Hi Everybody. Great site Daniel.

Anybody care to share experiences/likes/dislikes regarding these new machines? So far the differences that I've been able to figure out are TiVo has more capacity, RePlay has a somewhat easier interface, and TiVo charges a monthly access fee. Any outstanding reasons I should go with one or the other? Thanks!!!!!!

wait till the next generation of hard drives hits both of these guys. they both use slow spin drives

If you are getting your TV from a DSS, forget the TiVo. It's features you pay for each month are not much different than the features you get with your DSS and directTV. I'd also advise waiting for the next generation. This technology is too much computer to NOT go down in price and up in speed/capacity. I'm going to get mine when they hit $100, no monthly fee, and have a playstation game player built in.

My 2 cents

Dave

Just got my ReplayTV a couple weeks ago. Cost me $699 plus shipping for a 10 hr. version. If I watched a lot of TV, I'd use up the space almost instantaneously. Steve: the ReplayTV box does have a Firewire expansion port which I belive Tivo does not. ReplayTV costs more up front, however no monthly fees are charged. If you include the $200 Tivo charges for a lifetime subsription, the two are identical in price.
I'm a computer engineer, so I'll be taking my ReplayTV box apart this weekend to see if I can upgrade the hard drive to a larger, faster one. I'll try to copy the drive using some PowerQuest utilities on my PC. I believe that the ReplayTV box has a slight technological advantage to Tivo. That why I bought it.

Let us know how the "upgrade" goes. Might be worthwhile to consider buying the small one and getting more room. My reading about Replay is that for good picture you must use the high quality setting.

Disclaimer: I am a Producer for Discovery Channel, which has an interest in TiVo.

I've had my TiVo (the 14 hour model) for about a month and I must say I love it. I have both DSS and cable hooked up to it and it makes the channel transitions seamless between the two, as well as marrying the program guide.

I typically record everything in either Best Quality (4.5 hour capacity) or High Quality (7 hour capacity) and find the picture more than acceptable, certainly comparable to VHS quality.

To me, the greatest feature is Personalized TV. I don't have to know when or what channel a show is on, program the VCR or have a tape. I simply punch in the name of the program and tell the TiVo to grab it whenever it comes on. I then come back, and there it is. When the fall lineups came out I simply put in the shows I wanted, no hunting around.

Also, as a huge sports fan, the ability to pause, rewind and review live TV, even in slo-mo, is amazing.

The only downside to me is that as part of its full-time buffering TiVo compresses the picture before it's displayed, therefore degrading the image very slightly. This is not particularly bothersome, but it does happen.

I intended to wait for newer models, but this product so directly fills a need that I couldn't wait any longer. The TiVo is outstanding and truely changes the way I watch TV. The software is great, and extremely easy. The unit integrates well with my hometheater (though I would like more inputs and outputs, especially S-video). Finally local cable channels and satellite are perfectly integrated. I didn't think I would, but I prefer the channel guide on the TiVo to the DirecTV style. Recording is so easy, I can't get over it. There are mony resources on line which go in to details and compare the two devices.

TiVo appears to have the momentum and better programming. The Phillips backing and retail availablity have given them the edge. ReplayTV was stronger out of the gate, but it appears TiVo will dominate. Of course, this technology will continue to evolve and ultimately will be integrated into other devices, but for now, it is worth every penny.

I recommend buy one now, and when new untis come out with improved hardware, put the original on another TV/system in the house. Once you've used one you will want one on every TV, at least I do.

Strong Recommendation for the TiVo (I suspect the Replay is equally awesome).

It looks like DirecTV is striking up a relationship with TiVo. Any word on whether we can expect an integrated DSS/TiVo unit in the near future?

Maybe I'm wrong but isn't DSS a generic term for digital satellite system? DTV is the abbrev. for DirecTV.

Anyway, rumor is that DTV and TiVo will be integrated in January. But all services are investing in both TiVo and Replay. I would expect integrated units based on both technologies, until there is a clear winner.

DSS is sort of a generic term, in that it refers to any hardware which is used to receive programming from DirecTV. So DSS and DirecTV are used interchangeably -- they're not exactly the same thing, but one is useless without the other. But "DSS" specifically refers to the hardware, which I assume is why doliver stated the question in that way.

DirecTV and TiVo are already integrated, in that TiVo works with existing DSS receivers. It would just be more convenient to have a single DSS receiver that had the TiVo unit built-in.

I happen to be involved in this business and can tell you that you can look for a combi Tivo/DirecTv in Q2 next year. Hard drive will be larger and faster and the integration of DirecTv DBS is a no brainer upgrade(seeing how they are investors in Tivo and all). Other possible combi's include addition of internet tv(who cares), but the next gen should be more exciting.