ReplayTV 2020 Digital Video Recorder
Outstanding product, with some rough edges
I've had a ReplayTV since they first came out, and while saying &quot;I couldn't live without it&quot; sounds like hyperbole, it really is how I feel.  Just the simple pleasure of being able to pause the TV when I go  grab a soda is worth the price, not to mention the fact that all of my  favorite shows are consistently and reliably recorded.<br />Granted, there are  a few bugs, and some areas of the interface that could really use some  help, but get real folks.  This is version 1.0 (and future updates are  coming for free over the nightly connection!).  Imagine if the very first  VCR in the world were this well-polished and useful!<br />I've had the chance  to play with a TiVo, and this is what I've found.  The TiVo interface  &quot;looks&quot; slicker than the ReplayTV, and in a couple of places  really is better (the nifty progress bar, for instance), but the TiVo  channel guide is absolutely frustrating to use, and I find it difficult and  clumsy to navigate to certain screens, while the ReplayTV has buttons on  the remote to take you directly to every major feature of the  product.<br />Also, while the ReplayTV occasionally records shows I didn't  expect (when a show airs at nearly the same time on several days per week),  with the TiVo it's virtually impossible to schedule some shows because they  attempt to record every showing everywhere.<br />The TiVo remote is truly a  nicely designed piece of equipment, but the ReplayTV's is adequate, and has  the added advantage of being a universal remote that can also control your  TV, satellite, cable, etc.<br />Frankly, when I bought the ReplayTV, the TiVo  wasn't even shipping (although they claimed to be, I couldn't get one), and  they didn't support both satellite and cable at the same time.  These  problems have been remedied on the TiVo, and I'm completely confident that  both products will continue to grow and mature.<br />The philosophy of the  TiVo seems to be &quot;we'll try to guess what you want&quot; with the  thumbs-up and thumbs-down feature, while the ReplayTV's is &quot;we'll put  you in control&quot;.  I prefer to do my own guessing, so ReplayTV is the  machine for me.  I'll be buying a second one for Christmas.