ReplayTV RTV5516 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder
Change the way you watch television, forever!
It's entirely possible that you're considering the ReplayTV unit simply as a VCR replacement, something to record \\"the game\\" when you're gone without the hassle of tapes. As you discover the Replay's incredible functionality, you soon find yourself watching everything from your Replay unit, as every show is available whenever you want it, without the hassle of commercials. <br /> <br />Essentially, the Replay can smartly record whatever show you want, whenever you want it. Every episode of the Simpsons can be recorded whenever it appears at whatever time you want it with two button presses. No longer do you have to trudge through channels, looking for something good, only to realize the episode is a repeat. You set the Replay to record only your most favorite shows, you come home and watch the Replay when you normally watch television, and bammo, you see only your favorite episodes, sans commericals. It's a miracle. <br /> <br />Two main questions people ask: \\"Tivo vs. Replay\\" and \\"What size is best for me. Tivo and Replay are nearly identical. Both let you record shows smartly, both let you pause live TV and fast forward. I prefer the replay because it has a less fluffy interface that gets the job done. Additionally, the Replay remote sports a handy \\"30 second skip\\" button in addition to the fast forward buttons, allowing you to conveniently jump through a commerical at a time, as opposed to the Tivo method, fast forwarding through the commericals. (The difference is like skipping over pebbles or running through a lake) This model (along with the other Replay units) feature a \\"Segment-advance\\" option, a single click will skip ALL of the commercials between your show. Tivo will record shows similiar to the ones you watch, Replay does not. (Something fluffy I didn't need) <br /> <br />As for size? 40 hours may seem like a lot now, but it's really not. My advice is to buy the 40 hour unit, and then upgrade later to a larger hard drive. Upgrading is a simple process, get any standard ATA hard drive, unplug the Replay drive, plug both into a computer and transfer the data using a free utility, plug the new drive into the Replay and it's all good. (It's much cheaper this way)