TiVo

We had nothing better to do last weekend so we went out and bought a TiVo unit. Two things immediately went through my head as I was setting it up.

1. My television viewing has finally entered the twenty-first century. Hooray.

2. WTF? I need a phone line to set this junk up?

TiVo needs a way to update its software and download the data it needs for you to record your programs. It can use an internet connection which is how I planned to use it or a phone line. I happened to have a wireless network adapter which worked with the system and can connect to my network at home which would have worked out fine except for some reason TiVo needs a phone line for its initial setup. This is a bit of a problem if you are like me and don't have a phone line. Ms. Cynical travels often for work so a cell is essential and I just find a cellphone much more convenient so we have never had the need for a landline. I went to TiVo's website quite sure that there was a workaround for this setback and found out that if you don't have a phone line, TiVo suggests that you take the box to a place that does for the initial setup. Sigh.

Off I went to my uncle's house with my TiVo unit underneath one arm.

"The wave of the future!", I boasted to him as I unveiled the TiVo.

"Still dependent on 19th century technology," he observed as I plugged the unit into his phonejack.

Ouch.