TiVo HD

For cable subscribers, the TiVo HD offers tons of goodies, but it does require a few sacrifices. The initial cost is one. The other is that interactive functions, such as ordering pay-per-view movies using your remote control, won't work. But TiVo's legion of fans -- including some reviewers -- say those inconveniences are worthwhile given the many features and ease of use. TiVo's revered and familiar interface makes programming easy. The TiVo HD's networking ability has been expanded to include the ability to access the Internet to view or download content from partners including Amazon.com, Netflix and others. For the ultimate couch potato, you can even order a Domino's pizza right from your remote. While the TiVo HD can store up to 20 hours of HD programming or 180 hours of standard definition, TiVo also offers a step-up version, the TiVo HD XL (*Est. $600), with a mind-boggling capacity of 150 hours of HD and 1,360 hours of SD. The price is mind-boggling as well. At the other end of the spectrum, while they don't measure up in terms of features or ease of use, cable company DVRs (*Est. $8 to $20 per month) also don't require an upfront payment, and monthly fees are competitive if not lower.

While the most detailed review we found of the TiVo HD is at the Gizmo Lovers enthusiast website, the reviews at CNET and PCMag.com do a great job covering the essentials and more without burying the reader in minutia. You can read user reviews at Amazon.com. TiVoCommunity.com is a TiVo-centric forum where the TiVo HD is discussed at length.