I loved mine, though I haven't used it since I moved up here as I don't have a traditional phone line, which it requires for 1st-time setup.
Easy to set up? Do you need someone to install it?
Any additional wiring? Does it hook up just like a DVD/VCR?
Very simple to set up on your own, just like hooking up a VCR or DVD. It has the benefit of having several hookup options - you can go coaxial cable, composite video, or s-video. It comes with the cables you need as well. It's super-straightforward.
Is a phone line necessary?
Like I mentioned the problem I have now, yes, you need a land phone line for at least the initial dial-in setup. During the setup you'll need to provide enough info (zip code, etc) to locate what cable system you are on so that the guide can get proper program data. After that setup, however, you can use an internet connection for updates. Why they require the phone call in firsthand is beyong me. (Though maybe this has changed noe)?
Can you watch a program while recording another?
You need to have a Tivo unit that has dual tuners to do that with the box alone. Otherwise, you have to make sure that you are passing through the cable signal out from the Tivo to your TV. For me to do this, I had the Tivo on Video 1 (s-video) and used the standard TV tuner on the TV when I was watching something else - basically bouncing back and forth, which I didn't think was ideal. Dual tuner Tivo is what you'd need for the easiest solution.
Easy to use?
Pros and cons?
Actually, I think ease of use is it's biggest pro. What I watched on TV dramatically changed with Tivo. I'd add lots of Adult Swim episodes to my schedule, and after a few days you'd find nice new episodes waiting for you. The Tivo guide can also be set up to recommend programs for you, and is good about skipping over repeats of shows so that you don't end up with lots of unwanted material.
On the con side, I wasn't very fond of the out-of-the-box navigation. For example, to set the remote to jump forward in 30 second time blocks, you had to access a code that required digging around the net to find. Out of the box you had to scan through commercials, which was quick and easy, but not as cool as clicking 4 times to get back into a show. Also, hard drive space gets eaten up pretty quickly if you record on the higher quality settings (which I preffered).
Do you still use a VCR for some things?
Nah. Though some people do have it still chained behind the Tivo so that can back up programs to tape and delete them on the Tivo. But you can also archive recorded content from the Tivo to a PC now, so a VCR just seems antiquated now.
Hopefully that helps a bit, but honestly I haven't used my Tivo in about 6 months, and the world could have changed some since then. I loved the Tivo, but if I started up again, I'd probably just get a DVR from the cable company so that I could record HD from cable and the digital channels. But if you have no interest in shelling out more money to bad cable products, Tivo is a great machine, and its interface and ease of use is miles ahead of all the other DVR solutions out there.
