TiVo TCD540040 Series2 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder
Tivo makes TV better, yes, but it's so much more
OK, let me say first that I'm not a Tivo employee. I'm just a Tivo user who can't say enough about this great little machine. <br /> <br />First, Tivo really will change the way you watch TV. Most people have a VCR and do at least some time-shifting. But it is a pain to record the VCR and deal with video tapes.  <br /> <br />But with Tivo, you never have to mess with video tapes, everything's recorded on a large built-in hard drive in excellent quality digital video (MPEG 1).  <br /> <br />With Tivo, you'll find that you watch what you want when you want (which is almost never when the network programmers want). And you will save a lot of time skipping quickly through commercials. Let me give you an example. Suppose you want to watch a one-hour show that starts at 8 p.m. Now, this one-hour show is really going to have 20 minutes of commercials. And you've got to give the kids their baths and get them to bed. So you start recording the show at 8 p.m., get the kids bathed and into bed, and start watching the show on Tivo at 8:20 (yes you can start watching a show even while it's still being recorded...try that with a VCR). Now as you're watching, every time there's a commercial you can skip through 90 seconds of commercial in about 5 seconds. So the upshot is you can still finish watching the show by 9 p.m. just as Tivo is finishing up the recording, and you've saved 20 minutes that you were able to spend with your kids instead. Multiply that kind of saving over a year, and you've acquired an enormous amount of quality time. And that's just one thing Tivo can do for you. <br /> <br />Another great thing is Season Pass. Like to watch ER every week, or Survivor, or really any series? Set up a Season Pass on Tivo (only takes a minute), and Tivo will record every episode, even in most cases if the network changes the time on you. This is because Tivo updates its program guide on a daily basis so is generally aware of any time changes the networks might make. <br /> <br />With Tivo Series 2 recorders, it also offers some additional cool features: multiple-room viewing (your Tivos need to be networked on your home wireless or wired network); music and photos (music and photos on your computer can be heard and viewed through your Tivo); and Tivo suggestions (if Tivo notices that your kids like to watch episodes of the Muppets, it will start recording similar programming automatically; you often can be pleasantly surprised by programs it records while you're away). <br /> <br />I could go on and on, but really now that you can get a Tivo for under $100 (after rebate), why not experience it yourself. <br /> <br />I recommend getting the 80-hour version. Even at the highest-quality video setting, you can get about 25 hours of programming. <br /> <br />Another thing that people don't realize is that you don't have to opt for the monthly service if you really just want to use Tivo like a VCR. When you first get it, you can go through \\"Guided Setup\\" and dial an 800 number to get the first month of programming data for free, but you are never forced to activate your service, and you can always record by time and channel. <br /> <br />However, I for one think the monthly service is well worth the $12.95 a month. You really do get a lot for the money.