I've never actually owned a Tivo, so I can't say exactly what the differences are. But if you aren't familiar with either, I would just stick with what you can get from Verizon. Functionally, I don't think there's much difference between them anymore, and I don't think the costs are going to be that different either. I have FIOS as well, and I've been using their multi-room DVR with no issues.

So is there any box you can just buy for a one-time fee and record stuff yourself...sort of like the good old VCR? I do love my Fios DVR, but hate paying so much for it every single month.

follow up question from truly the last family without one!

Basic answer to what's the difference between the two? Cutting it close, but thinking maybe we want to try and get one NOW to record and watch some of our favorite Olympic events that likely won't be prime time.

Which is preferable and why in terms of usability, quality, cost?

We have FIOS as well.

We had a Verizon HD box with DVR with FIOS and needed to upgrade with a second HD box for a new tv. We did the math and found out it's a wash after a couple years to do get 2 Tivos with lifetime subscription + cable card rental instead of HD box+DVR rental every month. So, we traded in our DVR and went with the 2 Tivos instead. We're a year and a half in and haven't looked back.

the equipment they have been giving out lately is lousy. We had a DVR that worked perfectly at our old place from them, and they told me that I couldn't use that when we moved to our new place - they wouldn't install it. We're on our second buggy multi-room DVR (although the current one worksslightly better than the first) and the extra boxes are no longer communicating with it, which defeats the purpose of the multi-room DVR. I'm thinking of just hooking up our old one and not telling them (we never returned it!)

I think the Verizon one is good now. Tivo is expensive (Tivo + subscription + 2 cablecard rentals!) and I think the advantages of Tivo are diminishing.

Plus the new Verizon ones allow you to add your own hard drive if you want more space, and for an extra fee you can watch recorded shows on your other non-DVR units around the house.

you can use a tivo and get cable cards from verizon. Tivo's interface is much nicer but if you've never had it you probably will be happy with the verizon one. You can probably get the verizion one on month to month basis to try it out.

Don't you have to get the DVR box through Verizon? We have the whole house DVR that we rent from Verizo and love that you can watch and program shows from any tv in the house.

DH wants a DVR for his b-day and I'm not sure if I should get TiVo or rent the DVR box through Verizon. He wants it mainly for sports. We must be the last household to get one so I feel totally out of the know!

Thanks for any suggestions.