A used TiVo question

[oli]

I noticed in our local paper, in the classifieds section, a TiVo for sale for $200 with 1 year service. I don't know anything about TiVo other than its a high end type recorder. I don't know what this 1 year service is either. We have Direct TV and I figure it will work with that system but thats all I know. My question is this a good deal and would you go for it? If TiVo is such a good piece of equipment why would anybody want to sell it?
Thanks

[ParadigmDawg]

I single box DVR from Direct TV would be much better. The TIVO service is around 14 bucks a month and program updates are a pain in the butt.

BTY I have a TIVO in my attic that you could have for free if you pay shipping.

[Hi Ho]

Tivo is meant to work with cable and it does that best. You would be very limited if you were to attempt to use it with a DirecTV box. The service fee gets you the guide information which is critical unless you want to use it like a VCR (program start, stop, time, manually).

It would be a much better deal to get the DVR from DirecTV.