Showshifter is a very useful piece of software that could save you £200 to £300. That is the cost of buying one of the latest digital video recorders (DVRs) such as the Sky+ box or the Thomson TiVo. However, you will need to make sure that your PC matches Showshifter's system requirements.

One of the main features of DVRs is the ability to 'time shift'. This allows you to pause a programme while you are watching it, perhaps so you can answer the phone or make a cup of tea. The DVR records the rest of the broadcast and allows you to carry on watching whenever you're ready.

Showshifter lets you use your PC as a DVR, using the PC's hard disk to store the programmes you want to record. You will, however, require a video capture card or a TV tuner to get the TV signal into your PC.

There is a slight problem here, since Showshifter is a bit picky about which tuners and capture cards it will work with. The information on the Showshifter website indicates that it is compatible with products from ATI, Hauppage and Matrox.

It did not work with the Pinnacle USB TV device we initially tried to test it with, so we had to search our Labs facility for an ATI Radeon before we could start using it.

You will also need to make sure you have the right version of the Windows video software to match the version of Windows you are running.

Fortunately, there is a trial version of the software available on the Showshifter website (see below), so you can at least see whether it works with your PC before paying for it.

There were a couple of minor glitches during installation as well. It is annoying that software aimed at home users should force you to enter a company name during installation.

It also assumes you are connected to the internet, as it attempts to register you with the tvtv online programme guide and to check for software updates.

Less technically-minded users might also be confused by having to choose a 'codec' (video compressor/decompressor) and deactivating 'window animations' (whatever they are).

Installation was a bit of a struggle, then. Fortunately, things went more smoothly once we were over this hurdle. Showshifter's interface looks as though it was designed for young kids, consisting of a few very large and brightly coloured buttons.

This is because the interface was designed to be viewed on a TV screen, and from a distance rather than close up on a computer screen.

This makes it very easy to use, as just a few simple buttons allow you to select all the main options, such as watching TV, viewing video files stored on your hard disk or playing DVD films. We did hit another technical glitch here, though, as the program would not play any of our DVD discs.

After all these little problems, we can at least report that the time-shifting feature worked very well. The ability to link up with the tvtv schedule makes it easy to record whichever programmes you want, and there is an option for manually setting recording times.

If your PC meets its specifications, Showshifter is definitely worth buying.

Price: £34 (inc VAT)

Specifications:

Minimum requirements: 500MHz processor; Windows 98 or later; 128MB Ram; 1GB free hard disk space; compatible TV tuner or capture card.

Contact: www.showshifter.com