Learning More About DVR's.

Several people, whose opinions I respect, have moved to watching television programs using Digital Video Recorders (DVR). Sometimes this kind of system is incorrectly referred to as a TiVo System. I say sometimes because there is a TiVo System, made by Sony, which is a Digital Video Recorder. So while all Sony TiVo's are DVR's, not all DVR's are TiVo's.

Oh, just skip it! You get the idea. A DVR, no matter what's its name, allows you to "timeshift," or watch television programs when you want. It is in a sense, a special kind of computer, complete with a hard drive that can record up to 100 hours of programming. You just tell it to record the programs you want, which sounds like a VCR, but it is much easier.

For instance, you can tell it to record all of the West Wing shows and it will turn itself on and off whenever West Wing shows up on either NBC or the Bravo channel. Some of the new DVR's will actually record two shows at once, in case there is a conflict.

But, a good DVR does more than that. On playback you can skip right over the commercials. Or in watching a live program, you can actually pause it if the phone rings, then restart it exactly where you left off, even though the program is live.

Sony was the first out with this new concept in watching television, the Sony TiVo. It was an immediate success. Now, the TiVo is being pushed by several other brands of DVR's, some of them being given away free by cable and satellite TV companies.

For instance, you can order one free from Dish TV if you subscribe to their $31.95 programming package. (There is an installation charge, but it is credited back to you on the first invoice). As I said, several people I know have changed over to DVR's as their preferred way of watching TV. They can watch only the shows they want, when they want, thereby adding a little more efficiency to their lives.

Recently, one of the cent reviewers took an in-depth look at these new DVR's and compare them with the Sony TiVo. It is worth reading if you are thinking about getting one, as I am. I really like the concept a lot, especially as I am about to go out on the road for six months.

To read this informative review, go to:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6209060-1.html?