ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder
Complicated Simplicity
I have had this thing for two years now and I can say I love it.  I do not know what I would do without it.  There is free software that allows you to access your programs online and the software on the device itself is very stable.  The only gripe I have is I should have gotten the larger capacity one but other then that no complaints. I was even a little sad to hear that the owners of Replay have decided to make this a software only solution for PVR's and remove the hardware aspect but with the quality software they have I am sure it will do well.<br /><br />(Original comments January 6th 2004)<br />I did a great deal of research when I went to buy a PVR and I decided on the Replay.<br />* Connecting it to my TV was a breeze but like all technology problems do occur I did not want to use a phone to get the service so I opted to use my home network and after a few glitches it did work, the competitor has network capability but it is sold as an add-on.<br />* I was impressing with the viewer guide function and the ability to view several days if not weeks ahead in TV programming.  I have noticed a few times when the guide was not always up to date but that could be the TV station programming.<br />* The menus on the Replay do get complicated sometime and they can get rather deep sometime 5 menus deep.<br />* The quality is excellent even when you use standard recording but I use high recording most of the time (it uses more space but I don't ever have to worry about an issue with a bad picture).<br />* I have had some problems with it freezing up and I either have to leave it alone for a second or I have to turn it off completely and turn it back on but that has only been once or twice.<br />I would recommend the Replay to anyone looking for a PVR.