I've been quietly fishing around for Tivo alternatives and have settled on the Topfield TF7100. From a pure hardware point of view it exceeds the Tivo and matches the price. It doesn't have as many online abilities, but I specifically don't want them.

Tivo must be constantly online, while for the Topfield, online is optional.

Topfield use IceTV for the electronic program guide and the week's guide may be downloaded or copied onto the machine weekly via USB key. Or not used at all. There isn't much wrong with the standard digital EPG if you're happy to only see yesterday, today and tomorrow. Tivo ignores the standard digital EPG.

Topfield had a few issues when it first came out, but recent firmware upgrades have fixed all of those problems.

I particularly like that the Topfield has a USB connection to allow you to upgrade it's hard drive space with a standard external USB drive.

I've found it very interesting that straight PVRs without DVD writers aren't selling all that well. I'm told (by sales people) that Joe and Jane public want the DVD burner. They don't see the point in taping TV if you can't keep it.

Personally, I'm perfectly happy to record to watch once and delete.

New water limits [The Age]:

Melburnians will be asked to limit water use to 155 litres a day per person under tough new water savings measures announced this morning by Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding.

We use about 220 litres per day according to our water bill. 110 litres each. At our worst (before we started our trivial water savings) we used 300, still below the limit above.