Record TV in style with a refurbished TiVo HD, $179.99 shipped
TiVo is offering refurb HD units for cheap, though you'll still have to pay for the TiVo service.
Few people would disagree that TiVo is the ultimate DVR. Here's your chance to scoop up a TiVo HD for just $179.99 shipped (plus service). These are refurbished units, but TiVo gives you the same 30-day money-back guarantee and warranty (one year for parts, 90 days for labor) that they provide with new models. Score!
In case you're unfamiliar with this particular model, it offers up to 20 hours of high-def recording, a pair of HD tuners, and a boatload of cool networking features (like movie downloads from Amazon Unbox and music from Rhapsody). The bummer, of course, is that you have to pay an extra fee for service: $12.95 monthly, $129 annually, or $399 lifetime. Bleh. That's the only thing that's kept TiVo out of Cheapskate Manor.
Still, at least the hardware's cheap: A new TiVo HD would run you $299.99. For more info on this beloved DVR, check out the above video as well as CNET's extensive hands-on review. Thankfully, you don't have to deal with any rebates, but you should probably act quickly if you're interested: I don't expect these will last long.