Feature	ReplayTV	TiVo	VCR
Dolby Digital 5.1	Newer models (4000 and up) have digital audio output, but no Dolby.	No.	Perhaps on digital VCRs.
Automatic clock set	Yes.	Yes.	Some models.
Closed captioning (CC)	Yes, pass-thru from input source.	Yes, pass-thru from input source.	Usually, pass-thru.
Commercial removal/automatic bypass	Series 4000, 4500, and 5000 support Commercial Advance to automatically bypass the majority of commercials. The current 5500 series and older legacy units do not support this, however the 5500s (and 5000s) can manually skip commercials with Show|Nav.	No, but see Navigation/Overshoot correction.	Some models offer automatic fast-forwarding past commercials.
HDTV support	Newer models (4000 and up) have 480P progressive output, but no HDTV.	No.	Only on expensive models.
Parental control	Set lock-outs by channel, TV rating (e.g, TV-14, TV-MA), movie rating (e.g., PG, R), or content rating (e.g., sexual content, violence). Four digit password for overriding a show lockout or changing parental control settings.	Set lock-outs by channel, TV rating (e.g, TV-14, TV-MA), movie rating (e.g., PG, R), or content rating (e.g., sexual content, violence). Four digit password for overriding a show lockout or changing parental control settings. Lockouts may be turned off temporarily, and will relock automatically four hours after last remote control use.	Hide the tapes in optional combination safe
Second audio program (SAP)	No	Yes, global setting	Pass-thru audio from input source
Macrovision	Passes-thru Macrovision, except on newer models (4000 and up) when using the progressive video format.	Passes-thru Macrovision	Most are unable to record Macrovision successfully
International support	US only	US only. Thomson models were previously available in the United Kingdom, but no longer. Apparently existing units are still being supported.	World-wide
Broadband support	4000 series and newer only Ethernet connection may be used to hook up units to the internet, which obviates the need for a dial-up phone connection.	Yes, on Series2 units with a USB to Ethernet adaptor. This allows you to hook up your unit to the internet, which obviates the need for a dial-up phone connection. It's possible to add a TurboNet card to older models, which is not officially supported by TiVo. This will void your warranty.	No
Multiple unit support	With newer models (4000 and up), you can record programs on one unit and watch them "streaming" on a compatible networked unit. All 5000s and 5500s are compatible with each other. As are 4000 and 4500s. You can additionally copy recordings from one networked unit to one other instead of streaming, but this is not supported by 5500 series units.	1. You may copy recordings from one networked Series2 unit with Home Media Option (HMO) to another HMO Series2 unit. You can start watching before the show has finished copying. 2. On any TiVo, remotes may be configured to address a specific unit, however Series2 and AT&T Broadband remotes have a DVR switch right on the remote for this.	Different model remotes will usually work without conflicts. Tapes are exchangable among all VCRs.
Web access	MyReplayTV provides web interface to all units that use the ReplayTV service. You can search television listings, manipulate your replay channels and recordings, and schedule new recordings over the internet. It's pretty full-functional, and any changes you make will be synchronized with your unit within 24 hours.	Networked Series2 units with Home Media Option enabled can instruct their TiVo to record shows over a web interface. It's not as functionally useful as the ReplayTV counterpart, but any changes you make will be synchronized with your unit within 2 hours.	Not that I know of
Direct access to files on the unit	No, but you can send (photo) images to newer models (4000 and up) and create a picture slideshow on your television.	No, but with Home Media Option enabled on a Series2 unit you can remotely play MP3s and display photographs stored on a networked PC or Mac.	Well sorta, it's a video tape.
Screen saver	Yes.	No.	Some.