Controlling kid TV-viewing

Some parents have heard of the V-Chip, but few know what it is or how to make it filter out TV programming they don't want their kids to see. ZDNet home electronics specialist Steve Kovsky calls the V-Chip - legally required in every TV over 13" manufactured since January 2000 - parents' "first line of defense." But it isn't always user-friendly (you can always read your TV's user manual), Steve says, so for parents seeking better, more convenient parental controls, he recommends DVRs (digital video recorders) such as TiVo and ReplayTV or, even better, Windows XP Media Center. All of these options, of course, add a significant chunk of change to filtering efforts.