TiVo : Does anyone actually like using Virgin Media?

[tweedle]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

H'mm... And how long does it take to select a programme from on demand and to start watching it on Sky? At least we don't's have to download it first!

Well................... It literally takes about 5-10 seconds for a on demand HD movie to start for me an a TV show or none HD content starts pretty much instantly.. I am happy to film it post it on YouTube? If you do the same on TiVo.


We both start on a live channel and start a on demand movie, see whose movie starts playing first? I suspect Skys instant response to button presses/menu selections will counter any instant movie starts on VM TiVo with its laggy response to button presses/menu selections.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by tweedle

Well................... It literally takes about 5-10 seconds for a on demand HD movie to start for me an a TV show or none HD content starts pretty much instantly.. I am happy to film it post it on YouTube? If you do the same on TiVo.


We both start on a live channel and start a on demand movie, see whose movie starts playing first? I suspect Skys instant response to button presses/menu selections will counter any instant movie starts on VM TiVo with its laggy response to button presses/menu selections.

OK, I'll take your word for it, tweedle. Maybe my daughter's box is a bit slow, or perhaps it is the broadband that's causing the delay.

[neilo]

I think the service is reasonable. Broadband ok most of the time. TiVo is good but is so slow when you compare the Netflix or YouTube apps against the Roku. Never use the phone. But I must admit recently I have been questioning the cost of it all. I think that will make me cancel ultimately and go somewhere else. I'm at the tipping point in terms of price.

[japitts]

Just to add my tuppence..

Yeah, the Tivo can be a bit slow sometimes but that's usually related to having almost 200 series links and the EPG updates. We had problems with the 10Mb connection being congested for quite a while, followed closely by our 50Mb having peak-time congestion for the best part of a year. Both are currently performing well.

But in the grand scheme? I did a quick price comparison before taking Line Rental Saver a couple of weeks back and there wasn't much difference. The overall quality of service is excellent and we've certainly never had any major faults that weren't fixed promptly. And whilst I certainly wouldn't pay for BT Sport, it's a very nice bonus for the Premiership & European rugby.

[Mr K]

Broadband and phone are good and reliable. The TV lags behind Sky in terms of content and box speed. Sky's new box will leave VM further behind.

What I really don't like is having to haggle with retentions after every frequent price rise. OP - you may have a good deal now, but if you stay with VM for years you'll be amazed how quickly the price spirals if you never haggle/threaten to leave. The annual retentions call is a pain in the backside for all concerned. I've been with cable since 1996, I often wonder what my price would be if I'd never questioned it - I wouldn't be surprised of it was double. I guess there must be many who pay well over the odds, not realising there are such things as being 'out of contract' or that you have to ring up regularly and have a whinge.

[Horizon]

Broadband: download good, sometimes excellent. Upload could be better, sometimes poor.

Broadband is the the reason I have cable. If you have good broadband and access to certain places, you really don't need anything else...

Phone: Never used it, so don't know. Last time I checked five years ago caller ID wasn't even available in my area. Don't know about now.

TV: The biggest frustration about cable has always been about its tv service and I'm not talking about anything major, but the minor niggly things that make all the difference.

Cable stbs have always been slow and sluggish. Being able to change channels instantly, should be the norm, not a pipe dream.

The ability not to reorder channels as I want them is a huge frustration. I can order my channels exactly as I want on Freeview.

When did it become a luxury to record tv (tivo/V+) and pay extra for the privilege? And why can't I transfer programmes off the tivo onto a hard disc on my computer to keep the shows. It renders the tivo useless and I've barely used it since I've had it.

And of course the lack of certain main channels has always been an issue.

Cable Tv should be the best, but its always played catch-up to someone else and its user interfaces and hardware have never been up the standard they should be.

[MalteseFalcon]

I like it and if people don't then switch and stop moaning about the service.