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Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

Television on Your Schedule with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
by: Becky Jacobs

The introduction of the VCR changed so much for the television viewer. Before the introduction of the VCR, you had to watch the show when it was broadcast by the network – that was your only option. If you recorded your favorite show, you were able to watch it when you wanted to – and as many times as you wanted to. All you needed was a blank video tape and a VCR. That has all changed with the DVR.

A DVR, or Digital Video Recorder, is technology that takes all the great features of a VCR and places it in the digital age. Instead of multiple tapes, you have a single hard drive. Instead of degrading tape quality issues, shows are now recorded digitally that can last forever. Instead of programming a VCR through a complicated interface of tiny buttons on a remote control, you can program your DVR through a simple point and click interface, possibly even from your home computer.

In addition to the ability to watch your shows whenever you want to, there is another benefit to the DVR that most people only mention quietly – the ability to quickly forward through your commercials. With everything being digital, a 30 second skip can be done with the click of a button. Imagine getting back 10 minutes of your life back for every hour of television your watch!

DVRs come in many shapes and sizes. There are set-top boxes that go right on your television set. They don’t require any other products to work. Some brand names of these options include Tivo and ReplayTV. Many satellite companies (and digital cable companies) such as Dish Network and Direct TV have options as well. Microsoft Windows Media Center is an option for Windows users. There are also options for the Mac and/or Linux user.

Once you have a DVR record your shows, you can watch them whenever you want. Some systems even let you transfer the content to a DVD or your laptop.

The Digital Video Recorder (DVR) changes everything for the television viewer. I hope you can join the revolution.

About The Author Copyright AKDVR.com Becky Jacobs has been a fan of the DVR since she realized it would let her watch Seinfeld whenever she wanted to. Her site, http://www.AKDVR.com, is quickly becoming a hub for all things DVR.

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European Cruise

European Cruise - Not All Barges Are the Same!
by: Colin Hartness

What image comes to mind when you hear the word barge? Most likely, an American will visualize a long low-slung cargo vessel situated on a river or the Great Lakes, dirty and loaded with coal or iron ore. The idea of a barge cruise may be reminiscent of an old black and white movie where the hero leaves home at a young age on a cheap tramp steamer to seek his fortune in the great world beyond. Or a barge cruise might bring to mind long-haired hippies of the 1960’s traveling through Europe on $3 a day. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The only resemblance between an American cargo barge and a European cruising barge is the long low-slung shape and overall proportions. A European cruising barge is, in reality, an exclusive and elegant means of travel. These barges are also called floating hotels due to the preponderance of amenities and staff.

Forget the thought of a tiny pigeon-hole stateroom just above the waterline of a 2,000 passenger cruise ship. All staterooms in a floating hotel are spacious and well-appointed, more like suites that you find on a cruise ship. Staterooms typically feature twin beds and a private bath. On luxury barge cruises, you will find even larger cabins and modern conveniences such as TV, jacuzzi, and computer hook-up. You have all the amenities of home, including air conditioning, carpeting, a commons area, a dining area and, of course, a bar.

The European barge cruise is an intimate and personal experience as barges typically accommodate as few as 4 people up to as many as 24. Each barge is staffed with a personal chef who prepares gourmet meals from locally purchased ingredients to please guests as well as a captain who pilots the vessel and stateroom staff. A cruise with 6 people can be served by as many as 4 staff members.

Barge cruises are available on most of the rivers and canals in Europe. You can experience up-close the beauty and cultural sites of Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, or Scotland. The pace of a barge cruise is leisurely. The itinerary includes stopping at historic and cultural places of interest along the cruising route. You can sightsee on foot or on bicycles that are available onboard. On barge cruise operator even provides an air-conditioned touring bus to takes passengers to local points of interest at each stop along the way. What a change of pace from the hotel hopping of a bus trip! Just depart from the barge in the morning, enjoy a day of sightseeing and return to the quiet of a private dining room where a gourmet meal is waiting.

The price of a European barge cruise, like all other cruises, varies based upon the cruise line, the accommodations selected, the area visited, and the season (high or low). However, a quiet and personal barge cruise can be had for a price competitive with a Caribbean cruise, without airfare of course. The barge cruise price usually includes accommodations, 3 meals a day, beverage service that includes wines and spirits, and pre-arranged sightseeing tours. And these barge cruises cater to the American tourist by providing English speaking crew members.

About The Author Colin Hartness Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com 'What Cruises' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises! Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

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replay tv manual net connect

I don't have a phone outlet near my replay tv, so I don't have my replaytv connected to the phone line - which means that it cannot perform an automatic net connect each night.

In order to keep my replay tv up to date with all of the channel info, I have to connect a long phone line to my replay tv and do a manual net connect. To do a net connect manually, I punch in the code 243 zone on my replay tv remote, and then choose the Net Connect option.

I only have to do a Net Connect once per week, so it's not a problem.

webtv usability

I don't have the stats on how many webtv units have been sold or are in use, but I would be interested to learn the demographics of webtv users.

I found an old review written in 1997.