im a bit late on the thread and marv has answered all your questions but here's another vote to tivo vs htpc

before i got my tivo i was also looking at a htpc. here's why i chose tivo ( and am so thankful that i did )

tivo has electronic program guide. htpc doesn't. navigate it to select which shows you want to record. kind of like foxtel digital tv guide but imagine a button that says record this show ( no programming times etc. ) this also allows you use season passes where tivo will record all episodes of a show you like regardless of what time they are on!!

i couldn't find a decent htpc tuner card for foxtel digital ( that has a CAM for your legit foxtel card and also decodes the NDS encryption )

htpc was a lot more expensive

my fiance understands how to use tivo, i think a htpc is too steep a curve when it comes to navigating menus and actually doing things.

if you want files stored on a pc in your living room, you could get one of these ( plus a tivo ) and you'd still be ahead!

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPa...1&Langue_ID=10