TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder (*TiVo Service Fee Not Included)
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Simply put TiVo is a life-altering product.  Okay, maybe that is a tad overdramatic.  But I challenge anyone to bring a TiVo into their home and not be blown away.  This is simply not a VCR on steroids - but a \\"smart\\" product that organizes all your favorite programs (and even some you do not know even exist) and puts them in the palm of your hand!  Here are just some of the highlights:<br />Season Pass - As a famous infomercial goes \\"set it and forget it.\\"  Set up a pass for your favorite shows one time and it will record it automatically... forever!  No need to worry about time slot changes, moves to a different day of the week, or special episodes (i.e. and hour long edition of a half-hour sitcom) - TiVo knows all and will adjust accordingly.<br />Watch a recorded show while recording another show - Try that with a VCR!  Watch your daytime soap opera at night, while it is recording one of your favorite primetime dramas.  You can even start watching a show that you are currently recording!  Also, no more piles of videotapes and stick-it notes of what is on what tape.  Go to the \\"Now Playing\\" screen and all your recorded programs are neatly listed out and ready to watch in whatever order you would like.<br />The initial wiring and set-up call into TiVo takes about 1-2 hours.  The wiring is no more difficult than setting up a VCR, and the customization of your TiVo player is similar to a \\"wizard\\" on the PC (just answer the questions that pop up on your TV screen).  Another cost to factor in is the $12.95/month or $299 one-time TiVo subscription fee.  This might sound like a lot - but aren't you paying at least that much for other \\"can't live without it\\" services like cable/satellite and Internet?   <br />I would recommend getting this 80-hour model.  The 80 hours is the maximum recording capacity at the lowest quality level - recording at the \\"best\\" quality gives you approximately 25 hours of space.  While even that sounds like more than enough, it doesn't take longbetween both you and TiVo to create a wonderful back-log of recorded programs.<br />This is simply one of the coolest products available for any TV viewer.  Why it is not already a household staple like the microwave oven or PC, I do not know.  If you watch TV, do yourself a favor and buy a TiVO now and then spread the word!