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To: LindyBill who wrote (17951)	2/14/2000 1:19:00 PM
From: johnb	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 54805

TiVo is a great system. Depending on what you need Sony has it's first unit coming out in April for about $400 which is about $200. less then what is out now. If you have a DirecTV system there will be a system specifically designed for it coming out in May. Many folks are waiting for either of these. I'm waiting for the DirecTV system. First post from a lurker!!! John

To: LindyBill who wrote (17951)	2/14/2000 9:18:00 PM
From: Peter Sherman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 54805

but doesn't TIVO need a phone line??

To: LindyBill who wrote (17951)	2/15/2000 7:30:00 AM
From: NY Stew	Respond to of 54805

LindyBill, After reading about TiVo, I am going to buy the unit this week. This one is a winner, I think. I understand that TV Guide has some money in it, and that GMST is suing them. The TiVo/ReplayTV methodology and much of its core functionality are Gemstar innovations. Time will bear this out IMO. These innovations were in the Gemstar labs years before companies such as TiVo and ReplayTV were even conceived. On another note, I am not happy with TV Guide's most recent earnings report. ******************************************************************** United States Patent 5,701,383 Russo , et al. December 23, 1997 Video time-shifting apparatus Abstract A video time-shifting system characterized in having a continuous recording track accessed by separate, asychronous read and write facilities enables playback of a video program to commence from any point in the program while continuing to be recorded in real time, thus providing VCR-like program control features such as PAUSE/RESUME, REWIND, and FAST FORWARD. A memory is used to store information relating to various points in the program so that even upon receipt of multiple PAUSE commands, the system automatically keeps track of correct program re-entry. In the preferred embodiment, the storage means takes the form of a continuous recording track in a magnetic disk drive. To prevent discontinuities associated with the recording and reproducing of material representative of the video program, the system preferably incorporates a plurality of write heads, each associated with a different recording track, and the system automatically switches from one write head to another so as to effectively link the different recording tracks into a single, continuous recording track. Although program information may be stored in analog form, digital storage is used in the preferred embodiment along with data compression to increase recording capacity. The system preferably further includes a video display generator to output for viewing on the display device visual indicia relating to the program and, additionally, symbols relating to one or more points in the program and/or the time-shifted version thereof. Inventors: Russo; James (Ann Arbor, MI); Levine; Michael R. (Boca Raton, FL) Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Pasadena, CA) Appl. No.: 388345 Filed: February 14, 1995 ******************************************************************* The specific claims should also be studied beyond this simple abstract. Gemstar has not charged infringement on this specific patent at present but of another. The Levine Patents are Gemstar's Crown Jewels and last line of defense. This same layered litigation strategy has been used historically by the company. In the last CC Henry stated that Gemstar believes that TiVo violates "several" of its patents beyond the IPG. Regards Stew