I have had both a comcast DVR and a TIVO. The user interface for the TIVO is so incredibly simple, user friendly and visualy nice. I can't say how nice it is. For those that had trouble programing a VCR, it can't get any simpler than this. The hardware was nice as well. I signed up for Comcast and they offered their DVR to me for free. First off, the hardware was horrible. It was so loud (DVR run constantly) even the tech said not to install it in the bedroom. Then the interface was not simple to understand, you had to read the instructions, my was not able to do it herself...Long story short, we had them remove it. I would rather pay the $12 a month than have a free DVR from comcast. Really, you should just buy one of their machines at bestbuy, pay the monthly and then hook it up to broadband. You will be able to download items from internet, e.g. cnet, also get your pictures and movies from your computer to your TV. It is just worth it.