Time shifting is the main advantage. Also, digital storage means that you never need to handle a tape again so that one's lifestyle can become even more couch-based.

Lifetime service of course means "for the life of the business model" and not the operator's life - so I assume this means a few more years. The old models do not require the service, however, for VCR -like use. The tuner on the Tivo is weak so you need a good signal. There is also a known channel 3 -4 anamoly (funny line) that you might hafta live with. You do know -right? - that the Tivo people can watch a log of what you have viewed. Now that's a little creepy for most of us. I keep mine unplugged from the phone jack and that also helps with lightning strike issues. Despite these negative comments the advatage of the Tivo is too great to resist. If you get one, you can never fly economy (with your time) again.

I have two Tivos now - both early hdr112 Philips models (14 hours each) . I added an 88 hour drive to one. I use them for massive time shifters and filters. My kid can watch the stuff I've loaded onto it for him.

Product support is very poor.

Seems like a good service but the quality of the hardware is terrible: unit's modem went bad within 6 months. Worse, product support from TIVO/Philips is poor to non-existant. Attempts to use the Web page support ended in deadends. Attempts to use phone support ended in long waits. Too bad quality it so low.

Quite simply improves the quality of your life by giving you better TV in less time so you have more free time. Puts the power in your hands, not the networks.

The modem.

Tivo is simply the most amazing piece of home technology I have ever used period. It changes the way you watch television and you can never go back. Pause for a phone call, have it remeber to record your favorite show, watch a football game in 30 minutes... YOU MUST SURGE SUPRESS YOUR TELEPHONE LINE!!! Not just your power as I did. I lost my modem in a storm as well. Lesson learned. IMPORTANT: You can use an external serial modem to replace it. Tivo built support into release 3 for this reason. I have had nothing but excellent customer support from them (yes I was very pissed about the modem). They even found a remote code for me when I got digital cable and teh box wasnt listed yet. Do not buy the Sony as it is no longer in production.

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I am a home theater, electronic and computer nut and this is my favorite toy. VHS, S-VHS, VCR+

I bought the TIVO because: 1) This is the front runner in this market. 2) They are continually upgrading their operating system. I've already benefitted from several great improvements (for free!). 3) They sell a "lifetime" subscription. I bought that 30 months ago, and have already saved $100. This is a great deal! 4) They are publicly traded company. I did not have TIVO stock before. I have it now (it has gone down a lot with the rest of the market). I bought the stock, because I believe in this product.

1) Do not use with a Zenith TV!! For some reason the codes on the Tivo and Zenith remotes are the same. Every 100th click, the Zenith with change channels or to video. I solved the problem by running the Tivo through both video and direct connections. 2) Sometimes they put these "ads" that are optional. I don't mind it, because I can choose to watch them if I like. I saw "Soak up the Sun" by Cheryl Crow for the first time that way. However...some people may not like this, as it does take up space on the system (4 minutes out of 30+ hours).

If you do not have a PVR get one! I do not watch commercials any more. Virtually all the time I am watching what I want, not what happens to be on. I watched all the old twilight zones, and now I'm working on some other series I like. I have not tried other PVRs so cannot compare, but the Tivo has worked great for me the last 2.5 years.

Cool product

weak customer support, both technical and otherwise. Very long hold times.

The TIVO never worked, spent hours on hold just to talk to inept customer support. Returned TIVO, but they still insist on charging me for the service which I could never take advantage of.

