Some say the wheel. Others say sliced bread. As for me, I think the greatest invention mankind has ever created is the digital video recorder, or as you may call it, a DVR.

My guess is you probably already know and love your own digital video recorder. I do not blame you. After all, being able to record your favorite shows and then watch them on your schedule as opposed to the network’s schedule is reason alone to own a digital video recorder.

Being able to fast-forward through the commercials is pretty cool too. I cannot tell you how many times my digital video recorder has saved my sanity based on that ability alone. It really is amazing how much quicker it is to watch a show when you do not have to deal with commercials.

But where my digital video recorder has really proved its mettle is in sports. I am a big sports fan and watch quite a bit of it. The problem I have found is that as my life has gotten busier, my time has gotten more restricted. The fact is, I rarely have time to sit down and watch a complete football game, hockey game or NASCAR race. My digital video recorder has allowed me to fast-forward through the pre-race or pre-game activities and get right to the good stuff. More than that, the digital video recorder allows me to move ahead if things are going to slow or if the game is not quite going the way I want. Call me a fair-weather fan if you want, I bet you do the same thing with your digital video recorder.

Another reason I like the digital video recorder is because the thing automatically records my favorite shows. How many of us remember having to set up a recording on our VCRs? Remember how hard it was to keep track of what was on which tape? How many times did you record over something? The digital video recorder has made such nuisances a thing of the past.

If you do not own a digital video recorder, you do not know what you are missing. Or maybe, now that you have read this article, you do. If you are thinking that a digital video recorder is something you cannot live without, call your cable or satellite TV provider and ask them how much it costs to upgrade. They will be able to tell you how much a digital video recorder costs to rent and how much it costs to subscribe to the package. If you do not want to deal with renting a box, visit your electronics store and look at Tivo®. They are the guys that pretty much started the digital video recorder revolution. You should be able to find a pretty good deal.