Not sure if my own solution is really user-friendly, but I would like to share it anyway.
I use an old laptop onto which I have installed Linux and the MythTv application. I've also loaded the laptop with all of my music collection, which is a nice bonus. Normally the laptop sits at home wired upto the tv aerial, recording my favourite movies and TV shows directly to it's hard drive. When I head off in the cali for the weekend, I take it with me, and I can watch all of the TV recordings that I've made, or simply plug an aerial into the tuner (I use an old PS3 dual tuner one) and watch live TV, or of course just record the TV, if I start dozing off in the Cali.
Being a laptop, I can also watch DVD's, check on my email or browse the web all on one unit which sits nicely in the dropdown cupboard. I have also used C&CC wifi to watch live TV when no tv signal was available via
www.tvcatchup.com. The laptop works fine from the Cali invertor, so the kids can also watch TV recordings whilst underway. The laptops internal battery is also good for a couple of hours if needed.
Linux/Myth can be difficult to set up, but for any other geeks out there, like myself, it may be a nice solution for you.