Lots of room for recordings, easy to set up season passes so you you''ll never miss a show

Unreliable hardware, insulting 90 days warranty, lackluster customer support

In December 2000 my wife bought me a standard Philips 14 hour TiVo from Best Buy. We''ve LOVED it every since -- totally changes how we watch TV, not hardware issues, an excellent experience -- until three weeks ago. Video stuttering and short pauses during playback turned into green screens of death and eventual solid freezes. Read the other reviews below -- I''ve encountered the same Philips reps who sound like they get these kinds of calls everyday. One even went so far as to blame the phone line coming into my home and suggested I buy a $100 wireless data jack. HELLO? It comes down to this -- 1. BUYER BEWARE 90 day warranty, cost you $99.95 and up from there to get basic things fixed. There''s a reason Philips doesn''t warranty this product beyond 90 days -- we''re the first wave of serious users/early adopters and they haven''t figured out how to make a unit that lasts beyond a few months with 90%+ certainty. My .02, but read below and you''ll see I''m not alone. 2. GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE STORE YOU BUY IT FROM Usually a rip off, but in this case, you''ll thank me for it. 3. ENJOY YOUR TIVO... while it runs flawlessly. Cuz when it works, it''s incredible.

Lifetime Service Option Linux Operating System Ergonomic and utilitarian Remote Control Wishlists, Season Passes, and Program Guide

Philips'' Warranty Policies Tivo''s poor customer support (on one occasion)

The Tivo box is chock full of features. All designed to do one thing - improve your TV-watching experience. Recently, I decided to try my hand at "hacking" my Tivo by adding an additional hard drive. I found plenty of assistance at http://tivo.samba.org, http://www.tivocommunity.com, and http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/. The upgrade succeeded w/o a hitch, and I now have 130 hours at basic or 39 hours at best. If you decide to upgrade your Tivo, be advised that any warranty that you may have will be voided and that the risk of damaging your Tivo in the process are very real. However, if you are ready, willing, and able, read up on all the details.

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None

Pause & rewind live TV. Record one thing while watching something previously recorded (which may include the already-recorded part of the currently recording show). Recording by name or date/time/channel, repeating or not. Watch then delete recorded shows in the order you want, not the order they got recorded. 3, 20, and 60x ffwd and rewind. 20x and 60x back up a bit when you hit play to compensate for reaction making crap-skipping easier. Simple disk space management - nothing you requested is deleted unless space is required for another requested recording (no splitting disk into "channels", no locking out of space for shows, no deleting shows for any reason other than full disk). Suggests shows you might want based on other shows you've said you'd like (not "what Tivo Corp wants you to watch", contrary to some competitor propaganda) and optionally records some of them when possible. On-screen program guide. Service fee can be paid at $10/mo, $99/year, or $199 lifetime (an option ReplyTV fails to mention when touting the "free" service their $200 pricier box comes with). And damn it's a pain to edit this stuff in a one line high window. Who laid out this form?

Wont yet let you specify categories to record like replayTV theme zones will (coming in next release though, due out late 2000). Occasional slow response to buttons. Tivo, like ReplayTV, relies on Tribune Media Services for scheduling info which has infrequent errors. Tivo lacks a few other niceties ReplayTV has but none I'd tolerate Replays confusing scheduling rules or inefficient disk management for.

Where does one begin? "Changes the way you watch TV" sounds so marketing-speak, but it's apt. Time shifting with a VCR was a cumbersome process reserved for only the most can't-miss shows, but Tivo makes it easy enough to do with everything - even stuff you happen to be home for. Live TV becomes merely the raw data feed for Tivo, from which you watch things the only reasonable way - when you feel like it, skipping, pausing, and rewinding whatever you want.

The concept, and the implementation, especially with the newest software is wonderful. Can't imagine not having it.

The internal modem is EXTREMELY sensitive and I've had 4 die. The first was replaced free, but each one has gotten progressively more expensive. I'm in a major metropolitan area and our computer modems do not have this problem. If there were an alternative to getting this kind of service, I would take it.

Super concept, a necessity. Issues with the internal modem though.

Maximizes your time and the value of existing TV programming. Highly recommended to anyone who watches six or more hours of TV per week, or who records with their VCR regularly.

UI is sluggish when processing updates. Lacking in minor features (eg when looking at the program guide it doesn't say if it's already scheduled to record. Also, when notifying you of conflicts, doesn't give you a description of the conflicting program. Doesn't allow you to schedule conflicting programs so you can decide later. Doesn't passcode protect programs from other family members (viewing or deleting.) Other minor weaknesses that can be improved in the software over time.

