Sony SVR-2000 Digital Video Recorder
Tivo is incredible and this Sony Tivo Box is really slick.
I purchased this exact box but one with DirectTV receiver built in...and it is truly amazing!  Had heard from lots of folks talk about Tivo and that you had to have it, etc....but given the high price, didnt think it was worth it.  I WAS WRONG.  Tivo combined with DirectTV or another satellite offering is the way to go ... you can record any program or any payperview you order and watch it when you want.  Recording (and then, importantly, quickly deleting or saving or, from time to time, removing certain saved stuff) is a snap.  If you ever didnt record programs because operating the VCR was too complex, Tivo is a good solution for that alone...but the real power of this comes from your ability to record and keep a library of all programs or movies that ever were avail on your TV.  One last thing, I love the 'Seasons Pass' feature -- you can tell Tivo to record the same program for you every week or every day or whenever it shows.  For example, my family records '24' every tuesday night and then just watch it whenever we have time...and we also keep the entire series on Tivo so if we want to go back and watch some of the old episodes to patch it all together -- its a click away.  Had no problems with this from a technical or operating perspective - its a great product and worth every dollar.