Ignoring the common features and focusing on their distinct ones, this is what I’ve come up with for differences:
TiVo has:
[list=1][li]stuff that will go out and find other programs based on your indicated favorites[/li][li]Season Pass programming that will search out and record your programs no matter when they are on, even if they get bumped to another channel at 3 in the morning[/list=1] ReplayTV has:[list=1]the ability to play recorded programs on other units connected throughout your house[/li][li]the ability to send programs to other users over the 'net[/li][li]existing ethernet and USB connections[/li][li]the ability to set program recording over the 'net (remote scheduling)[/list=1] Many of the features the Replay has standard, TiVo will have soon by way of their Home Media Option, but that’s a feature you will have to pay for/buy, and that’s only on Series2; Series1 can do some of this stuff if you buy and install a TurboNet card and do some hacking.[/li]
For me, the Season Pass feature of TiVo is appealing, but the included ethernet features of the Replay are, too.
TIVO seems to have a better user interface IMHO and a better support community for problems and upgrades.
Sending programs over the net sounds cool maybe…but TechTV did a comparison and said it would take many hours/days to send a typical program over the net at best quality.
One big thing missing would be the Replay TV feature that automatically removes all the ad’s from a TV show.
It got them sued by many media companies, so maybe they are no longer doing this?
Also: Why is it a bad thing to take hours/days to send a typical TV program over the net at best quality? I can wait. If my friend records a great show and wants me to see it he can send it through, and I will watch it tomorrow if I have to.
My most important question is: Can you use the networking features of Replay TV to save shows to your PC’s hard drive? I have asked this in several of these TVR threads and never gotten an answer.