TIVO Has Arrived

Tivo was installed yesterday. This is a TV box with a computer hard drive built into it so that one can record TV shows on it.

The advantages of Tivo are:
You don't have to put in a video tape.

You have a built in TV guide on your TV screen.

You can tape a whole series like "Survivor" with one setting. So, even if the show changes nights or times, Tivo will tape every episode at the right time.

No matter what you are watching, if your viewing is interrupted, you can handle the disruption and then rewind back to the spot where you left off. For example, I was watching a movie "Heaven's Gate" this morning when Lisa B. called. After our conversation ended, I rewound Tivo back to the spot when Lisa called and watched the movie until the end. So, I didn't miss anything.

When you play a recorded program, you can skip the commercials.

Why did we get Tivo? Wendy and I were constantly switching video tapes and VCRs in order to record our programs. We were also double taping programs that we didn't want to miss. And when I took a tape from another VCR, it commonly didn't work well in the living room VCR. And with our old cable box, if you didn't set it for the right channel, the TV show you wanted wasn't recorded.

Do I think that we will be spending even more time watching TV? No, actually, I think that we will watch the same amount but the shows we really want to see will be available with little or no effort.

The Tivo box records about 42 hours of TV. The cost is $9.95 per month, which we pay to Charter.

Here is a list of TV shows that Wendy and I have Tivoed.
CSI Miami
Survivor
The Apprentice
Any show about Hawaii. (We will be in Hawaii in June.)
Scrapbooking (on DIY)
And Rob and Amber's wedding. Rob and Amber were on "Survivor" and fell in love and got married. Their marriage ceremony is being televised on May 24, 2005. They were also recently on "Amazing Race" but didn't win.