Owning a digital video recorder (DVR) can make for a happier, less stressful home life, according to a survey.
Which may be why 70% of Brits say that they couldn`t live without it, according to NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV.
A DVR lets you record TV shows in digital format to a disk drive within the TV set-top box. NDS technology allows satellite TV subscribers to pause live TV, record, play back, rewind and fast forward for later viewing.
Having a DVR also seems to improve relationships, with one respondent saying: "Having it has taken the stress out of watching telly, because no-one has to compromise and miss their favourite programmes!"
The survey found that only the washing machine and the microwave oven were deemed more essential than the DVR in today's UK homes.
The vast majority of respondents said they would rather give up their landline phone, dishwasher, radio, hairdryer and MP3 player than their DVR.
And when it comes to essential technology gadgets, the DVR is pipped to the post only by the mobile phone as the item people can't live without.
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