When it comes to buying, we usually compare it with the contemporaries. Same is in buyers mind when they are planning to buy TiVo units and they usually want a comparison between the other PVR. Other stake holders are sky+ TV, Replay TV etc. Here is a comparison between Replay TV and TiVo box.

Commercial Dodge feature:

User can automatically bypass the commercials on series 4000, 4500 and 5000 but the newer series can manually skip the commercials. Replay TV lost the commercial skipping suit and hence in the newer models this feature is not supported. But as regarding TiVo same applies.

HDTV support:

Both Replay TV and TiVo don’t support HDTV but the newer models of Replay TV like 4000 and above have a 480P progressive output.

Parental Control:

User can only hide the tapes of VCR but for Replay TV and TiVo there is effective parental control function. TiVo’s parental control function out shines Replay TV, as it automatically reinstalls parental control to an unattended remote for 4 hours.

Macrovision:

The programs of both services pass through Macrovision, a company that creates the technology to protect movies and television content.

Multiple unit support:

You can stream the recorded program on a compatible network unit but this function is not supported on newer models. While user can copy the recorded content from TiVo series 2 units with home media option to another home media option series 2 unit.

Internet access:

MYRepaly TV support web features to all units that use the Replay TV services. User can manipulate there preferences and these preferences are automatically synchronized within 24 hours. Series 2 networking TiVo units can use web services and the lists are synchronized in 2 days.

Broadband support:

Ethernet may be used to connect Replay TV’s new model to internet thus rendering dial up phone connection unnecessary, same holds for series 2 TiVo units but by tweaking older models one can install a TurboNet card but it will void the warranty.

International support:

Thomson TiVo units were employed in England and services are only available for the existing users, TiVo and Replay TV are supported in United States only.

Second audio program (SAP):

This function is supported in TiVo boxes but Replay unit don’t support this feature.

Automatic clock set:

This function is available in Replay TV as well as TiVo unit.

Screen saver:

Replay TV supports screen savers.

Direct access to files:

User cannot access the content directly although by hacking TiVo unit, user can manipulate their wishes. Series 2 TiVo units with networking can remotely play MP3 music files and can display the pictures from network PC.

Dolby Digital 5.1:

Newer model of Replay TV have digital audio output but there is no support for Dolby Digital 5.1 while TiVo doesn’t support Dolby.

Conclusion:

TiVo support various features like networking, international support, inbuilt broadband connection, auto lock parental control functions which differentiate it from its counter part Replay TV.