Comments on: Nero Liquid TV: TiVo for your PC

Liquid TV from Nero turns any Windows PC into a real TiVo--with an interface and remote that's identical to the set-top DVR.

[fuermich99]

I currently have a Tivo Series2 DT set up next to a Vista Media Center box. I have two HDTV tuners in the vista box. I have tried MythTV, GBPVR, SageTV, and BeyondTV. I am testing out the Vista Box to make sure it would work as a replacement to my current Tivo.

I really like my Tivo. My first reaction to seeing this software was "I want to try that". As I have read other comments and thought about the reasons I have my vista box as well as my tivo, I don't think the Tivo software will be what I want it to be.

First, it was a stretch for my wife to get used to our first Tivo. Our vcr broke and I was tired of hunting down vhs tapes. I convinced her to let me get a Tivo. I think it only took a week for her to really like what the Tivo could do. Her first reaction to the Vista box was similar to the first Tivo. Slowly, she is getting used to it.

I find it hard to move away from the Tivo, but the following reasons are why I have switched my main TV viewing to the vista box:

1. No monthly payment for EPG guide.
2. MP3's DIRECTLY on the device.
3. 3rd party plugins that let me play my kid's ripped DVD's right on the device. No more scratched disks.
4. Browsing (although not perfect) the internet to watch missed recordings from the couch using wireless keyboard & mouse.
5. I can expand my hard drive without voiding warranties or buying an expensive external hard drive that I cannot use for anything else.

I know there are separate devices out there that may do these individual things better. The Popcorn Hour is one that plays the ripped DVD's. There are other devices for MP3's. I have worked with products from Control4, which automated all of the different A/V devices like 400 disc DVD changers from Sony, made multi-room audio really easy, and much more. Their interface is amazing, giving you the one remote experience. My vista box is a cheaper one remote solution, lacking mostly in the area of multi-room audio control when compared to the Control4 hardware. I do not want to go back to switching devices in order to play a dvd or cd. I don't want to hook up my laptop to the TV any more to watch streaming videos online. If I want a bluray player, I can add it to the vista box. I have control over it, more so than a Tivo.

I really like my Tivo, but it is just one device, requiring me to use multiple other devices. I want something more simple. Some people will point out that MythTV can do everything I do with my vista box. The trouble is that it is still not as simple to setup a MythTV box compared to the vista media center box. Anyway, more multi-function! Less A/V clutter!

[jequeen1]

I fail to see the apeal of this.
My main system is a TIVO HD XL connected to my LCD TV/Surround sound system with Verizon FIOS as my provider.

I also use an HD Homerun connected to Media Center (now under Windows 7) to record all the local channels that are broadcast in the clear from Verizon. The Homerun is simple to setup, is not expensive and gives me 2 tuners/Homerun box. With Media Center and my Xbox, I can watch the shows recorded with the HD Homerun on my LCD TV/Surround System.

I also have Apple TV connected to my main system.

So from my perspective, I can not figure out what the apeal of Liquid TV is. Comments?

This product is the an extremely tedious piece of software. It works, but is extremely obtuse to use and is the most ambiguous slop of crap I've worked.

This product is not worth it - it is the most difficult piece of end user software I've seen in years. There is no excuse as this should have been developed to record what you tell it to record. PERIOD.

At ZERO dollars, this software product is overpriced. OKAY, I'll agree the tuner card is worth it, but I would only give the NERO Liquid TV software to my WORST ENEMY. I've had nothing but trouble, the current problem is the Program Guide Data is not being loaded. KIND OF A PROBLEM if you wish to schedule future recording.