TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder (*TiVo Service Fee Not Included)
Tivo -- the good, the bad, but mostly the good. :)
We've had our TiVo Series 2 DVR for nearly three years (hard to imagine it's been that long but there you have it). For the most part, we've loved it. We're spoiled with pausing live TV, we love the season pass capability, and we love the wish lists. We've had no problem with picture quality or the operation of the TiVo, which is well loved by my hubby, my three teenagers, and myself. The customer service is awesome, and I love the little TiVo guy. <br /> <br />However, there are two things that frustrate me. <br /> <br />1) Changing channels. Because our TiVo is hooked up to cable, it uses infrared sensors for the TiVo to talk to the cable box. Sometimes sunlight (or aliens or something) interferes with the signal and it won't change the channel. So I'll THINK I'm recording the Daily Show, and inadvertantly get Animal Planet, because that was the channel my kids were watching; or worse, I'll get MTV -- yikes. Very frustrating, to say the least. We made a little house to put over the IR sensors to block extraneous light, and it still does it. It happens very rarely, but usually at the worst possible time, and isn't that always the way? To my knowledge there is no better direct way to get TiVo to talk to the cable box, so we're stuck with it. <br /> <br />2) Our TiVo, because it's hooked to cable, is not dual tuning capable. I realize this isn't a TiVo issue but a cable issue, but it's still frustrating. I plan on switching to DirecTivo service when dual tuners are available via promotion.  <br /> <br />But those are minor problems compared with the wonderfulness that is TiVo. It was the best $300 we ever spent, although I can't wait for dual tuners.