Record TV in style with a refurbished TiVo HD, $179.99 shipped

Few people would disagree that TiVo is the ultimate DVR. Here's your chance to scoop up a TiVo HD for just $179.99 shipped (plus service). These are refurbished units, but TiVo gives you the same 30-day money-back guarantee and warranty (one year for parts, 90 days for labor) that they provide with new models. Score!

In case you're unfamiliar with this particular model, it offers up to 20 hours of high-def recording, a pair of HD tuners, and a boatload of cool networking features (like movie downloads from Amazon Unbox and music from Rhapsody). The bummer, of course, is that you have to pay an extra fee for service: $12.95 monthly, $129 annually, or $399 lifetime. Bleh. That's the only thing that's kept TiVo out of Cheapskate Manor.

Still, at least the hardware's cheap: A new TiVo HD would run you $299.99. For more info on this beloved DVR, check out the above video as well as CNET's extensive hands-on review. Thankfully, you don't have to deal with any rebates, but you should probably act quickly if you're interested: I don't expect these will last long.

[ktappe]

When I bought my refurb. HD earlier this year, they did NOT offer the $399 lifetime activation. I wanted it and looked for it, but it was simply not an option. So I had to choose $299 for 3 years. Good luck to those of you wanting the $399 option.

[rickbroida]

If you click through to the product page, lifetime activation is listed right there. Personally, I think it's insanely overpriced, but that's just me.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

There was great outcry from consumers when they removed lifetime activation, I guess they brought it back.

[goober_nut]

If I did my math right though, if you buy the lifetime plan as opposed to the monthly plan it'll only take 31 months to match your investment. That's less than 3 years. So if you plan on keeping your TiVo for more than 3 years, you've made your money back. Granted, $400 is kind of pricey but it's all about looking at how long it takes to start saving.
I currently pay about $5/month to get my HD-DVR and I don't have the chance to pay for a lifetime plan. I do plan on keeping my DVR for at least the next 6.6 years which, if I could pay $400 for a one time fee to keep the service to it actually might be worth it.
Of course, you could always just buy a tv-tuner card and a mid-range computer and have your own upgradable DVR for cheaper. It's really all in how much of a savings it'll be for you in the long run.

[tarrantm]

Don't forget you need to add in either a Hauppauge HD TVR (250 dollars) or a cablecard (which the last time I checked weren't available unless you buy a 2000 dollar hp or dell computer) for the computer to get the non-OTA HD channels.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

I don't believe you have to fork out that much, look at so called "Mythboxes" that run MythTV

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Linux alternatives: MythTV, freevo.

Windows alternative : Windows XP MCE or Vista Home Premium with an XBox 360 or other media extender

[norvabear]

The other bad thing with these models is that they only work with cable. If you have Directv or Dish Network, you can't use them.

[CitizenJag]

Seriously, its just so much cheaper to rent one from whoever your service provider is. In that sense, Tivo is quite overrated.