Think the current TiVo Series3 DVR is just way too expensive? Join the club. Paying $799 for the Series3 DVR makes me want to opt for the crappy DVR set top boxes that come from cable companies. However, recently, rumors have been spreading around the net about a supposed new “Lite” version of the Series3 box. Images and specs have also surfaced over at the TiVo Community Forums. Here’s what we know thus far in terms of rumored specs for the “Lite” system.

• BCM740x DVR CPU w/ integrated MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoders
• 1x dual MPEG-2 encoder (BCM7041 or possibly an encoder from LSI)
• 2x Samsung S5H1411-based tuners (analog/QAM/8VSB)
• 128Mb DDR SDRAM
• 160Gb SATA HD
• Smaller, lower-cost PCB
• Cheaper power supply
• No THX certification
• No OLED display
• Standard TiVo remote
• MSRP of $299

Quite honestly, the “Lite” system isn’t dramatically different from the regular Series3 box. The major changes have to do with the smaller hard drive, the lack of THX certification, no OLED display, and the use of a standard TiVo remote control. Yet the price is $299 – $500 dollars less than the regular Series3 price of $799.

Given that price differential, I’d gladly buy a TiVo Series3 “Lite” over a standard Series3 box.

[Check it out via KrunkerHD]

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