Just the latter. Strictly standalone. Anyone with cable will be able to use one of these units in HD once their CableCo offers CableCard (mandated by FCC) and of course once the units are available at retail. Or go "free" with ATSC off-air HD (requires at least once antenna).

I seem to be getting what I want... TiVo in Canada, check. TiVo with dual tuners, check. I'm currently using cable, check. But I find myself wanting to drop cable and go back to satellite... What to do.... I've currently got about $1000 sunk into a PC-based PVR as well (which can be used with external settop boxes as well).

Bruno