If you haven't already heard about these products, Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) are essentially computers that digitally record television programming (from cable, sattelite or regular TV). The difference between DVRs and good old VCRs is that DVRs allow you to view all of your recorded programming from a central location. There is no need to swap tapes in and out and you can search much faster. Another great feature is that you can actually pause live TV! If you are watching a program and need to leave the room, you can pause the program. The DVR will continue recording while you are away and you can resume right where you left off! This comes in handy for when the baby starts crying or the phone starts ringing just as something important was about to be said. As great as DVRs are, the real benefits come from using them in conjunction with the TiVo service. The TiVo service downloads programming information and unque content every day (usually very early in the morning) into the DVR. With all of your available programming loaded into the system you can:

• Find and record shows featuring your favorite actor, team or topic (i.e. children's shows)
• Track and record your favorite shows, even if the schedule changes
• Find great new programs based on your interests
• Save shows for as long as you want
• Enjoy your favorite programs while recording another

You are really only limited by the amount of storage available in your DVR. When you do run out of room, you can easily delete some programs or you can use TiVo's "Record-to-Tape" option, which transfers the program to a regular VCR tape. There are several DVR manufacturers with different models and varying capacities. We have the Sony SVR-2000, which can store up to 30 hours of programming depending on the recording quality you choose. The set-up was fairly easy, but significantly longer than the 10 minutes noted in the instructions. Most of the time is spent getting access to and uncabling your existing components. If you have easy access to all of the connections between your current componets (TV, VCR, Cable Box, etc.) then your installation time might be quicker. You essentially just hook up your video source to the DVR, route it through your VCR (so you can make tapes when you run out of storage space) and you're in business. The first call to TiVo to download the initial programming takes a few hours though, so I would recommend setting it up in the evening so that by the time you wake up, it will be ready to go. The overall operation is fairly simple, but there are a lot of options with the TiVo service. I have had it for about a month and am still discovering new features. With the hectic life our family leads, the DVR with TiVo service is a welcome appliance in our household. At the end of a long week, it is nice to be able to relax watching the shows we have missed. It is definetly a luxury item as opposed to a necessity, but so was our VCR at one time. Now, I don't know what we would do without it.

Available for about $300.00 for the recorder and $9.95 per month for the TiVo service at most major electronics stores, Amazon.com or at www.tivo.com.