ReplayTV RTV5516 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder
So Far.... It's Awesome!
Ok here is a review from a guy that has had both Tivo and ReplayTV units. I have had my ReplayTV 5040 for about a month now and am loving it. <br />Now here comes my two cents... I looked over what everyone else had written before me and I understand their concerns. First off, there is no excuse for any unit to break down that is less than a year old. This is something that always upsets me no matter what the electronic device but it does happen. I have had 3 different Tivo's breakdown on me. One with in the first month I got it. The next one about two years later and my last one just broke down about 2 months ago and that's kind of what prompted me to get the ReplayTV unit. Don't get me wrong, I love Tivo but there is so much more you can do with the ReplayTV. And remember you need to buy an extended service contract for this high priced electronic devices just incase something like this happens!<br />Secondly, everyone must understand that several months back ReplayTV changed their pricing. When the units cost $400, they included the service. But they changed that and the individual stores that carried the units were to clearly mark and explain that the new pricing does not include the service. But many retailers did not do this and the consumers blamed ReplayTV and not the electronic stores they purchased the unit from. I remember the day that the price went down, I was going to buy three of them but then I realized what had happened. The Circuit City store I went to had a notice next to the Replays that clearly stated that with the new price point the service was no longer included. So make sure you are upset with the right people here guys!!!<br />Ok so what is it that I like about the ReplayTV??? I love the fact that there are so many 3rd party programs (or hacks) out there that let you manipulate your unit and do so much more with it. Basically, I have it connected to my home network through my router and am running a program called DVArchive that not only allows me to control my ReplayTV but also to watch shows on it from my computer, transfer shows from my unit to my computer and archive them(unlimited storage space), watch archived shows on my computer from my ReplayTV, network and watch shows to and from other ReplayTV's in my house, trade shows over the internet with other ReplayTV owners(5xxx units only but there are hacks around this), very easily edit out commercials and record the shows onto DVD using your computer and all this costs nothing extra!!!<br />Tivo is a great product for the person that wants an easy to use \\"mac\\" like interface. Tivo does have a home networking option but it costs an extra $99 and $49 for each additional unit you hook up. But you currently can not take shows off your Tivo and send them to you computer. Replay includes all these features for free. If you have never owned a PVR once you do it will change the way you watch television- you'll want one for every TV in the house!<br />And I have only discovered the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the things I can do with my ReplayTV. I think the thing I am going to like the most is putting all my favorite shows on DVD. PS- does anyone want to buy a slightly used Tivo??? lol