If you're like me, then you've grown dependent on a digital video recorder (DVR) for your evening's entertainment. The ability to store hours of my favorite shows -- and access them instantly -- was only hinted at when video-tape recorders (VCRs) were first introduced in the 1980s.
But as it often happens in the land of high-tech, the company that comes up with a great idea isn't always the one to ultimately get rich from it. These days, you can find DVRs made by Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO), Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) Motorola division and others. The company that pioneered the DVR, TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO), has become something of an afterthought for investors.