TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder (*TiVo Service Fee Not Included)
TIVO Will Change the Way You Watch Television
When I was first considering TIVO, I wondered if it was just a glorified VCR. I mean, after all, its basic function is to record television shows so you can watch them when you want. But that's really just scratching the surface...<br />First of all, you can watch a pre-recorded program while recording something else. Try doing that with a VCR...<br />However, where TIVO shines is its menu-driven programming. TIVO does what every cable programming guide should do -- you can sort programs by date, channel, title, time, actor, director, sports team, and so on. The season pass can be set to catch programs you know you want, but also programs you didn't even realize were playing. (For example, I'm a Nebraska football fan, and TIVO has caught replays of previous games on sports channels in the middle of the night -- I would've never known about these unless I spent my day reading TV Guide.) Brilliant!<br />For those of you terrified by the blinking 12:00 on your VCR, be warned -- TIVO definitely isn't &quot;Plug and Play&quot;, particularly if you have a cable box. Likewise, you won't be able to watch other live programming while recording unless you have multiple inputs in your TV (preferably a coaxial and a component input) and you split your cable or antenna signal. TIVO does offer a directed setup, but be prepared -- the first update takes several hours, so you technophiles can't just &quot;play&quot; with the equipment immediately.<br />You also can't record two programs at the same time, which you can do with Scientific Atlanta's new cable boxes. I've tried the SA boxes, though, and while you can record two shows at once, you don't get the intuitive menus like you do in TIVO.<br />You'll need a telephone jack near the TIVO for programming updates, and you'll shell out for a monthly (or lifetime) programming fee in addition to the cost of the box. When all is said and done, though, I'm absolutely hooked. If you watch at least a modest amount of television, this is a&quot;must have&quot; piece of equipment.<br />This is highly recommended, despite the difficult setup and modest shortcomings.