Similar to the in-depth menus available from DSS-based satellite content providers, the ReplayTV 2020's channel guide makes old world channel surfing a memory of the past. Instead of an endless changing of channels looking for an interesting show, the channel guide offers an accurate TV listing that's easily manipulated. Best of all, the channel guide allows for instant recording setup thanks to a directional pad on the 2020's remote control.
Just scroll on over to the show you want to record, select it, choose the type of recording quality, and hit enter. All done. It's a joy to use, far easier and more accurate than any VCR-based system we've ever seen. The net result is that we found ourselves recording much more content each week than with our normal VCRs, particularly from channels like The Discovery Channel and The History Channel (which we might normally not watch due to the appeal of the pure comedy sitcoms network TV serves up each night).
Thanks to the detailed and accurate channel guide, the foundation of "Replay Zones" can be easily setup, which allow the user to custom tailor their viewing and recording habits towards only their favorite shows. We added many shows to our own custom Replay Zone, it's almost too easy to do so as it takes literally two key presses on the 2020's remote control to add a show that you're currently watching to your own Zone permanently. After a show is added, you can tell the 2020 to always record the shows in your Zone, never missing one, each week.
The channel guide accepts the need to search for particular shows via a simulated on-screen keyboard that is manipulated by the universal remote control's directional pad. It's a little slow, we'd much prefer the option of adding a PC keyboard for this purpose, but once a show's name is input into the search engine, the guide responds quickly and locates all of the viewing times of that show for the week. As you're probably noticing already, the channel guide is a revolution unto itself, it's virtually impossible to go back to your old "TV Guide" or other print listing after using it.
Unlike the main ReplayTV competitor Philips/Tivo system, ReplayTV Inc. doesn't charge monthly fees for the channel guide, which we like. Tivo knocks users for $10 a month, or a one time $200 fee for access to their own similar channel guide. It's refreshing to see ReplayTV's policy of offering the depth of their channel guide to users as just another one of the many benefits of purchasing one of their digital recorders.