TiVo TCD540040 Series2 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder

I bought this machine to replace a VCR that died. I thought this would be easier than using tapes, but I have to say I'm gravely disappointed. Pausing live TV is really cool, and skipping commercials is great! But the unit itself does not seem to be very stable. I've had it for only 24 hours now, and have already had to unplug it twice to reset due to it either locking up, or a loss of some basic functionality that was only restored with a restart. Maybe this was just a fluke - time will tell.

But here's the real kicker; you can't use this thing like a VCR unless you sign up for the TiVo service. I'm really not interested in downloading program guides, advanced searching, season pass recording and all that. I just want to be able to record shows, and watch them later. But the record function is completely disabled unless you sign up for the whole service. So on top of the price of the unit, I have to pay $16 a month just to be able to push the record button! That's ridiculous! Who would do that? The TiVo service is not needed in any way for me to simply record the show I'm currently watching. That would be like buying a DVD player, and being required to pay a monthly fee just to be able to push play. I can understand if your life revolves around television and you want all the bells and whistles the TiVo service offers. But if you just want to record shows once in a while, you're much better off with a $30 VCR. I had no idea this is how these things worked. Guess I should have done some research first.

I have 5 TIVOS and I can't remember when I used my vcr last, I bet I couldn,t find my remote for the vcr if i had to.

Like everyone else says, "How did we ever live wihtout this?". Very easy to use after a little practice, much easier than most VCR's. It's wonderful to set up some "Season Passes" and come home at night to find that Tivo has programs recorded waiting for you! My only complaint, and the Tivo Customer Service says they haven't heard this much, is that when the Tivo calls in on my phone line to update, it knocks me off the Internet. Yes, I have the filter on the phone line. I have DSL Internet and this is not supposed to happen. I've had to unplug the Tivo when I'm on the Internet and I know that it's going to call in to update. Other than that, no problems. With the rebate, it was literally free!

The concept is very good and makes TV watching a better experience. However, the installation is not nearly as simple as the box and the description will lead you to believe. And if you need to contact TIVO's technical support, be prepared for a very long hold time...very long. And the support personnel are neither knowledgeable nor courteous.

TiVo, when new is a great toy. But after the first year I questioned it's worth before renewing the subscription. What did it do? It copied programs, provided a program schedule, provided speed control Slowmo etc. and would record shows following what you choose. If you have cable or satellite you already have a program guild and after a few months of use I turned off the selective recording, ask it to record football and any program with foot and ball gets recorded and in less than a week your 80gig is clogged. So I let the service lapse figuring that I could record the programs manually, if there was ever any over time it always cut it off. Well no, if you do not subscribe that function is turned off and your TiVo unit becomes a boat anchor. No if I decide to get into the DVR market again I will use the Satellite of Cable DVR, same functionality for the same about fee with out having to pay hundreds for a boat anchor.