Price Paid:  $399.00 from Magnolia Hi-Fi

Summary:
The way TV was meant to be. I can't wait for my plasma screen monitor so I fully realize the capabilities of the device.

Strengths:
Simple - the ability to pause live TV, digital quality recording without burning or taping, digital surround sound (unlike cable - digital or otherwise - which compresses the bandwidth, loosing the surround sound encoding.)

Weaknesses:
The unit died once about a year and a half ago after a year's use, but Magnolia Hi-Fi gave be a brand new one off the shelf, and it's performed flawlessly since.

Similar Products Used:
Have friends with Tivo/Hughes DVR and DirecTV service and after setting up and operating their systems, I still prefer the older Sony SAT-W60/Ultimate TV/DirecTV combination.

Price Paid:  $250.00 from bestbuy

Summary:
I love my 2 units both work great with no problems I want to upgrade them

Strengths:
speed

Weaknesses:
none

Price Paid:  $250.00 from orbit commication

Summary:
sony sat-w60 only lasted 90 days and now have to pay for labor and shipping plus the one year to direct for ultimate tv, was only 4 days over warranty but sony stands hard,

Strengths:
good system if receiver would have lasted or warranty for longer.

Weaknesses:
power workmen ship on reciever, they no it has a problem.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $349.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Excellent picture quality; very easy to set up recording. Has the capability to remind you and automatically tune to preset shows. Can't tell playback from real broadcast. WebTV is okay but is pretty slow if you're used to using DSL. I don't usually buy extended service plans, but I am REALLY glad I did on this one. See below...

Strengths:
Ease of use, picture quality, ability to pause programming or "rewind" a scene to see it again.

Weaknesses:
It seems a shame to have to pay DirecTV $10.00 a month for the ability to record programming you've already purchased. Also, after one year the sound sent through the SATW60 to my Onkyo receiver completely stopped. I was using an optical cable. An Ultimate TV rep decided it was the SATW60, so I used the Circuit City advance exchange option (Thank God for this ESP). They shipped to me a refurbished receiver (Sony no longer makes Ultimate TV satellite receivers... hmmm... what does that tell you?) It took two days to get here. The one they shipped did not even power on; the on button was broken, as was the little door in front. It kept popping open. Shipped it back and Circuit City actually overnighted another refurbished receiver. This one has worked fine so far, but my fingers are crossed. The ESP indicates Circuit City will replace this receiver with a new one if three repair episodes are required, but waht will they replace it with?

Price Paid:  $249.00 from ebay

Summary:
Best thing i ever bought can leave the couch to goto bathroom or make sumfin to eat come right back and watch wot i missed.. Gotta have my utv.

Strengths:
Wouldnt say there are any :) cant complain.

Weaknesses:
Could use bigger factory hard drive But upgradable so not that big of a deal.