Surfing On TiVo's Turf
New ways to catch as many shows as possible
They are perfect couch potato tools for those who don't have time to be a couch potato. Known as digital video recorders, these devices store TV shows on a disk drive, enabling viewers to automatically record every episode of Six Feet Under with the push of a button and also pause and rewind live TV. These popular features have enticed companies to put DVR s into everything from the boxes that unscramble your cable signal to DVD recorders. I tested some and found each variety has distinct characteristics.
One of the DVR pioneers was TiVo. The company's Series2 line starts at $200 for a 40-hour recorder and is the epitome of simplicity, allowing owners to search for favorite shows using an actor's name, a title, or keywords like "competitive cooking." Owners also can program TiVo over the Internet . If you're at work and realize you forgot to have your TiVo record CSI , you can go online and tell your DVR what to do.
Unfortunately, TiVo isn't simple to install. To download its show listings regularly, the DVR has to be connected to a phone line (or a broadband Internet line)--a plug not usually next to the TV in most family rooms. It also typically requires you to attach one of its pieces to your cable box to change channels. And then there's the added $13-per-month service charge (or a one-time $300 fee).
You can avoid some of these hassles by buying a DVD recorder with built-in DVR abilities. These gadgets don't require an Internet connection or monthly fee. You can record a staggering 177 hours of shows on Panasonic's DMR-EH50 ($450), which directly downloads its on-screen TV Guide listings from the cable feed. And its DVD recorder means you can copy a television show to a disk for permanent storage.
But I found the Panasonic's buttons for pausing TV shows and choosing between DVD and DVR features complicated. I also had trouble downloading the first set of TV Guide listings. Ultimately, it took a full 24 hours for the box to get the channel listings right, during which time my family couldn't watch TV for fear of interrupting the process. (After the initial setup, the Panasonic DVR updated the listings automatically when we weren't watching TV.)
By far the easiest option I tried was renting from the cable company. Time Warner cable charged me $9 a month for a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000 cable box with a DVR. The biggest advantage was that I could record one show while watching another or record two shows at once --a trick that many other DVR s cannot perform. Another benefit: The picture quality of the cable DVR was far superior to that of the two other devices because it directly records the cable company's digital signal.
Of course, the cable DVR box isn't infallible. It can't save a show to a DVD. It also doesn't list upcoming programs as nicely as TiVo does. In order for the cable company's DVR to work, you must subscribe to the more expensive digital cable option. But that's not a problem for most couch potatoes.
Ask Us
Q I heard Apple is offering compensation to iPod owners who have battery problems. How will it work?
A Apple has reached a tentative settlement with iPod owners who say the rechargeable batteries in their music players aren't lasting as long as advertised. The agreement--details are at appleipodsettlement.com --applies to iPods purchased before May 31, 2004. Some owners will receive an additional year of warranty coverage. Others get to choose between a new battery (or a replacement iPod if the company can't fix the old battery) and a $50 Apple credit that can used to purchase any Apple products (except iTunes songs). Those who have already paid to have their batteries replaced can apply for a partial refund. None of these options can fully go into effect until August 25, when a judge is expected to confirm the agreement.
This story appears in the June 20, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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