Without TiVo service ($12.95 monthly or $299 lifetime) your TiVo is useless, it will become a fancy door stop. If you can find a DVR which offers TiVo Basic then you would have (partial) TiVo functionality with NO MONTHLY OR LIFETIME FEES! Of course there is a catch, these are very hard to find. Search Google, eBay, Amazon.com, and PriceGrabber.com for Toshiba SD-H400. Some Best Buy stores have this model on clearance for $199 or less. Mine had a few open box for $150 and NO REBATES or TIVO FEES! Here is a nice review of the Toshiba SD-H400. PVR and DVR are basically the same thing, P = personal and D = digital. A PVR card is basically a TV tuner card for your computer (internal or external) and PVR software. The benefits of a PVR card are NO FEES and more flexibility. Since the TV shows are already on your PC you can stream them or burn them directly to DVD. PVR cards range from $59 - $150 and good PVR software is around $50. TV tuner card deals http://www.gottadeal.com/Deals/Category/tvtuners