I've used remote scheduling a couple of times. They send you an email confirming that the request was received at TiVo HQ, and then another when your TiVo has been programmed. It never takes more than a hour or so, just like the newsletter says. It is so very cool.

I use it all the time -- but I don't get the confirmation e-mails at an address I can check remotely, so I'd never noticed the time stamps.

Well, I didn't. I've now given my tivo its own e-mail address.

Shopping for the wireless card has been a pain. I should have just bitten the bullet and gotten it online. In fact, I'm going to go look for one now.

It never takes more than a hour or so, just like the newsletter says. It is so very cool.

That's been my experience, but it's nice to have it confirmed. I never knew if I was just lucky, or if it really was checking in that often. But now I know my Tivo really cares about meeting my television scheduling needs. It's very comforting.

HI!! Techno dingbat requesting opinions!

DirectTV or Dish Netowrk? What you like, what you don't, or should I just keep my expensive, poor customer service, craptastic digital cable?

My employer is in the process of getting ready to sell off a JVC CD 200-count network "Jukebox" they decided didn't really suit their needs.

I guess it's a 600-count. JVC model MC-2600.

[link]

I have DirecTv and I've been relatively pleased with them. Customer service has the potential to suck, but doesn't always. Someone came in (from Albuquerque!) to do my installation, so it was completely painless. The only time I've had problems with reception was when my dish was literally filled with snow. I picked up the DirecTivo version recently and, of course, love that. Could have done with more space, though, so I probably would have bought the HD version if I had it to do again. Menu's good, selection's good. They just dropped Trio, which sucks, but not sure about their future anyway. We're out in the middle of nowhere, so we get NY/LA locals, instead of ABQ. On the whole, we like them.

ION, I'm about to buy a replacement laptop for the office. Our HP/Compaq crapass laptop is about to croak. I've learned my lesson and will be buying probably either Toshiba or Sony. Aiming for the best refurb I can find around $800. Any recommendations?

Also, what exactly is Centrino, and why are laptops with half the processor speed twice the price? I was an AMD girl, so I haven't been paying attention.

Shopping for the wireless card has been a pain. I should have just bitten the bullet and gotten it online. In fact, I'm going to go look for one now.

ita, did you ever find anything? I'm curious because I got a Tivo yesterday and the phone jack is nowhere near the TV.

I got this, Stephanie, from off this list. Shipped annoying quickly too, since I forgot my mail stop on the address, and emailed customer service right away and it was too late.

Also, what exactly is Centrino, and why are laptops with half the processor speed twice the price? I was an AMD girl, so I haven't been paying attention.

Centrino is an Intel marketing term for the combination of a Pentium-M and their wireless chip. If you don't care about having an Intel wireless chip, a "plain" Pentium-M based laptop would be just as good.

As for processor speed, the Pentium-M is more efficient (does more work, consumes less power) than any other Intel Pentium.

I'm curious because I got a Tivo yesterday and the phone jack is nowhere near the TV.

I got the DWL-120 wireless card from newegg. More expensive than ita's ($35) but I can confirm that it works great -- it gets a really strong signal. Unfortunately, newegg doesn't have it anymore. Just a refurbished version for $30 which I wouldn't recommend (too risky).