said by r81984 :

Why wouldn't these companies just make their own DVRs?
Tivo sucks and likes to pretend they invented the DVR, but everyone knows they did not.

The Echo Star case was about this: "TiVo's patent for "Time Warp" software, which allows users to record one TV program while watching another." (this patent was from 2001, way after people have already been doing what the patent claims)
I do not see how you can patent such a broad thing like this when computer software and hardware has been doing this before Tivo was invented. Also, I am sure there are 1000 of ways to accomplish this task so if Tivo patented one why not just use one of the other 999 ways?

If this patent is continued to be viewed as valid then Tivo owns the rights to all DVRs, even the ones that existed before Tivo got their patent in 2001. It just does not make sense.

said by Neyland :

I have a Tivo and really HATE not having the current tuned channel in a window while I look at settings, recorded content, etc.

said by curtis33 :

"You can have a DVR. Just not one that lets you record one show while watching another. In other words, you can single tuner your DVR action all you want. Just don't try to watch while recording."

Most DVRs can't display a direct picture. Everything you see comes off the hard drive. That's how you can pause and rewind the live picture. In other words, there is always recording going on even if you are just watching a "live" picture.