Love At First Byte
Hi, I'm Larry and I'm a TiVoaholic. I'm addicted to the TiVo personal video recorder (PVR), but I have no plans to join a 12-step program.
The reason I like TiVo is that I can program it to record regular shows automatically or set it to record specials and movies up to two weeks in advance.
Of course, in theory, you can also do that with a VCR, but aside from the fact that VCRs are nearly impossible to program, you have to remember to insert the tape.
PVRs store programs digitally on a built-in hard disk drive. What's more, TiVo and its competitors also have an onscreen programming guide that lets you use a remote control to point and click at exactly what you want to record.
In addition to the TiVo
First, let's review what these systems have in common. All store programs on a hard drive, which gives you the ability not only to record but also to pause and rewind "live" TV. If you're watching a recorded show or if you start watching a live show a few minutes after it actually starts, you can also use a fast forward button to skip over commercials. The RCA and Replay also have another button that skips ahead 30 seconds. Push it three or four times and you can quickly dispose of the commercial break.
Reprogramming Tivo to Skip Commercials
Although TiVo has a fast forward button that you can use to quickly skim through commercials, it doesn't boast a single 30-second advance button. However, some clever TiVo users have discovered that such a feature is indeed there, but it's hidden. TiVo enthusiast Web sites, including TivoCommunity.com
ReplayTV, which is sort of the bad boy of the PVR industry, not only has a 30-second advance feature but it also has what the company calls "Commercial Advance," which automatically skips commercials on most recorded shows. It does this by actually figuring out when the commercial starts and ends, quickly jumping over it without your having to do anything.
This feature, as you might imagine, hasn't won SonicBlue many friends within the TV and advertising industries, but that's only one of the things the company has done to annoy the TV networks. It also allows users to "send shows over the Internet." If you have a digital subscriber line or cable modem, you can actually transfer shows to other Replay owners. However, even with broadband, it takes a very long time to transfer a full program. Both the commercial skipping feature and the ability to e-mail programs have prompted major TV networks and movie studios to file a lawsuit against SonicBlue.
No Monthly Fees, But...
The RCA unit has two major advantages to the competition along with one big drawback. The advantages are that it also comes with a very nice DVD player and, unlike TiVo and Replay, there are no monthly fees. The drawback is that the free programming guide isn't nearly as good as what you pay for with TiVo and Replay.
TiVo charges $12.95 a month for the programming guide, while Replay charges $9.99. In both cases, you can avoid a monthly fee with a one-time $250 payment that covers you for the life of that particular unit, not your lifetime.
RCA doesn't charge any fee for the program guide, but the guide isn't nearly as good as the ones you pay for with TiVo and Replay. With TiVo and Replay you hook your set up to a phone line (with Replay you can also use an optional DSL or cable modem) and the devices place a free call in the middle of the night to update its database of two weeks of programming information.
RCA uses the free Guide + listings, which gives you three days' worth of information. Aside from the limited amount of information, I found the RCA guide a bit confusing to use. TiVo's guide is a breeze -- all my family members were able to master it in a matter of minutes, while Replay is somewhere in the middle. Also unlike the competition, the RCA doesn't have a search feature that helps you find your favorite shows even if you don't know when they will air.
Beyond Video
Replay and RCA have some nice features that are not in the current version of TiVo, but in April TiVo is expected to release version 4.0 of its software, including an optional $99 upgrade to play catch-up to the competition.
The RCA unit, for example, can be used to store music (MP3) and photos (jpeg) that can be seen or heard on your TV. The Replay device can be connected to a home network to share programming with other Replay units in your home.
It's also possible to program the Replay a day in advance via the Web. TiVo's upgrade will allow you to connect the device to a DSL or cable line instead of a phone line. As with Replay, you'll be able to transfer programs from one TiVo to another (in the same house) and you'll be able to play music or display photos on your TV screen by streaming them from a PC or Mac via the home network. The upgrade will also allow you to program the TiVo via the Web with just 15 minutes' notice.
TiVo's prices start at $199 for a unit that stores up to 40 hours of programming, although, when I checked, they were offering a 60-hour factory refurbished unit for $149. Replay's 40-hour unit sells for $299, but they were recently offering a $100 rebate. The RCA unit is available at Circuit City (www.circuitcity.com) for $599 but, again, it also includes a DVD player and there is no charge for the programming guide.
After using all three machines, I've decided to settle on the TiVo for my family. I found it easier to set up and use than the other systems and I am very happy with its search features. You can enter the name of any program and quickly find out if and when it will air in the next two weeks. I also like its "Wish List" feature that allows you to automatically capture programs based on title, actors, directors or subject matter.
A syndicated technology columnist for nearly two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."
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By Larry Magid