As someone mentioned before, the DTVPal DVR (Echostar) is only available for Sears in the US now. I bought one for my parents and they love it - so it is quite easy to use. However, the same product is now also available from ChannelMaster so Cdn retailers will have it soon - see the home page on http://www.saveandreplay.com/ for details.

I myself have built a HTPC and run SageTV - much more effort but much more control. It took a long time to make it "production quality" so the rest of the family could use it without issue - but now I wouldnt go back.