TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder (*TiVo Service Fee Not Included)
Either you love it or you have not met it yet
Unless you already know, it is difficult to clearly explain just how terrific this item is.  If you know someone with a DVR (digital video recorder), they probably have already encouraged you to purchase one.  When I discuss TiVo with others, they often say, \\"I do not watch that much TV\\".  A DVR allows you to watch TV on your schedule instead of the broadcaster's schedule and besides most people grossly underestimate their TV watching time.  Just for a moment, set aside the many nifty features a DVR has and imagine sitting down and watching your shows when you want to.  This is hard for most non-DVR owners to understand and fully appreciate.  A DVR gives you tremendous freedom.<br />TiVo allows you to record any shows based on a wish list.  This wish list can be an actor, director, subject or keyword.  For example, my wife found a fondue set at a yard sale.  I created a wish list for TiVo to automatically record shows that have \\"Fondue\\" in the description that are classified as \\"Cooking\\" shows.  This task took about 2 minutes.  This same method could be used to record sporting events with your favorite team.  Telling the unit to perform tasks like this is done on the screen in large easy to read text with very easy to read instructions.<br /><br />Before purchasing, I did some research looking into several DVRs.  I read the Amazon reviews for both ReplayTV and TiVo.  I went to the web sites for each manufacturer and read discussion group postings.  Both units are very similar and offer mostly the same features.  Some things to consider when looking:<br />DVRs allow you to record shows on several quality levels (TiVo settings are basic, good, high, best).  My 40hr unit is 40hrs on the 'basic' quality setting.  If I recorded everything on the 'best' setting, my capacity would actually be about 13hrs.  I have compared all of the quality levels and yes there is some difference.  I only find the 'basic' setting is noticeably degraded so I use the 'good' setting at a minimum.  I record certain shows on higher settings and others on lower settings.  For example, I record cooking and stand-up comedy shows on a lower setting because the image quality means less to me; I record others such as nature shows on a higher setting as I want the image to be clean and sharp.  I have had my unit for about six weeks and the one thing I did not consider was the temptation to park shows or movies on the unit with the intention to watch them on some rainy day.  Storing shows on the unit takes up space.  For this reason, I now wish I had gotten a larger unit.<br />I had a few problems setting up my TiVo.  The TiVo must take control over your cable box (if you have one) to be able to change the channel.  This is done with either a serial cable or infrared blasters.  Not all cable boxes have serial cable inputs.  Mine did but the TiVo said it could not 'talk' with the cable box using the serial port during setup.  I called my cable company and they said their cable boxes are not compatible with the TiVo unit.  I went online and read discussion group postings and the fanaticism associated with TiVo was quite evident.  I found out many cable companies deliberately make it inconvenient to connect a DVR as they plan to come out with their own competing models in the next several years.  Just be aware if you have any problems setting up the unit, call TiVo support for help instead of your cable company.<br />Again, unless you already have a DVR, it is difficult to entirely illustrate just how terrific they are.  They give you tremendous freedom and control over your TV..  I record certain shows on higher settings and others on lower settings.  For example, I record cooking and stand-up comedy shows on a lower setting because the image quality means less to me; I record others such as nature shows on a higher setting as I want the image to be clean and sharp.  I have had my unit for about six weeks and the one thing I did not consider was the temptation to park shows or movies on the unit with the intention to watch them on some rainy day.  Storing shows on the unit takes up space.  For this reason, I now wish I had gotten a larger unit.<br />I had a few problems setting up my TiVo.  The TiVo must take control over your cable box (if you have one) to be able to change the channel.  This is done with either a serial cable or infrared blasters.  Not all cable boxes have serial cable inputs.  Mine did but the TiVo said it could not 'talk' with the cable box using the serial port during setup.  I called my cable company and they said their cable boxes are not compatible with the TiVo unit.  I went online and read discussion group postings and the fanaticism associated with TiVo was quite evident.  I found out many cable companies deliberately make it inconvenient to connect a DVR as they plan to come out with their own competing models in the next several years.  Just be aware if you have any problems setting up the unit, call TiVo support for help instead of your cable company.<br />Again, unless you already have a DVR, it is difficult to entirely illustrate just how terrific they are.  They give you tremendous freedom and control over your TV.