This still needs to come down to around 300 or 330 out the door with rebates to be competitive. Since its life expectancy is not much over 2 years.

Tivo also has disabled some of the PC functionality such as the ability to move recorded shows to a PC and then save them to a DVD, available in Series 2 is not available in Series 3.

There is suppose to be a hack to get around this limitation. But since I was holding out for lower price, I didn't explore this much.

At 300 it would be great then I can give back my cable companies crappy DVR and their $15 per month box rental charge. And posses no additional functionality.

If I purchased Tivo 3 this month and paid 800 to 900 plus I'd be pissed. If you got it from best buy (or some other 30 day return business) I'd quickly return it and purchase a new one to get the rebate on/after may 27.

Where do you get this two year life expectancy? I have a Series One that is SEVEN YEARS OLD and still runs as well as the day I purchased it!

Sweet! Satellite boxes are way ahead of cable boxes. If you want better hardware go satellite. or buy this TIVO once the rebate comes out!

I've had a Tivo for about 3 years now and love it compared to the Satellite PoS that I just got last year :(. Tivo's have better functionality and are Spouse friendlier than the cable to satellite DVR's. I would replace my Satellite DVR in a heart beat for even an older Tivo.

I call it that because of the warranty period. That doesn't mean that how long it will last.

It's really based on a mixture of warrantied component life and functionality life.

Functionality is the time manufacturers really gear up for their next product wave. You're their prime customer, that why they immediately target you with upgrades. Prior owners of XYZ will receive $$$ off.

The majority of consumers bite on this upgrade, selling or even trashing their old product. And you holding on to a series 1 is definitely not the norm when video quality has improved tremendous (upverting in 3).

Stand alone hard drives for example are usually warrantied for 3 to 5 years. But when attached into systems especially one with lots of heat (most dvr aren't cooled and sit in stuffy dusty places). The manufacturers only cover them 2.

Which is my most products have labor for 1 year and parts up to 2 years. Again there are TV's that last 11 years and ones of the same model that conk out in 3. If that person complains the manufacturer would respond it's out of warranty. It's not suppose to last past 2 years without having something replaced. Usually this replace process cost more than buying a new product. Ask people who's $100 VCR quit after 1 year and its $130 to fix it.