Since you were the only one to reply to my post, I figured I owed you a reply. After I wrote this post, I got to thinking about my netflix issue.

When I got home, I ran a couple tests with my setup and discovered that my Tivo wasn't the issue! It was a Video splitter-device I had connected to the TV. I removed it and my netflix issue disappeared. I feel kinda stupid for not suspecting that part sooner, but it really wasn't a high priority for me.

I'd have to 2nd to Tivo Premiere

Despite the issues it's had (some of which we are still experiencing), it still blows away the competition for us.

We have it setup with an antenna to record all the network shows, and supplement cable shows with Amazon and Netflix. I know that Tivo is not free, but it still spreads out to be around $10/month if you sign up for a year or two. Dropping our $65/month Directv service and moving to a $10/month service with Tivo was a no-brainer. We had a DirecTivo for many years, so the switch didn't affect the wife at all considering the interface is almost exactly the same. Even buying a few cable shows on Amazon puts us well ahead financially of where we were. The other feature we've really come to enjoy is the ability to upload video content onto the Tivo to watch on our own time. It seems neither Apple TV or Roku are offering this feature.

My Tivo has had one issue that I feel I must mention - the Netflix streaming is not as reliable as on Roku (we have an original Roku too). It has this issue were the screen blacks-out every 3-5 minutes for about 5-10 seconds, then returns. I've talked to support about it, and they claim that they have a fix in the works. Honestly, I feel it's an issue that can be solved by a software fix, and we enjoy every other part of the Tivo so much that I don't care too much about the Netflix issue, so we're not going to return the unit.

Mod this parent up. We're new parents of twins, and everyone seems to underestimate the power of content being fed to you.

Sitting down feeding a kid at 3AM while watching a re-run of the Office is much easier than pulling out the laptop, queuing up hulu, and fumbling between finding something to watch and holding a bottle for a child.

We may still get rid of cable (actually Directv+Tivo) in the long run, but in some ways paying the $60/month is just easier than all these other options presented here.

Bruce Willis? The bigger issue is that they'll have to break Steven Tyler out of rehab.

Doesn't that site use Flash? So does this mean that Google is all well and good with Adobe?

I have to admit that I know nothing about the newspaper industry, and if this was so easy to solve that it would have been done already. However, I can’t resist thinking that most of these companies will need to fail in order to allow other models that can be profitable to rise out of the ashes.

Maybe it's time for the company to split into 2 parts - one for content, one for printing. In other words, completely outsource the printing/delivery of the paper into a separate company. I know they do this on some level now. They could change their model to where they could charge a price for the content, and add on a "delivery" charge for receiving it (which would be from the print company). If you are using their online reader the charge would be free, but physically printing it and sending it would incur an additional charge.

The print division can then focus towards getting their costs under control and adding features. Maybe they would be inclined to make themselves more efficient like using on-demand printing, other paper sources, customized sections (only receive only sections you desire), etc.

The big deal with this launch was that the space agency always represented the hopes and dreams for a lot of people, and during that time it seemed like we had made space travel safe.

As far as the "national mindset" of Americans you mention; I'd say that the entire world tends to relate to certain events, and don't usually use the body count to determine if they should care.

Ghandi was only one person, so was Jesus, Anne Frank...

It's also kind of hard to consider you comment not trolling, considering you're posting Anonymously, and keep mentioning our "national mindset".

It took 3 years for the Wii to get an easy way to watch movies.

Happy to see the 2GB of RAM (even more would be better), but agree that I really don't care about a 12" screen and more powerful processor.

First Versus, and now this. Directv must feel like they can't win.

I guess when the time comes I'll cut the lines to my satellite dish and just accept my new cable company overlords.

I realize I'm late to post, but I couldn't resist putting my 2 cents in. I acquired a free series 2 Tivo from a friend, and tried to use it as a local media server (I already have a directv tivo). I had plans to just use the Tivo desktop software to push my movies and such onto the Tivo, maybe download a few shows via Amazon, play some music through Rhapsody, etc.

What a pain in the butt. In order to do any of that kind of stuff, you need a "media key". I had to subscribe to activate my Tivo just to be able to put my own content on the box. I even contacted them and asked if they had a discounted plan since I wasn't using their scheduling information for any recording whatsoever. No luck, I tried it for a bit, and it was somewhat nice, but not worth it in the end (~$100/year).

I really think Tivo is missing out on an entire different model for the after-life of these boxes. I would totally pay for an upgrade to disable recording and just use it as a media box, music server, security camera, etc. It always annoys me when hardware companies just move on and dump older hardware. Seriously, why can't HP just sell a new printer driver for that older printer rather than just give up and no longer support it. Microsoft should have opened up the original xbox to allow the same kind of modifications. It would be a great PR move to show that they are truly environmentally conscious.

I would recommend finding a multi-purpose printer. Something that can print/scan/photo-copy etc, with duplex capabilities and a paper feeder.

I got a refurbished Brother MFC-8860DN Printer, and I have to say it's the best printer I've ever owned. All the extra built-in features just make me glad I put in the extra money upfront instead of wasting my time with single purpose printers.

Just yesterday I scanned in a 5 page document from the tray feed into a PDF on my computer. It's also great when I want to make a quick photo copy of something.

The software is decent, but could be better. It is a network printer, but you obviously need to use their software for scanning and such. Overall, I would still recommend it as a solid multi-purpose printer.

grabbed the closest Windows Mobile phone, threw it on the floor and smashed it with his foot!

As much as I don't like the price and lock-in of the iPhone, I have to admit my Blackberry takes at least 3 or 4 memorized button combinations more than a similar function on the iPhone. It simply has too high of a learning curve.

I don't like the at&t + iPhone lock-in, but I think it's the only thing that could have opened the cell industry. I can't forget how many Palm devices weren't allowed to have wifi simply b/c the cell company wouldn't allow it. Now it seems like they can't live without it.

I completely agree, I like having a normal title bar. Then again, I still use the "classic theme" in Windows. I like the current UI as it is, and have even been a bit annoyed in some of the tweaks they've made over the past few releases.

I'd like to see these features as options or themes. Maybe even make an easy option to go into "support mode" which will provide a unified standard UI.