It took me only a few hours to research TiVo to decide to order one, and only a few hours once I received it to know it'll change the way I watch TV.
Old way: During a commercial, I'd reduce the main program to a PIP window and channel surf until the commercials were over. Now, I never need PIP anymore, because I'm only watching programming I want to see, not just stuff that happens to be on.
I thought TiVo would make better use of my time during prime-time when I was watching shows simply bc I felt like "vegging" in front of the set. But, TiVo now allows me to find programs I'd never be awake or home to watch, and I admit as a consequence I'm watching a lot more TV (hopefully that'll wear off!)
I actually purchased the Sony SVR-2000 model, but my understanding is that it's the same as the Phillips HDR312 except the front panel.
While I've been a LaserDisc owner for a dozen years (and appreciate hi-res displays) I used to use a mediocre VCR in EP mode for recording sitcoms. Therefore, TiVo's Basic quality suits me fine from my seated position about 10' away from my 32" XBR. Sitting closer to the set and you can definately see artifacting, as would also be the case with larger sets. Fear not, there are 3 higher quality levels that's bound to suit all needs (at the cost of recordable time -- 30 hrs @ Basic, 9 hrs @ Hi-Quality.)
30 hrs is ample for me (let's face it, do you really want to accumulate so much programming you'll never have time to see it all?) But, I wish it were 30 hrs at a higher quality.
I preferred the TiVo unit over ReplayTV because of its User Interface, which I preferred (others have stated the opposite.) Regarding one vs. the other, it's a toss-up in my mind. Total package is very comparable in price, as are the features.
Don't fall prey to the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt) being offered by ReplayTV: TiVo DOESN'T monitor your TV usage (it's all local to the TiVo unit), if you pay the lifetime service fee, cost is very comparable to ReplayTV, TiVo and ReplayTV seem to both be taking the same track regarding advertising: Let the viewer decide. Remember, it's a 2-horse race; such races motivate these horses to be very competitive against the other in features, price and providing what the users want.
As stated elsewhere, the Sony's remote is very nice (believe it's the same as the Phillips.) It's uncluttered, provides most of the functionality you'll need (well, I wish it had A/V vol. buttons in addition to TV vol. buttons) and feels really good in your hand (well, at least my medium-sized hands.) My 12-year old admonished me when he caught me carrying it around the house. Oh... and don't worry that it doesn't have PIP controls -- you don't need that anymore!
Other things about the remote: It's rather directional, so place the TiVo unit in a place near the TV at a height appropriate from your viewing positions. Also, it has a shorter range than most remotes, which makes it difficult to shoot across my kitchen into great room to control (about 25' in my case.)
My setup is basic cable w/ 3 HBO's. I see no unacceptable delay at all with this setup (except when it's multitasking.) If you have a cable/satellite decoder, you'll probably have delays while switching channels -- especially if your decoder doesn't have an RS-232 "data" port (but use the interactive program guide for surfing instead of channel-surfing, and only watch shows you've already recorded.)
BTW: TiVo now allows me to catch the "blockbuster" HBO movies I was never around to watch, which for me means I've decided not to get Satellite service (since there's too much to watch now anyway.)
My skeptical wife has even come around to enjoying TiVo. With all the commercials we're able to skip, she's now able to catch more of the Olympics before she falls asleep.
In all, these PersonalTV recorders (TiVo/ReplayTV) are terrific. For anyone who frequents audioreview.com, this is a must-have gadget. Since TiVo is so easy to use, my plan is to give my unit to my soap-opera-loving techno-phobic mother when higher capacity units come out (which I'll upgrade to.)
One other nice things about these units... while they're very refined in functionality now, there's always room for more features and improvement. Their software is download-upgradeable so I predict nice evolution with existing units.
Be sure to check out this weblisting for more info:
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Television/Personal_Television/

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VCR, DVD, LaserDisc players, 2-tuner PIP TV