license here in Australia. So unlike your Sony comparison there is no US owned TiVo subsidiary in Australia. Information on the US tivo.com website is about US models only.

It would be nice if TiVo Inc did offer to refer AU inquiries to the AU website, but it is not TiVo Inc who are selling TiVo boxes here, hybrid has no control over TiVo Inc's website.

After looking through the Tivo.com.au site there is often redirectors to the US site - I found irrelevant links on how to adjust the Learning Tivo remote for instance via Tivo.com.au. I also found info about the media access key via the Australian site, but no reference that this key costs $200.00.

the home page of www.mytivo.com.au has a section titled "Home Networking Package" and there are numerous links to information about the extra package. The $199 price is clearly shown in the shop which is the only place you can buy the package.

I had a look at the Tivo box and on the easily seen dark red background :
"And lots more ..

• Remote scheduling
• Online content
• Digital music and photos
• Extendable disc space (coming soon!)

in very small text on the light background, not easily seen when in a store, you have a reference to the Tivo web site., and get told that some of the features cost extra money. But when I read "Tivo box requires Broadband connectivity throught ethernet or wireless network adaptor sold separately..." I did not logically conclude that to talk to anything on my ethernet is going to cost a bomb.

You did not quote the text on the box accurately.

It actually has:

And lots more ** (Coming Soon) sticker

• Remote scheduling
• Online content
• Digital music and photos
• Extendable disc space (coming soon!)

You missed the important "**" as with all sales brochures, you need to read the terms relating to the "**", Which in this case says:

** Extendable disk space and access to some services and content sold separately"

Digital Music and Photos are a service and do cost extra.

I too purchased the Tivo HD under the same guise! I feel it is blatantly obvious that unfortunately Tivo Aus are NOT listening to their users. On top of this, I feel it is a "no brainer" they have breached both ACCC and Fair Trading laws by attempting to hide this fact on their web pages and boxed documentation because there has been NO obvious indication to this point, that Tivo's Aus network connection to a home computer or network is going to cost an extra $200.00 after purchasing the initial box.. I feel this is a recalcitrant attempt to mislead individuals even though they had done their research, by hiding this important fact.

It costs nothing connect your TiVo to your home network, how do you think the Guide, Radio podcasts, Showcases, Downloadable movies, Horoscopes etc get on to your TiVo? They all come via internet using the included Ethernet (or extra cost wireless) connection your home network.

How thoughtless are Tivo Aus "powers that be" who are responsible for designing THIS business model! So my advice is to email the ACCC, Fair Trading (or both) explaining the dilemma of "being mislead RE: network connectivity"! (that everyone who has a home network (probably 80% of Tivo users) seem to be experiencing) and let these agencies adjudicate as to whether this is kosher or not - I know we will!

Hybrid originally wanted to use the same business model as used in the US where you pay US$12.95 per month with a minimum 1 year term. But their retail partner Harvey Norman told them they would not be able to sell a box which has an ongoing subscription cost. So they were forced into using the lifetime subscription model, which costs US$399. A US TiVo HD with Lifetime subscription costs US$299 + US$399 = US$698 (~A$786).

I'm getting a little sick of people complaining about being misled by hybrid about this TiVo's features. It is your fault for comparing a totally different US model to the Australian TiVo.

Can you point out anywhere in the Australian TiVo website or any other Australian marketing that may have misled you into believing the features were included with the Australian TiVo?

While I do not agree with the pricing Hybrid have chosen for the Extra's like HNP and the add on drive and I have other issues about how they are doing business, I do not believe they have done anything to mislead any Australian consumers about HNP.

Peter.