There are several options when choosing a DVR. To give a quick summary, you can:

1. Lease one from your cable company
2. Purchase one from a third party, like TiVo
3. Use a Windows Media Center capable PC
4. Build your own using out of a computer using a DVR software package
5. Use an external PC recording device.

There are ups and downs to all these options. I'd probably strike numbers 3 and 4 if you're not technically inclined, using PCs for DVR functionality isn't always user friendly and can oftentimes be challenging to use. If you do go the PC route, any properly equipped PC running Windows Media Center or Windows Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate can perform DVR tasks for basic cable. There's a catch though, which I'll explain in a minute.

The easiest solution is to lease one. $15.98 a month is a touch high, but that's probably for a dual-tuner high def model. Perhaps they offer a more basic DVR for a little less per month. The nice part about leasing one is that it will be able to record all your channels (nice if you have a digital package) and if it fails due to a non-user related issue (meaning not your fault) then the cable company will replace it free of charge.

Buying a third-party solution, like a TiVo, may seem more cost effective, but with TiVo there are service fees as well. You can buy a lifetime subscription, but it would take many years to recoup the costs. If it lasts you 5 years, you may break even or get ahead of the game, but if it breaks before hand, you're out and you'll need to buy another one. A TiVo will work with basic cable, but as the digital transition continues, there's no guarantee your cable provider will offer basic analog cable service forever. If that happens, you may need to get a cable box, which will cost you monthly. The upside is that TiVo offers easier use and more functionality than provider options.

The Toshiba 610 isn't really a DVR. It will work much more like a VCR, meaning there won't be service charges, but you won't get a nice channel guide that makes recording shows simple. Instead, you're faced with a timer based VCR style interface. Nowhere near as simple, plus dealing with recordable blanks can be a real pain.

There are PC peripherals, like Elgato's EyeTV for example, that let you record shows to your computer, but you'll need some kind of digital media receiver to view them on your television. Again, if you're less "geeky" this will be complicated and less user friendly.

For you, I'd look a little harder at the provider option. That way, you can try it out for a few months and see if you like it. If not, you can always send it back to the cable company, and you're only out a few months of service. Buying a DVR commits you, and you can't return a lifetime service fee from TiVo.

For saving money,  a pc-based system should be better for you.

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