ReplayTV RTV5516 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder
DNNA Shows Its True Colors: Do not buy or support ReplayTV
I own both the ReplayTV 5040 and 2000 models.  I have previously been very supportive of ReplayTV even with all their software glitches and problems.  However, after reading about this pricing/activation fiasco, I don't see how anyone would/should support them.  If a customer had received just erroneous verbal information from a representative, or just had the information printed on the box, then it is debatable whether the company has to honor the free 3 years activation.  However, if the information was posted on the ReplayTV website, Amazon website, Circuit City website, etc., printed on the boxes, and then in turn confirmed verbally with both ReplayTV reps and the retailer's reps, I see absolutely no reason why DNNA/ReplayTV should not honor the free 3 years service<br />I'm not sure how many of these misadvertised units that ReplayTV sold during this period in question (I believe someone said one week), but the company did a great disservice both to the customers and to itself.  The abrupt service deactivation and having to provide faxed evidence of your purchase price (for customers who paid $149.99 and $499.99 alike) just reeks of poor company management.  I can't imagine what kind of PR disaster this will turn out to be or how it will affect the already shaky reputation of this company.  In the end, if the company does not own up to this error right away and just honor the free 3 years service, it will be more damaging than the total monetary loss of those units.<br />On a separate note, to all those ReplayTV loyalists out there defending the company through these reviews, I think you are off base in trying to shift some of the blame away from the company and onto the consumer.  The average consumer is not as tech-savvy as us gadget freaks, and it is not unreasonable for them to think that $150 is a &quot;normal&quot; price for both the unit and the 3 years service.  The average consumer does not know about the prices of components or the latest technology.Also, it is reasonable for a person to think that perhaps ReplayTV was selling the units at this price so that customers can see what a great product it is and then continue with the monthly subscription after the 3 free years.  And yes, all companies make mistakes (as one other reviewer noted), but it is how they handle and resolve those mistakes which separate a superior company from an inferior one.  I had great hopes for ReplayTV after its purchase by DNNA.  I'm not too sure anymore.<br />A short review of ReplayTV and DirecTV with Tivo (not stand-alone Tivo).  ReplayTV does have some more customizable features compared to Tivo like the ability to save your programs as MPEG files on your PC, Commercial Advance (only on older Replay units), and it also has Video/Audio inputs so that you can record to ReplayTV from other sources.  As a matter of fact, my current ReplayTV 5040 is being used as an around the clock recorder for the surveillance camera in my condo complex.  For its normal uses, the unit had too many software glitches (even after the latest software updates) to make it really useful.  There were too many splash screen lockups/freezes (especially through the component out).  Never able to find a fix through customer support nor the many ReplayTV boards out there.  For anyone with satellite service contemplating ReplayTV, I strongly recommend the DirecTV recorder with Tivo service.  Even without component out, the picture is superior to ReplayTV because you get the direct satellite feed from DirecTV, no decoding/encoding like ReplayTV.  Plus, you get true Dolby Digital out to your stereo system.  ReplayTV's digital audio out is hampered by having an analog audio feed from the satellite receiver.  One of the best features of the DirecTV DVR is having 2 tuners in the box so that you can simultaneously record 2 shows (and even watch a recorded show).  This solves the recording conflict problems that ReplayTV has and when you want to watch &quot;live TV&quot; while the ReplayTV is recording something else.  The only real minus I see with the DirecTV/Tivo unit is its short pause buffer (30 minutes compared to ReplayTV's unlimited), slow channel guide (for channel surfers), no video/audio in capability, and no lifetime Tivo service option.  However, the $4.99 monthly charge for the additional DirecTV tuner includes the Tivo service, so in effect, you do get the service for free.