Yep, even if your TV handles NTSC.

Without the OZTivo image being loaded, the TiVO will be expecting an NTSC signal via the A/V jacks on the back. The OzTiVo image changes this so that the TiVo knows to expect PAL format.

It should run fine as a 'dumb recorder' with the OzTiVo image loaded. But you will still need to have the A/V set up (and probably at least one channel so the TiVo has a channel to record).

It's easy to pick up.. Trial and error mate. I have no linux experience myself but have my TiVos humming along pretty nicely.