Finally, an HD-DVR With Real MOXI [High-Definition, Digital Video Recorder]

Like many life-changing technologies (i.e. heart transplant surgery, the Internet, the wheel) TIVO has changed the way people deal with TV. Talk about empowering the masses. You don’t have to sit through commercials. You can watch your shows when you want to and you can even record in high-definition. Like we need more reason to keep our asses rooted to the couch. Now you have an option that gives you all the features of the best digital video recorder coupled with seamless multimedia integration and Internet compatibility. Oh yeah, and no monthly fees.

The technology tinkerers at digeo have just released what some are calling the next step-change in DVR technology, the MOXI HD DVR. Actually, they are so impressed with themselves that they are touting it as “The World’s Best DVR”. Now that takes some balls. But does this new kid on the DVR block live up to the hype? Take a look at some of the features and judge for yourself:

• No monthly fees
• An HD user interface that actually won several Emmy awards (because that’s important)
• Internet connectivity for integration with Rhapsody, Flickr and Hulu, and Netflix
• Automatic, free software upgrades
• Automatic HD channel filtering
• Automatic channel memory
• Smart remote scheduling that alerts you of potential recording conflicts
• SuperTicker widget bar that allows you to scroll news, stocks, and sports across the bottom of the screen

You have to give them some credit. They came big on this one and are prepared to hit TIVO where it hurts…the wallet. With no monthly fees and a true HD interface, this just may be a viable contender. It even seems to have the goods to integrate into your online experience, a big gap for the TIVO folks. There is one little hitch, though; satellite owners, you are SOL. The MOXI is only compatible with cable programming delivered via coaxial cable.

You can get your hands on one of these super-stuffed black boxes at www.moxi.com for $799. Seems like a hefty chunk, but according to the math on their site, you can potentially save about $400 over the lifetime of the DVR. They will even let you pay it off in monthly installments of $39.95. That works out to 20 months, just in case you were counting. Saving money and an Emmy-award winning HD UI? There was much rejoicing.