TiVo TCD540040 Series2 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder
Tivo - I can't live without it though it has some minor issues (all with simple work arounds)
I've read some of the reviews that just came in and felt someone needed to give a balanced review. I love TIVO. I now have 3 of them, my son has 2 and my other son has 1. It is GREAT!. In reading some of the newer review it appears nothing would satisfy some of these people. Yes there are a few problems in doing the setup if you have broadband phone service but there is other problems you have to deal with if you have this type of phone service (I know as I have it). 1 is the quality of the audio is never as good as regular phone service but it's worth it to save $30 per month) If you choose to use the leading technologies then you should know there are things that haven't adapted yet. You learn to compensate (or some people just learn to complain as that takes less thought and effort). I have updated 2 of my Tivo's to larger hard drives myself and that is while while (it will avoid your warranty so I am not recommended you do that unless you know how and are someone who looks for solutions instead of just complaining when problems arrive). The one main issue is the speed over an IP connection is very slow when transferring files wirelessly (I am going to hard wire my Tivo's instead of using wireless adapters (also Tivo has not kept up very well with the newer, faster wireless standard and since I can't expect them to do it then my solution is to hard wire them instead of complaining all the time). I have downloaded shows to my computer and then have burned them on a DVD and IT WORKED!!!. Amazing!!! I now have almost all of the old Twilight Zones on DVD .AWESOME!! Again, the benefits Tivo offers FAR outweigh the view issues as the issues can be worked around (if you are not a chronic complainer. The best this is my last Tivo cost ONLY $11.95 <br />($161 (at Amazon) minus $150 rebate) and only $6.95 per month (yearly fee after the 1st one is only $6.95). Oh yea, Why do i have 3??? My wife fell in love with it and the shows she wanted to record (Season Pass) every week overlapped with mine so that's why the 2nd one. (Same reason my son has 2). As for the 3rd, I have an office upstairs and when I'm working there I can actually xfer a show from one of the other Tivo's to #3 and watch it.  Sometimes I download a show and watch it on my computer LCD monitor (may be getting a 26 LCD monitor to watch Tivo on WHILE I surf the internet. That's FAN-DA*N-TASTIC!!!! Are their issues with Tivo and using it. As with everything is life the answer is OF COURSE! The 2 choices to these minor issues (as with everything is life) are 1. Find a solution or 2. just Bitch about it. The choice is yours alone (some people appear to get more enjoyment out of the bitching instead of being creative!! My recommendation is BUY one (or more) and enjoy it/them!