November 10th, 2009
Moxi introduces three-tuner HD DVR, reduces prices on dual-tuner version
TiVo isn’t the only company trying to entice people to choose its DVR solution over one you can get bundled with your cable or satellite programming. Moxi is going the extra step with the latest version of its HD DVR, unleashing a new model that incorporate three HD tuners instead of the dual-tuner setup introduced earlier this year (and at which TiVo’s HD DVR also maxes out). Three tuners means you can record three different programs at the same time while watching a fourth program that’s already been recorded.
You’ll pay a lot for that privilege, more than the top-of-the-line TiVo—$799. But that price includes a Moxi Mate, which allows you to watch recorded content on a TV in a different room. You can also get a pair of Moxi Mates with the three-tuner HD DVR for $999. The price to buy a Moxi Mate separately has been reduced from $399 to $299. Also slashed is the cost of a dual-tuner HD DVR, from its $799 price down to $499. One key area in which Moxi differentiates itself is by not charging a monthly fee for its programming guide and other features; TiVo charges $12.95 per month.
Another way that Moxi could distinguish itself from TiVo is offering a HD DVR with built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi. Currently, all Moxi hardware features an Ethernet port, just like TiVo devices. TiVo at least offers a wireless adapter you can buy (which is free for the moment when you buy an HD DVR), but Moxi’s ability to offer online services like Netflix, Hulu and Rhapsody, access files on your home network, and stream content to Moxi Mates makes a wireless connection highly desirable. Considering the difficulty gaining traction against cable and satellite DVR boxes, Moxi needs all the advantages it can muster in comparison.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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