[Dean]

I would skip the Tivo, and if you want a DVR, go with some flavor of HTPC and possibly the Hauppauge HD PVR Model 1212 if you want to capture encrypted HD in a non-proprietary format.

I just dumped my non-HD Tivoesque ReplayTV I had used for years in favor of the HTPC route with a Pinnacle ClearQAM USB HD tuner on Charter. I don't get any of the encrypted channels with it, but works great otherwise. Actually since most everything broadcast is available for streaming on-line, I find myself watching that way more than PVRing. A long range wireless keyboard/trackpad is a must IMHO along with a multi-media remote.

And to return to the PC topic, I would not buy anything less than a 2ghz dual core preferably with Blu-Ray if you want to use it for a HTPC. You need that much horsepower to playback 720p/1080i-p h.264 and AC3/DTS audio.