ReplayTV RTV5516 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder
Slight step down from the 5040, but still great
I received my second ReplayTV unit yesterday (I've owned the 5040 for about 1.5 years with nary a problem).  Anyway, after about 15 minutes of setup, I now have two ReplayTVs on my network. <br /> <br />As for Tivos being able to share programming (like the Replays)... yes, that is true.  How the are differ (and why the Tivo is inferior, IMHO) is that the ReplayTVs can stream directly from the other units.  Tivos must copy the entire show across your network first.  Again, this wouldn't be so bad, except, the Tivos copy the shows at USB 1.1 speed.  If you don't know, that is SLOW.  Frankly, I find that unacceptable. <br /> <br />With the ReplayTV units, I can begin watching a show in the living room.  When it is time to go to bed, I can power the living room unit off and go to bed.  Then, I turn on the bedroom unit, start watching the same show, and it picks up right where I left off.  Too cool.   <br /> <br />Another key difference, and one way the Tivos may excel...  when you are watching a show, the Tivo can only rewind 30 minutes into the show.  Similarly, you can only pause live TV for up to 30 minutes.  The Replays can pause live TV for as long as your hard drive has space.  BUT, if you decide you'd like to record and keep the show, the Replay will only record from the current point on.  The Tivos are able to record whatever is in the last 30 minute buffer.  To be honest, there have been a couple of times this feature would have been nice, but, it is very rare. <br /> <br />The only downside to the newer unit (5504) is the lack of commercial skip.   <br /> <br />Regardless of which brand you purchase, you will never, ever watch TV the same way again.