DVR Chatter

TiVo has temporarily reinstated the option to purchase lifetime service for $399.  This new option, and special pricing on prepaid subscriptions, start today and end on February 2, 2007.  I have read two different versions of the terms of this offer this morning.

Engadget says that Current Series3 and TiVoHD owners can upgrade their existing payment package to lifetime and that Series2 owners can opt into this new option with the purchase of a Series3 or TiVoHD.  They also mis-list the end date for the offer as January 2, 2008.  While it's difficult to determine the full details of the offer by visiting TiVo.com, I can tell the actual end date for this "Special Holiday Offer" is February 2, 2008.

Engadget also lists the new prepayment rates available under this special offer.

TiVo Lovers Blog has a different take on the special offer.  They make no mention of it being limited to Series3 and TiVoHD owners.  TiVo Lovers states that the offer is only applicable to current TiVo owners, making no "Series3 or TiVoHD" distinction as Engadget did. This could be an oversight on their part in writing up the article, but I've found them to be pretty thorough in the past.  TiVo Lovers makes no mention of current Series3 and TiVoHD owners being able to convert their current plans to the new Lifetime plan as stated by Engadget.  In fact, TiVo Lovers explicitly states that the offer is only good for users adding new units to their existing accounts.

Who is right?  Are they both right?  Are they both wrong?

TiVo.com is unclear as to which version of the offer is correct.  I could find no explicit details of the offer searching their knowledge base. 

I can say this: After logging into my account, I was offered this special pricing when going through the "Buy TiVo" link (adding a box to my account) but could find no way to change my current payment plan to Lifetime service.  This would point to the TiVo Lovers version of the offer being correct.

If anyone decides to go for this new option, please post the actual terms of the offer in the forum.