So many channels and so much content. Searching for and managing show recordings is a key PVR element and ReplayTV does it well. But we think it could do better. Like a TiVo, searching for content on the ReplayTV can be done in three ways: You can "type" in a specific keyword, search by genre, or simply browse the channel guide.

One feature we appreciate most about TiVo is typing that predicts a title when only a few letters are entered, which makes searching for content a breeze (and more of an adventure). ReplayTV lacks this ability but Sonicblue informed us that it is working on it.

Like all PVRs, ReplayTV will pause, rewind, and fast forward through recorded content. Keeping track of where you are in any given show is done through a time code display in the upper right corner of the screen. While on-screen display preferences can be a very personal thing, we prefer the TiVo interface's sliding recording bar.

Show management

Managing dozens of shows is never an easy proposition. The ReplayTV 5000 allows you to save up to 99 episodes of your favorite show but doesn't come close to TiVo's "Season Pass" functionality. The TiVo Series2 box allows users to automatically record all shows, ignoring repeats, or prioritize both repeats and first-run episodes. This is a major drawback if your show is syndicated over multiple channels. Without a lot of handholding, you will load up your ReplayTV drive with unneeded repeats in a hurry.