The cost of convenience: Sampling of services

Services that allow viewers to watch TV at their convenience and not based on the networks' scheduling come with a price. Here's a rundown of the most popular avenues:
iTunes: More than 200 shows available for 1.99 an episode; 34.99 season passes are available for several shows, including ABC's "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost," but a season pass for NBC's "Heroes," at 42.99, will cost as much as waiting to buy the season DVD. Still, tucking an entire season into your pocket holds a lot of appeal. 30-gigabyte video iPod: 249; 80-gigabyte video iPod: 349. iTunes software, free. www.apple.com/itunes.Digital cable plus DVR (through your local cable operator; monthly price varies depending on location).TiVo (device plus service): Device fees: Free, 30 and 130, depending on storage capacity of the device. A one-year service plan costs 224 (or 19.95 a month); two-year plans cost 369 (or 18.95 a month); three-year plans with a limited-time "one year free" offer cost 369 (or 16.95 a month). Plus cost of cable or satellite service. www.tivo.com.ReplayTV: Price includes device and service fee: 12.95 a month or 299.99 for the lifetime of the unit. Plus cost of cable or satellite service. www.replaytv.com.eyeTV Hybrid: 149.99; includes built-in TV tuners, the ability to record to hard disk (and to CD/DVD or VCR), and TiVo-like features such as the ability to pause a live program for later viewing from where you left off. You also can hook these boards up to your television and surround-stereo system to play recorded TV. A computer-based DVR doesn't require a phone line or a monthly fee for a programming guide, as TiVo does. www.elgato.com.ATi: About 200; includes built-in TV tuners, the ability to record to hard disk (and to CD/DVD or VCR), and TiVo-like features such as the ability to pause a live program for later viewing from where you left off. You also can hook these boards up to your television and surround-stereo system to play back recorded TV, or to connect your VCR and digitize old VHS tapes. A computer-based DVR doesn't require a phone line or a monthly fee for a programming guide, as TiVo does. http://ati.amd.com.Webisodes: Free (or, the cost of your Internet service). New episodes generally will go up on a network's Web sites within 24 hours of the show's broadcast airing. The only drawback? Depending on your connection speed, the flow could be a bit choppy. www.abc.com, www.cbs.com, www.cwtv.com, www.nbc.com, www.fox.com.TV on DVD: (prices gleaned from Amazon.com.) Prices vary, generally between 29.99 ("Smallville," "Veronica Mars") and 59.99 ("Gilmore Girls"); HBO shows are pricier, with the sixth season of "The Sopranos" costing 63.27 and "Deadwood's" first-season a whistle- inducing 99.98. A show's season generally is released just before the next season starts.