Hi there:
I am in the same boat as you. I want the convenience of a PVR, but not the monthly service charges and I am a bit paranoid about TiVo knowing what I am watching. I am seriously considering building my own PVR box and upgrading whenever funds permit. Check out these websites:
http://www.byopvr.com/
http://freevo.sourceforge.net/
Cheers
RB
http://canadiancapitalist.blogspot.com

I have a Tivo, and just like cable tv, once you get it - you can't go back. Even when visiting relatives, you will miss the ease of being able to pause the tv to get the phone, use the restroom, or simply take a break and watch it later.

I agree that the price is a bit hefty, and that competitors are due. I will not hesitate to jump ship when something better and cheaper comes along. However, I think of it this way - I now watch NO commercials. The lack of ads bombarding you and your kids will probably save you $10 a month anyways. Also, the Tivo is elegant in that it simply works. My wife loves it, it is easier than programming a vcr.

Jonathan
http://www.mymoneyblog.com

Buy the TiVo. I guarantee you will not regret it.

If you get one you should put my email address in as a reference! There is a referral program! BTW, cool blog.

I've been thinking about the same thing. Building your own lets you customize it, but it's not really any cheaper. Also, you aren't dependent on TiVo or Comcast changing the software and limiting what you can do.

I've been seriously tempted by the Philips FDRW720. It's got a DVD recorder and 120 GB hard drive. It doesn't have all the features of a TiVo, but it's cheaper. (amazon.com is selling it for $380)

I've been thinking about getting one also - hmmm - I think they are coming down enough in price so it might be time.

We just moved this weekend. At my old house we had four Replays throughout and the kids could watch their shows without commercials (GREAT benefit -- no "I want this, I want that" at Christmastime) and we could stream content throughout the house. I haven't had time to hook them up yet at the new house and watching live TV is so painful now. I don't know what is worse - having to watch live TV or going from broadband to dial up (out here in the country).

While I am partial to ReplayTV (because of network functionality, the spying Tivo marketers and the monthly is cheaper) whatever PVR you get will change the way you watch TV. I actually watch LESS TV now - I am just more efficient at watching what I want. Think of it as YOUR own TV station with only content you want. I could go on and on but you get the point.

.....Dan at aslowerpace dot com

If you're open to it, going wth DirecTV's Tivo is a great option. The fee is only $5/month and it has two tuners. Because the Tivo Is integrated with the sat. receiver it records in perfect didgital quality and you won't miss any channel changes -- which can happen from time to time with the stand-alone TiVo's depending on your set-up. I'll ping you with a post I wrote about my top reasons to own a TiVo.

Mike.

Yes, yes, yes. As Mike says, the two-tuner DirecTiVo is especially nice.