Sky + (to buy or not to buy?)

Rizzo the Rat

Hi Guys,
I am thinking of investing in Sky + and as it is relatively expensive I am looking for some feedback first. Basically I would like to hear from people who currently have or had it and what they think of it? Is it worth getting? is it too expensive for what it does? do you use it's various functions often?
As you would expect with Sky there is huge hype about it but I am looking for some independent feedback/reviews.
Thanks in advance to anyone who bothers to reply.:)

Mossy Monk

if you can afford it then definatley get it

plus points are you can record something while watching something
watch your favourite programmes when you feel like watching it
pause live tv when you need to go to the bog, phone rings, doorbell rings
rewind live tv when you want to see something again
Dolby Digital 5.1 on some of the movies

negative point is that the hard drive is a bit small but that can be upgraded

DaithiSurfer

Best thing is that daytime tv will be a thing of the past

Its an amzing system, but the negative side is that sky dont really give a damn about you when it breaks. And according to most newsgroups it breaks a lot.

watty

The only other slight negative things:

1) It really only works with Sky channels. Not BBC3 & 4 & BBC Radio via "Other Channels"

2) Even if you cancel Sky sub, you need to keep paying a recording subscription to use planner recordings. Tivo is a bit like that, except you can do a once off "buyout" to Tivo.

ShaneOC

Originally posted by DaithiSurfer
Best thing is that daytime tv will be a thing of the past

Its an amzing system, but the negative side is that sky dont really give a damn about you when it breaks. And according to most newsgroups it breaks a lot.

I've never had a problem with the reliability of Sky+. I suppose you only ever hear about things when they go wrong.

DaithiSurfer

check out www.digitalspy.co.uk

for sky+ go to the personal video recorder forums.
The amount of problems and complaints about skys attitude after they take your money there will hurt your eyes.

DirtyDog

Its a little on the expensive side, but if you are sick of - setting the video (or missing something cause you cant be bothered setting it), or making sure you have enough space on the tape, or trying to find something you taped the week before. Then this is the gadget for you!

I have mine about 2 months and it was the best money I spent in a long time....my favorite thing - being able to record 2 things at once OR pausing\rewinding live tv.

mickeyboymel

Would never go back to video now!!

The series link record option is brilliant, one press of a button and your favourite show is recorded automatically each week.

I find I watch a lot more discovery stuff, series link the good ones and leave them sitting in the box for daytime or when nothing else is on.

Previously, I never managed to get down to the 500's when flicking through the channels.

A good trawl around the EPG once in a while will throw up lots of stuff to record that you migh not nesc. have viewed or bothered to record on video.

The pause feature is great too, no longer have to wait for adbreaks to make the cup of tea!!!!

ShaneOC

Originally posted by DaithiSurfer
check out www.digitalspy.co.uk

for sky+ go to the personal video recorder forums.
The amount of problems and complaints about skys attitude after they take your money there will hurt your eyes.

True but they are a strange lot over there anyway . And it would be very unusual to see posts along the lines of "my Sky+ box is still working perfectly".

As I said, I can only speak for myself, I've never had a problem with Sky+ once they eventually activated the recoding features. I would find it impossible to go back to a regular digibox now. Live pause is so handy and recording two things at once is a brilliant feature. As mickeyboymel says you tend to get to see lots more stuff that you would usually not get a chance to see. I think that Sky+ has made my subscription better value as I see more good TV than I would without it.

DaithiSurfer

i love mine too. have had some trouble but i guess that could happen with anything.
What i didnt like was the attitude that sky had when i had a problem.
They didnt care that everytime they didnt show up it cost me a days wages.
Even though i called them each morning to make sure they were on their way i would get a call at 6 saying they would reschedule.

Regarding digital spy. its only natural that there would be more people with problems than without posting there.
Most would not bother if they didnt have a problem

mickeyboymel

I think it is more a customer relations issue you are having rather than specific to Sky+.

Sky are sadly lacking when it comes to customer support for problematic equipment as has been well documented across various forums, for all products