Since there's no tape to rewind, digital recording doesn't have this limitation. With a VCR, you have to wait for a program to finish recording before you can start watching it. Perhaps the most important benefit of DVRs is the unprecedented control over playback. You could set your DVR to record a specific show from halfway across the world with just a few clicks of your mouse. You can incorporate some DVRs into your home network, which can allow you to access your system remotely. More recording time on a DVR involves buying a new unit. Getting more recording time is easy with a VCR - just buy another box of blank tapes. There are Web sites that offer instructions on how to open a DVR and add a new hard drive, but beware - this will definitely void your warranty. Because the media is hard-wired into the machine, adding additional storage space is not possible. This is obviously a plus if you never seem to be able to find a blank tape when it's time to record something, but it can also be a drawback. In a DVR, the media and tool are one and the same. With a VCR, the device itself is merely a recording tool the blank cassette is the media.

While the system might seem pretty ho-hum on first analysis, the digital storage of television signals opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to playback and viewing. The operating system resides on the hard disk, along with the recording space, a buffer for live broadcasts, and in some cases a space for future expansion. The device is driven by a customized operating system - for instance, in the case of TiVo, the machine runs on a highly modified Linux installation. On a few systems, you can even record two programs while watching a third pre-recorded show. Some systems use dual tuners, allowing users to record different programs on different channels at the same time.

Can you buy a dvr player