HD

• If you’ve got an HDTV and want to watch HD DirecTV programming, your decision is going to be an easy one. Since TiVo doesn’t offer a compatible HD DVR, you’ll have to go with a DirecTV HD DVR. If you’re willing to wait until the TiVo HD DVR from DirecTV is released, it will feature TiVo WishList, TiVo Integrated Search and DirecTV Cinema, according to the DirecTV website. Although its development has been delayed for several years, the DirecTV website states that they are “optimistic” their TiVo HD DVR will be released sometime in 2011.
  
  

Dual Tuning

• For DirecTV subscribers, the DirecTV SD DVR receiver wins against all TiVo SD DVRs, except the old R10, for the simple fact that you can’t record or watch two shows at a time with the TiVo models. Only the discontinued DirecTV/TiVo DVR receiver and current DirecTV-only DVR receivers have the ability to dual tune with a DirecTV signal.
  
  

Capacity

• An original TiVo/DirecTV R10 device features up to 70 hours of recording time, while the current DirecTV SD DVR – model R22 – holds up to 100 hours of content, or 200 hours with a compatible 1TB external hard drive. However, you can buy refurbished R10s that have been modified to hold up to 650 hours of storage.
  
  

MPEG4 Decoding

• Although DirecTV still transmits its SD channels in MPEG2 format, many local stations have switched to the MPEG4 format for their SD transmissions. Unfortunately, the DirecTV/TiVo R10 DVR only has the ability to translate MPEG2 signals. To watch and record most local SD channels, you’ll have to get a DirecTV R22, which features an MPEG4 decoder.
  
  

Interface

• The biggest advantage to going with an old R10 DVR is the fact that it uses the highly-praised TiVo user interface. In 2005, CNET called the TiVo interface, “the best graphical user interface we've seen to date.” Only the R10 allows DirecTV SD subscribers to use the intuitive TiVo features, such as WishList and Season Pass. However, with the R22, DirecTV has added a feature similar to Season Pass, called Series Link, as well as the ability to set the DVR from a computer or smart phone.
  
  

Ownership

• In 2006, DirecTV moved to a primarily lease-only business model for its equipment. You can still purchase a new DirecTV DVR outright if you ask for it. However, DirecTV does not post prices, and, according to their website, “equipment costs … can be sizable." For about the same price as the down payment on a leased R22, you can buy an R10 DVR.