Pat: TiVo Definition

The Case: Since TiVo launched in 1997, it has been consistently applauded. The company name is used by consumers as a verb (to "TiVo" a show is to record it for later viewing), and customer satisfaction is off the charts. But TiVo has never generated a profit nor come close to winning the number of customers it originally expected. The company is now on the brink of profitability--but is also highly vulnerable.

More: http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/09/issue/brief_actor.asp