(2) In an automated transaction involving an individual, the individual may avoid the effect of an electronic record that resulted from an error made by the individual in dealing with the electronic agent of another person if the electronic agent did not provide an opportunity for the prevention or correction of the error and, at the time the individual learns of the error, all of the following conditions are met:

(i)The individual promptly notifies the other person of the error and that the individual did not intend to be bound by the electronic record received by the other person.

(ii) The individual takes reasonable steps, including steps that conform to the other person’s reasonable instructions, to return to the other person or, if instructed by the other person, to destroy the consideration received, if any, as a result of the erroneous electronic record.

(iii) The individual has not used or received any benefit or value from the consideration, if any, received from the other person.

We are all paying TiVo some fairly decent cash to purchase their proprietary hardware and then add-on subscription fees. We all paid different prices for our Series 2 level machines from a few hundred down to essentially “free with subscription”. I paid a couple of hundred dollars each for two Series 2 machines.

Its my opinion that all of that “gold star” and other advertising should absolutely be opt-in.

Furthermore, all of the listings under “Music, Photos, and More…” should be opt-in and programmable. The stuff like Rhapsody, One Home Media, Live365, and lots of other things in this category is pure bloatware, just like in the Dell and others PC example.

Now, I know … the TiVo homers will respond that TiVo needs to make more money and needs to have other revenue streams. You know what? TiVo already gets pretty good dough each month from me and you and every other subscriber. They need to focus on delivering value to each of us, instead of to Cosmo and SI and One True Media. If they gave me the subscription free, then I’d think differently. But its not free.

We don’t like the bloatware from Dell and other PC manufacturers. Why is it so readily acceptable from TiVo?

We don’t like Yahoo taking up lots of screen space for advertisements (except we generally don’t pay for Yahoo). Why is it so readily acceptable for TiVo? Do we want TiVo to be like Yahoo?

Dear TiVo: Gold star advertisements should all be optional. The line items under “Music, Photos, and More” should be optional and programmable.

PS: My family really does love TiVo.