Alessandro, co-founder and CEO of Ebates, is a serious gadget buff. Whether he's upgrading to the latest European GPS or testing out a cool new DVR, you can count on him to be in the know on all things tech.

He recently acquired a TiVo HD, the latest version of the ever-popular TV recording device that now has millions of loyal fans. I really wish I had bought one of these sooner. I'm still bitter about missing the series finale of Six Feet Under two years ago. Here are Sandro's thoughts on the TiVo HD:

You may THINK you are happy with your current Tivo, but the new Series 3 High Definition Tivo is ligh-years ahead of the trusty Tivo you already love. Comparing the series three to even a DVD-burning series 2 Tivo is like comparing a Honda Civic to a new Ferrari.

The new unit houses two cable-card tuners, meaning no more IR emitter, no separate cable box, no conflicts (it can record two shows at the same time), and lightning quick channel changes. The picture quality is head and shoulders better than my old TiVo, even on when recording non HD content.

But best of all is the new found ability to record and time-shift HD content. HD is just so incredible that words fail me trying to describe how big an improvement is is from 'regular' tv; people refuse to believe that standard tv looks as bad as it does after switching back and forth from HD. It is simply amazing how vivid HD content is. Being able to pause and slow down playback of HD quality video pushes the new Tivo the top and makes it a must-have. Sports will never be the same.

If you've happily used your current Tivo for over a year (let alone the six or so years my original Tivo lasted), you owe yourself the upgrade. Everything is faster, smoother, and more streamlined, from the backlit remote to the beautiful glossy black finish and high resolution readout status disply. This is as big an improvement as we will see for a long time. Though it isn't a cheap upgrade, consider how long these things last. The series three is all you'll need for a long time; it will delight and provide years of pleasure. I see this as a must-buy for the Tivo addict.