ReplayTV 2020 Digital Video Recorder
Finally my TV is getting some use!
I purchased the Replay 2020 from Amazon back in May '00, and have been completely satisfied with the value of this product.  Although to some this  box may look like an expensive VCR, I find that the Replay has two concrete  advantages that VCRs do not offer:<br />1) You can eneter your desired shows  once, then never worry about it again.  They will always be sitting on the  units hard drive waiting for you when you get home.  No need to change  tapes, search (fast forward) around for shows, etc.  If you do not manage  to see your show before the next episode is aired, replay can either delete  and replace the older episode, or start storing a configured number of  episodes for you.<br />2) You can quickly bypass commercials.  Sure a VCR does  this too, but you need to be pretty agile with that fast forward button.   You also need to watch the commercials as they speed by on the VCR so that  you can quickly stop when the program resumes.  Often you overshoot and  then have to rewind.  But with the Replay, just hit the &quot;30 sec  advance&quot; button 4 or five times and you're there.  There is also an  instant &quot;7 sec replay&quot; button that will go backwards for you.<br />I  am a fairly busy person, so it's nice to know that when I do feel like  watching TV there is always a bunch of my favorite shows waiting for me.  I  have not engaged in idle &quot;channel surfing&quot; since I bought this  product, because I no longer have to!  Everything I want to watch is on,  and it's on now.  <br />The only bad thing I can say about the 2020 is that  the unit cannot be placed in an enclosed area (like a stereo system  component might be).  It needs lots of ventilation, or otherwise it can get  kind of hot.  However, this is easily solved by making sure that you place  it on top of your entertainment center, say, rather than within a narrow  shelf.  I do believe that Replay addressed this issue with the 3000 series.