Where can I buy a NEW Replay TV??

[grgeiger]

Pardon me for asking a silly question. I have been out of the Replay TV loop for the past few years or so. Where can I get a New Replay TV? Other than used on E-bay, it seems the major retailers have discontinued all Replay products. If you go to Amazon.com all Replay items are out of stock/Unavilable. A google search turns up amost nothing.

I went to www.replaytv.com and the only product marketed is the PC Edition. Is Replay officially out of the "Standalone DVR" business and only marketing PC Editions?

[rlichtefeld]

eBay or here is your best bet.

I picked up a new, never opened 5060 that I got at a decent price on eBay in October. I bought it as a backup in case one of my 3 died.

Now the wife wants to know why I got a backup. So, I may be wanting to sell it.

PM if you are interested. BTW, it does not have lifetime activation. And, a 5060 were only sold by Costco, and really have a 80 GB drive in them. If you open it and use RTVPatch, you can make it a 5080.

If you go the eBay route, make sure and watch a few auctions so you get the feel of them. Most get sniped at the last minute, and the ones with lifetime go for lots of money.

Rob

[unclebubby]

You might try CompUSA. They used to sell them and might have one or two in stock. You'll probably have to convince someone to look in the dustiest corner fo the stockroom but they did carry them. I was looking for a 5504 once and all they had were 5508 units on the floor. When I asked they kinda blew me off but I noticed a stack of about 6 5504 units behind their laptop/video display wall. I would bet you could get a GREAT deal on one if you can find one.

-- Joe

[icecow]

I tried to buy a few extras from compusa for backup remotes (I may or may not be short one) but we failed at checkout.

Almost wrote a thread about how others should check their areas but pooped out and didn't mainly because it has a high lottery factor and laziness. your post jabbed me and I just wrote the thread here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=782315

[grgeiger]

Thanks for the CompUSA tip. The closest is about 200 miles from me. If I decide a road trip in the coming days. I will go there and pick one up.. :) I DO need a new remote. The price of the remote would be about the cost for the CompUsa.. Plus I get a 40 or 60 gig IDE hard drive, and spare parts.

My next question.. Why did Replay discontinue stand alone DVR's? IMHO.. I think the Replay TV products were more advanced and seemed a year or two ahead of Tivo. I suppose Tivo could afford an extensive marketing campaign while Replay was the victim of lawsuits.

Is Replay going to stay focused on a PC based DVR? or is it a temporary thing to discontinue the stand alone DVR.

[unclebubby]

Here's my understanding of the whole deal:

1) Sonic Blue goes to market with the ReplayTV about one week before Tivo
2) The ReplayTV interface and operation are superior to Tivo but, like Beta and VHS, Tivo takes the lead
3) Tivo's lead is due to two reasons - First, they are marketing their product much better than Sonic Blue. Second, Sonic Blue is bleeding out and will soon file for bankruptcy (I don't recall the details)
4) Sonic Blue is acquired by Digital Networks North America (DNNA) and the ReplayTV is saved from an early demise - but it's still not marketed strongly if at all
5) Tivo and ReplyTV experience declining sales and declining subscriptions as cable companies and satellite providers start building their own DVR units. Both companies attempted to license their technology to the service providers but most of the deals fell through.
6) In order to stay ahead of the game, DVR manufacturers must start improving their products (i.e. building HD-DVRs) or go after another market (i.e. Build-your-own PC market)

That's my understanding of the evolution of the ReplayTV. If I'm wrong on any of the points, I'm sure SOMEONE will correct me or fill in any blanks.

-- joe

[slowbiscuit]

You forgot:

7) DNNA inexplicably releases a PC version of the ReplayTV software which abandons their installed userbase, is missing many popular features such as commercial advance and HDTV/multiple tuner support, and has no features that weren't present in the competition's software 3+ years ago.

[LLaurel]

Here's my understanding of the whole deal:

1) Sonic Blue goes to market with the ReplayTV about one week before Tivo
-- joe


Didn't Sonic Blue enter the picture somewhat later and purchase ReplayTV some months or years after launch? ... or is my memory just showing my age?

Larry

[Creech]

ReplayTV was a company in and of itself in the beginning. Anthony Wood was the CEO. The company was sold to SonicBlue who then created the 4K and the 5K series.

[MrPopman]

To add one important item

3a) Sonic Blue creates the 4K series with the "in your face" feature allowing Internet Video Sharing for the masses. The MPA, knowing the weak finances of SB, sue and drag the process out consuming money and distracting management from marketing their product. SB eventually filed for bankruptcy with the assets acquired by DNNA.