Time Warner Cable LA is Still Pandering the Worst HD-DVR Ever Made

Oh yes it's the worst. And it's not just me, customers hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it. I'm writing this post to let Time Warner LA know that this cannot stand for long before customers such as myself switch back to satellite providers. I'm talking very soon, like as soon as I can get a day off from work to have an installer come by my house.

What sets this HD-DVR piece of garbage apart from the competition is...if you tell it to record a series it will record every friggin instant of the show, even if you tell it only to record one copy of each new episode. I end up with 10 recordings of the Daily Show every day.

But worst of all it crashes whenever it feels like it.

And it's not the individual machine. I've been through 3 of them. 2 at my previous apartment. Oh, and I love it when the machine lags, than jumps 5 minutes all of a sudden...hit jump forward more than once and you're asking for it. I've spoiled the ending of Top Chef twice this way.

Not cool.

Time Warner Cable LA County has totally phased out all other HD-DVR models, but rumor has it that they are bringing back the new MOXI at no extra charge if you call and badger them for it. You can check it out here. Good luck getting one from them.

It seems however that nothing short of a miracle will shake the monstrous business deal that Time Warner Cable/Comcast made with Motorola to put a DCT Shit-Commander DVR in every home in LA County. It is for this reason I encourage all readers to seek alternatives aggressively.

One alternative is to buy your own TiVo HD, which now only costs $300 (down from $800). Monthly charges start at a hefty $17/month however most TiVo users swear it is worth it.

Another alternative is to try AT&T's new U-Verse cable and high speed internet package. This is a good switch if you're only sticking with Time Warner because they are discounting your internet and television together. I'm paying $85 a month plus tax for 200 channels + HD programming + High Speed Internet. U-Verse comes in at the same price basically at $84 (including HD package). By switching to AT&T you can tell TWC to take their cable and internet and shove BOTH up their ass. Unfortunately you'll be signing with AT&T, which may/may not be a poorer decision. No New AT&T, we have not forgotten the horrible demon that was the Old AT&T.

Dish Network is currently offering free setup. One HD-DVR receiver with 200 channels (including local) will come out to $55/month. This does not include internet of course.

The last major option is go with DirecTV, which currently offers their HD-DVR package (195 channels) for $65/month (steeper than the others), PLUS you have to buy the box yourself for $300 (before $100 rebate). It's $70/month after 4 months. What a burn.

Perhaps our readers can weigh in with their own experiences and advice.

[Sept 26, 2007] Correction: Time Warner is still offering the old MOXI boxes in select areas of LA County (ie Sherman Oaks and Malibu). The new MOXI box that is pictured will be a retail version, and will work with Time Warner Cable via a CableCARD. It will be available hopefully before Christmas this year.