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A calculated gamble
I read many Web Forum discussions about the TiVo Series 2 DVR. Many experts stated flatly that the machine will not operate without a TiVo contract. I have recorded a few hours of programming with no TiVo service. It is necessary to log in with the sevice to receive the operating system over the phone line; for this there is no charge. I do not recommend this product for the faint of heart. For the technically inclined, the machine will provide a lasting source of amusement at a relatively small investment. The vendor gave excellent service.

Tivo
TiVo TCD649080 Series2 80-Hour Dual-Tuner Digital Video Recorder Arrived in good condition.Easy to set up and easy to operate.Now we know what we have been missing over the years. So easy to record or set up recordings.

NO TIVO SUBSCRIPTION: NO RECORD CAPABILITY
We purchase a Series2 Tivo when they were first avialable and quite happy with the cababilities and reliability of the unit. We purchased a Series3 Jan 2007 for HD and two channel recording capability, as well as increased hard drive capacity and we're pleased to find it quiet enough for the bedroom.

Tivo, at the time of our purchase, offered (for $199) to transfer the lifetime subscription we had on the Series2 to the new Series3 unit. This offer included the continuation of subscription service on the old unit for one year.

Because the old unit is in our guest room and rarely used now, I intended to allow the subscription service to lapse and record by time and channel. To my surprise, I find now that one year has gone by that, unless I pay a monthly subscription fee, the Series2 Tivo unit is useless. That is because Tivo software now blocks any manner of recording with the Series2 unit.

I truly love my TiVo!
I have had my TiVo unit for almost 4 years now and I don't know what I would do with out. It records all of my shows even while I'm at work. I've considered cancelling and getting the DVR that my cable company offers but I have tried it and Tivo's interaction features are 100% better. You can select and search movies by director, movie title, actor and/or category.

I've already spread the word around my family and they've all ordered Tivo and have been nothing but satisfied.

I also want to mention that the unit I've had for 4 years was purchased refurbished from Tivo directly and have not had any problems besides the occasional glitch where it says it's recording one show but is really recording another (and I believe that has to do with the constant line up changes from my cable company)

If I was to recommend one thing to any random person in the street it would be to buy a Tivo unit and just let the good times roll.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
Go through your cable company instead if you want a dvr. Tivo has the worst customer service and I don't know about anyone else, but my Tivo was more trouble than it was worth to hook up. I got our new computer up and running 2x's faster than tivo. If you don't have a phone jack close buy you better have a wireless internet router for your home( the network adapter isn't included at $30-$50 a piece) or it won't work, then you better hope there are no problems connecting to it, after 8 hours of phone calls and dirrent hookup configuratons I cancelled my subsription and took this piece of krap back to the store.