RCA DWD490RE DIRECTV/UltimateTV ReceiverSee Restrictions)
A fine product from Microsoft
I thought I would weigh in on UltimateTV debate.  There seems to be a couple Tivo devotees who wrote reviews on here and I wanted to clear the air.<br />First of all, I think that this is a wonderful product and all my friends are insanely jealous. The pausing of live TV is awesome.  You will find that you become annoyed when TV is live because you cannot forward through commericals (which takes 2 seconds and 3-4 presses of the &quot;Forward Jump&quot; button).<br />Let me respond to come complaints:<br />1) Slow response time.  I agree.  It takes a second to respond when you press a button when using menus or (to a lesser degree) when switching between channels.  I would disagree that erasing shows takes 15 seconds.  I would was it takes me 3-4 seconds, although I agree that the last screen is utterly useless.  At first it may be annoying if you are used to controlling your cable TV, but you become used to it and I no longer notice.<br />2) Ability to record 35 hours of programming.  I recently put this to the test during the winter olympics.  I was recording all the Olympic coverage on MSNBC, CNBC, and NBC every day.  This was 15+ hours of coverage a day.  I did lose an episode of AliaS I had been saving after I was not able to watch (of fast forward through) my recordings one day.  I didn't add it up, but it was at least 30+ when it began erasing previous recordings.<br />3) Recording.  I am still not sure what I think of the recording system.  Once shows are recorded it is great.  Playback is easy.  I have a couple complaints with the planning to record system.  The recurring record feature is too broad.  If you recvord a show like the Simpsons which is in synidcation, you end up getting the Simpsons every day, rather than just the Sunday first run episodes.  Which I find annoying.<br />I think those were the main compaints.  The control you have or live TV or recorded tv is wonderful.  When you are fast forwarding, when you press stop becuase you saw where you wanted to be in the show ... it jumps back 2-3 seconds to match you reaction time.<br />Admittedly, I have not tried Tivo ... but I am in love with UltimateTV and it is helping convince some of my friend's wives that they should get satellite TV too, just to have UltimateTV.<br />One note, we all call it Tivo cause it's easier to say.  UlitmateTV is too long and a stupid name.  Funny.wanted to be in the show ... it jumps back 2-3 seconds to match you reaction time.<br />Admittedly, I have not tried Tivo ... but I am in love with UltimateTV and it is helping convince some of my friend's wives that they should get satellite TV too, just to have UltimateTV.<br />One note, we all call it Tivo cause it's easier to say.  UlitmateTV is too long and a stupid name.  Funny.