So you think everybody you know has either cable or satellite? Ask your mother, or ask a college student -- they'll tell you that a surprising number of people aren't plugged into the cable channels, and with the 20-something crowd downloading their entertainment over the internet, cable TV just isn't a priority.

Enter the EchoStar TR-50, a device for those who can't justify the cost of cable or satellite, but who want to watch broadcast news and entertainment at the time of their choosing, and on their own terms (ie. without commercial interruption).  The EchoStar is a full HD DVR with component and HDMI out, and it can record analog, digital, and hidef television signals, and unlike TiVo, there is no fee for the programming guide.

One of the most valuable features of the TR-50 is the ability to add an external hard drive for added capacity, meaning that you aren't limited to the 7-12 hours of recording space that many HD DVRs have.  Instead, by adding any USB hard drive, you could theoretically record and keep hundreds of hours of television to watch whenever you want.

The TR-50, even though it is designed for the "lower-end" broadcast crowd, has many advanced features not found on most cable or satellite DVRs, including one-button 10-second rewind for live TV, dual tuners so you can record two programs while watching a third recorded source, and an ethernet port capable of accessing any additional downloaded content from the internet in a variety of formats, including MPG-4.