With the advent of the digital age it seems that the age of the analog VCR is over. New devices from ReplayTV and Philips allow the TV viewer to watch television in an entirely new way.
The TiVo Personal TV Receiver from Philips and the ReplayTV Personal Video Recorder use digital technology to store up to 30 hours of programming. Each unit costs slightly under $700, although there is a basic TiVo available for under $400.
The idea is that when the user hooks up the machine to his television and cable, satellite or antenna, the machine converts the analog information into the digital MPEG2 format, stores it, and then converts it back into analog to view on a standard TV. The advantage is that viewers have the ability to pause, rewind and get instant replays of live shows.
A viewer could be watching a game, pause the action, get up to answer a phone call, come back and pick up right where he left off. The viewer can also resume real-time viewing whenever he wants.
In addition, the devices can be programmed to record up to 30 hours of programming with the TiVo and 20 with the ReplayTV. They offer several video-quality settings varying from VHS to approaching DVDs in quality.
By plugging the devices into a phone line the user can download program listings that make recording extremely simple through a graphical user interface. Although the service is free from ReplayTV, the TiVo system costs $9.95 a month or $199 for a lifetime subscription. The systems download the information in five to ten minutes during the early-morning hours every day.
Replay TV allows the user to quick-skip through shows or commercials 30 seconds at a time, while the TiVo offers a slow-motion button and a sliding bar that helps you keep track of where you are as you rewind or fast-forward. The rewind and fast-forward feature on both systems is much faster than on a standard VCR.
The TiVo also offers a suggestion system that examines what shows or movies you are recording and offers recommendations on other shows you might like. For example, if you record a movie starring Steven Buscemi the TiVo might tell you that "Desperado" is on the next day.
Both systems allow you to create customized lists of programs to record. You can record movies by actors or genre or all the basketball games on a particular day.
Although you can watch and record simultaneously it is not possible to record two shows at the same time. The systems will alert you if you attempt to do so.
Although neither device is perfect yet, they do offer many features that make them superior to standard VCRs.
Both systems would be better if they offered a ratings system to prevent important shows from being taped over. For example you could label shows one to ten. Then if a priority one show came on and there was not enough space on the drive, the system would first tape over low priority shows. The Replay already offers a system of "guarantees" that records specified shows first. The TiVo records programs you specify over those that it recommends.
The TiVo is probably a better system than the ReplayTV. It allows more recording time and the suggestion system, which might help you see interesting films you would not watch otherwise.
The ReplayTV also goes overboard in its effort to make its system easy-to-use by not allowing the user access to features that they might be used to with a VCR.
Although both systems offer features that make them superior to a standard VCR, their price makes them unreasonable for anyone but the most dedicated TV viewer. Once they go below the three or four hundred dollar mark you can pair one up with a DVD player and satellite for the perfect digital-viewing experience.
