ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder
The Only Way to Watch TV, but reliability issues.
I bought a ReplayTV 5040 back in Dec ....  The unit was real easy to set up.  I originally used the phone connection, but switched to a hardwired ethernet connection since it was a long distance connection for the phone since I am in a small town in the high desert of So Cal.  I have also used the software for the Macintosh to download the shows to my Mac since I now have it on ethernet.  I have used that feature so that I can watch a \\"West Wing\\" show in Quicktime that I missed while on travel.  (I can catch up while surfing the net).  I guess there are ways to convert the MPEG2 files to VCD's, but that has not been that important yet.  I have also used VirtualPC so that I can upload jpeg files.  The ReplayTV is a very good slide show device too since I have nearly 1Gb of photos of the family on the unit.  I am looking forward to the ability to upload my MP3 files (all legal from my CD collection) so I can use my Mac as a digital hub with the ReplayTV being by connection to my entertainment system (TV and stereo).    The quality of the picture is good, even in standard mode, as long as you have a good signal.  I use standard mode for everything except some sporting events and certain action movies.  Normal dramas and TV shows work great in the 40 hour standard mode.    Since buying the unit I have rarely watched live  TV.  I have the unit record all my favorite TechTV (Fresh Gear), CSI, Law & Order, West Wing, etc.  It also keeps the latest 4 star movie that it finds on my cable TV channels.  It is the best way to relax since you can get much more entertainment in  the same amount of time with the commercial skip feature.  (Commercial skip feature works most of the time, but depends on the cable channel.  Some channels are 100%, but others are much lower success rate).  The 30 second skip button is a next back up.  Just push it a few times and it is like watching a pay channel.    The unit does not change channels quickly like people have mentioned in other reviews,but I don't use the unit that way.  If I am watching live TV (rarely), I either switch back to just the TV by itself or use the channel guide which does not have the long delay.  Beware that there is an ignoring delay when using the remote at times.  The delay is more ignoring when the unit is recording a show while you are watching another recorded show.  It is not consistent when the remote is not as responsive.  Sometimes no problem, other times it can take a couple of pushes of the remote button for the command to take.  This is really the only reason I did not give it 5 stars.    -------------------------    An 2005 update.  My unit has failed for the 2nd time.  The first time under warranty, but this last time it was not.  I have given up on the unit since I did not buy the lifetime package.  I have since switched to a Panasonic HD/DVD unit.  Reliable unit, but the free TV Guide is not as good as the features of ReplayTV.  The price is right compared to the $10/mo that has gone up to $13/mo.