I’m what you call a DVR fanatic. I started using PVR/DVR technology in its infancy, back when Panasonic was one of the first to market a consumer DVR, called the “Showstopper.” The Showstopper technology was eventually taken over by SonicBlue under the brand ReplayTV. ReplayTV came out with some very innovative features, such as the ability to network its DVRs and share recorded programs with others using the same hardware. Then came a series of lawsuits which all but crippled this business.

ReplayTV no longer makes stand-alone DVR boxes, and is now run by Digital Networks North America. It continues to operate in this space, but it makes DVR software and add-ons for PCs only.

TiVo is arguably the most recognizable brand name in this market. At first, I used to shun TiVo, especially in its early days. This was because it was slower to build in some of the features that were already available on my ReplayTV DVRs. But it did its homework and has evolved its DVRs to offer a myriad of new capabilities that captured my interest.

One day, I was on an American Express Web site when I saw a special they were running on the TiVo HD. The special included the TiVo HD unit, one year of activation, and a TiVo wireless network adapter. I couldn’t resist, so I ordered one up. There was some kind of delivery foul-up — UPS said that the unit was delivered, on a day and time I was home — but I never saw the box, despite keeping an eye out for it. After going back and forth with UPS and TiVO, TiVo credited me the original order and re-shipped it. The second shipment arrived intact, although I still often wonder what happened to the first one. You do hear about people who stalk delivery trucks around the holidays and take off with packages left on doorsteps. If that was the case — it was pretty ballsy given that I was home. Still, TiVo does track serial numbers, and it ought to be able to tell if somebody attempts to hook it up and activate it, and perhaps back-trace through an ISP to locate it.

But back to the main point of my story — the TiVo HD unit itself. I didn’t have time to hook it up until after the holidays. But when I did hook it up, it was quite easy. Ironically, I don’t have a TV signal source hooked up to it yet, and that’s because I can’t split my cable signal any more than it already is. Eventually, when I watch all the recorded contact on the ReplayTV DVR the TiVo HD is sitting on top of, I may switch the cabling around so the TiVo is hooked up to the cable feed.

Despite not having the TiVo hooked up to a signal, I am still actively using it. I’ve linked it to my Amazon Unbox account, and have already downloaded some content to it. I think the picture quality of the Unbox videos and movies is superior to that of content I’ve put on my Apple TV via iTunes. I’ve downloaded TiVo Desktop, the free version, although I haven’t really started to use it yet. It offers a paid version that will allow you to convert recorded videos so they can be put on your iPod, so I may eventually opt for that.

The TiVo HD also has other Internet “smarts” built into it, and I haven’t quite had time to kick the tires on all of the different features yet. Still, this is a reasonably priced DVR that offers a ton of great features. I can see it becoming a mainstay in my entertainment setup for some time to come.