I'm hooked on PVR's ("Personal Video Recorder" or something). Ya know, like Tivo and such, but basically the term refers more to computers converted for use as a recording device and media-watching thing.

I set up a system a while back, mainly to record the Tour de France for my brother who couldn't watch it, but now I'm completely hooked! I have been totally sick of using VHS and I didn't want to pay for a TIVO and the subsequent service costs. Enter "PVR" and the wonderful world of roll-your-own TV recording device stuff. I have a setup on my main computer where shows are recorded using a freely-downloaded schedule. I set up "record all episodes" and stop worrying about which show I forgot to watch... I think these things will absolutely change the way you watch TV.

Here's the best place I found talking about the subject. BYOPVR.com (Build Your Own PVR) It helped me a ton when I got started, and my friend Gloobert just buzzed through there and came out the other side with a spanky-new PVR setup. (actually, something's wrong with that site now.. bummer! Google's got the cache from what it used to be.. hopefully it comes back soon.)

This is really cool stuff. Of course, you'll really want to start shopping for cheap hard drives, as those tele shows suck up the bytes somethin' fierce.

More links:
Free PVR program: GB-PVR
Popular PVR program for Linux: MythTV