replayTV has announced a version of their DVR for Windows. users can download the software (30 days free trial) and use it on their PCs to watch and record TV shows. buying the software will cost $100 for a year and will include the EPG (electronic programming guide).

what i don't understand is why do they even bother. Microsoft Media Center PC is offering the same functionality for free, and if you want an even better experience you can download one of the open-source versions. i think MediaPortal is the best choice.

replay has lost its battle with TiVO, which lost its battle with the cable/sattelite companies (ala EchoStar and DirectTV). these companies need to re-invent themselves, but offering a PC DVR is probably too little, too late for these guys.

a better direction (which i believe TiVO is pursuing) is the internet, rather than try to bring the TV content to the PC, how about making it simpler to consume internet video on the TV? and i don't mean just bringing YouTube stuff, there are video blogs and there is also a lot of professionaly produced video content that just does not make it to the cable channels and/or video-on-demand catalog.