Also, a reminder to anyone who plans to use the HVR-950 with over-the-air television: those familiar analog channels we’ve all grown up with–numbers like 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.–all go away in precisely two years. That’s when stations will have to hand in their licenses for analog frequencies and broadcast only on their newer digital channels.

One final note: for many of us a device like the Slingbox, which allows us to watch the output of the cable or satellite box in our homes no matter where in the world we may be, makes a lot more sense. All you need on the other end is a laptop or PDA and a broadband internet connection.