I don't understand your view that the VMS price should be the same. I had the multi-room DVR and two HD STBs and paid $40/mo for that. Now I have the VMS and two IPC clients and the cost is $50/mo. For that increase I get:
1) Twice as much hard drive storage space - 515 GB to 1 TB without buying an external hard drive
2) Half again as many tuners - 2 in the DVR, one in each HD STB for a total of 4 vs. 6 in the VMS, plus all of the tuners in the VMS can be used for recording programs vs. only two previously
3) The ability to pause and rewind live TV on any of the boxes vs. only on the DVR
These are the most important new features for me, and worth the increase. Plus I expect to see additional new function delivered over the next year or two; I have no idea how much if any can be added to the older DVR/STB technology.
In regard to your comment about Tivo: I just replaced a Tivo setup, DVR plus one Mini, on a cable system at our lake house, went back to Motorola boxes. I had the Tivo setup for about a year, had replaced a Motorola DVR and HD STB (similar to but not the same as the ones Verizon has been using). I realize a lot of folks think the Tivo is just wonderful, but I just hated it - the guide was truely awful compared to any other guide I have ever used (going back 30 years or so on various cable systems plus FiOS), the remote was incredibly awkward to hold and use, the stupid Mini always made me choose an option before I could watch TV, the Favorites function was unusable, the channel list was shared between the DVR and the Mini so only the same list was on both boxes, and on and on. Based on that experience I would never choose to use a Tivo again.
I guess the important thing here is that Verizon is offering options, and each of us can choose what suits us. For me, the VMS is a step forward that I am happy with, but it may very will not be the best option for others. Plus if people don't like Verizon's offers, there is always satellite, and for lots of folks a cable option.
Just my $0.02 worth.....
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Justin
FiOS TV: Extreme HD, Internet: 50/25, Digital Voice
VMS Enhanced Service: 1 server, 2 clients
Keller, TX 76248 (VHO 1)
Did you even read the original post? With my $20.00 DVR for life discount and 2 STB's, I pay $20/mo, which is what the original poster is paying. If we were to upgrade to Quantum, we would pay $50/mo, which equates to a 150% price increase for us. If we had been paying $40/mo like you (lol), an additional $10 would be fine, but going from $20/mo to $50/mo is somewhat ridiculous for us.
