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Thinking about upgrading to a TiVo HD? Do you have Product Lifetime Service on your current TiVo? Then there’s good news, TiVo has a new offer — purchase a TiVo HD DVR for $299 (from Tivo.com) and transfer your Product Lifetime Service for $199. Additionally, you’ll be able to keep service on your existing TiVo for one year with no charge. The offer expires November 8, 2007. Keep in mind to be eligible for this offer, your Product Lifetime Service had to be activated prior to October 1, 2003.

In their Tivo HD review, PC Magazine concluded…

“All in all, however, the TiVo HD lives up to the promise of finally getting HD programming on a TiVo at a reasonable cost. It does core search, record, and playback functions better than anyone else in the DVR business. I think $300 is the sweet spot that will push current TiVo subscribers into the HD fold and lure new users away from the plain-vanilla boxes offered by most cable companies.”

For additional reviews, take a look at my previous post on the TiVo HD. If you aren’t eligible for a lifetime service transfer, Amazon is selling the TiVo HD for $249. You’ll have to pay a monthly service fee but you’ll get a great dual tuner HD DVR.

Unfortunately, the TiVo HD does not support satellite service. I recently switched to DirecTV to be able to watch Penn State on the Big Ten Network. Otherwise, I would be all over the TiVo HD upgrade offer.

Tivo is releasing a new 180-hour Tivo HD at the end of August. The new Tivo HD offers almost all the same features of the highly praised Tivo Series 3 HD (S3), but at a more affordable sub $300 price. For the lower price tag, you’ll have to sacrifice THX certification, a larger hard drive and a back-lit remote control. It’s not much to give up, considering you’ll save $300 over the S3 and will still be able to record high definition programming.

Here’s a review roundup on the Tivo HD…

• Tivo HD review from PC Magazine
• Tivo HD review by PC World
• A Review of the Tivo HD by Tivo Lovers

For less than $300, the 180-hour Tivo HD makes it really compelling to upgrade my series2 Tivo. The primary reason I’m hesitating is due to the monthly subscription fee, which is $13 to $17 depending on the commitment time frame. I think I’ll wait a little longer and hope Tivo offers a product lifetime service transfer to a new Tivo HD.

However, if you are currently paying a monthly Tivo fee, upgrading to a Tivo HD is a good deal to be able to record and watch high-definition programming.