Cheap Replay Networks 2003 Digital Video Recorder (Electronics) Price

ReplayTV can store up to 14 hours of programming, depending on the video-recording quality that you select. (A higher quality picture will take up more storage space than a lower quality recording.) At the lowest setting, the picture quality is better than standard VHS tape and provides 14 hours of storage. At the middle setting, the picture is better than a S-VHS tape, but storage capacity is lower (approximately seven hours). The highest quality setting approaches the quality level of DVD but further reduces storage capacity to 4.75 hours of recording time. Other models of ReplayTV offer greater storage capacity, and soon you'll be able to upgrade the memory through an expansion port located on the back of the unit.

In addition to offering you the functions of a conventional tape-based VCR, ReplayTV offers you impressive new personalized TV viewing and recording. ReplayTV temporarily records the TV signal as you watch it, allowing you to instantly pause and then resume playing a live program. After you resume watching, you can also fast-forward or rewind your TV program (much like a videotape recorder). An Instant Replay button on your remote allows you a quick replay of any live TV event at any time.

ReplayTV also allows you to create channels that contain programming on a specific theme. For example, you can set ReplayTV to monitor TV listings for any program featuring actor Clint Eastwood, and to automatically record such programs. Later, when you're in the mood for a good Eastwood movie, simply click to your personalized channel to see what ReplayTV has recorded for you.

We were impressed with ReplayTV's QuickSkip feature, which allows you to eliminate TV commercials on programs that have already been recorded. QuickSkip is so easy to use that it's causing a bit of an uproar in the television industry, which fears that the feature will cut into its vital ad revenue. Some major media companies (including Time Warner, Disney, NBC, and Showtime) recently made a major financial investment in Replay Networks and may use the technology to eventually add supplementary programming information and services for viewers.

The first generation of new technologies usually contains a few glitches, and ReplayTV is no exception. When we used ReplayTV with our direct satellite receiver, the universal remote control occasionally tuned in the wrong channel. Changing channels was also a bit slow; the screen blanked and the existing channel reappeared for a second before switching to the desired channel. The ReplayTV also displays minor video pixelation during programs with rapid movement or with a large portion of black on the screen. You can reduce the pixelation by setting the video recording quality to the highest setting. However, by doing so, you sacrifice some recording storage.

Another drawback is that the ReplayTV does not yet allow you to record a live program while watching a live program on another channel. Unless you choose to directly view programming from a second video source, you won't be able to change the channel during recording. However, you can watch a recorded program while ReplayTV records a live program for you.

Setup of the ReplayTV is fairly simple but painfully slow. During our test setup, we connected both a cable-box tuner and a direct-broadcast satellite system to the unit. If you're comfortable hooking up a VCR or home-theater system, then the ReplayTV system setup should not be a problem for you. However, you will need to have an open phone jack near your setup so that ReplayTV can automatically update your TV programming guide every day.

The first time you connect to the ReplayTV network via your phone line you'll need to provide some information so that the service can customize the programming guide to your viewing preferences. Our first-time connection had an unusually long download time (almost two hours) for software updates and programming guide information.

Previously, on our home-theater setup, we had to push the remote-control buttons numerous times to switch back and forth between cable and satellite programming signals. The ReplayTV guide eliminated this annoyance by seamlessly integrating access to both signals with a single on-screen guide that contains seven days' worth of channel and programming summaries.

A major advantage to ReplayTV is that it doesn't charge any additional service fees after you make your initial purchase. This is not the case with some other digital video recorders, which offer similar programming guide services for a monthly or annual fee. It is worth noting, however, that ReplayTV plans to eventually subsidize its free programming guide service with nonintrusive advertising. However, we encountered no advertising during our test evaluation of ReplayTV.

Pros:

• Can pause live TV programming
• Adds an advanced programming guide to your TV set
• Large storage capacity (up to 14 hours)

Cons:

• First-generation technology still has some bugs
• Requires patience to set up
• New features may intimidate some nontechnical users