Dish 501 receiver

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

My DVR501 hard drive packed it in yesterday. They will send me a new one
for about $70.

(1) Is the new one likely to last any longer than the old one did (17
months)?
(2) Is is worth trying to get someone to replace the hard drive?
(3) Are the receivers Directv pushes better than the Dish receivers, or is
it all just a logo on
the same electronics?
(4) Are there advantages or disadvantages in buying your own receiver? Can
you receive either
Dish or Direct, of course assuming that you have a live smartcard, or
does each company have
its own mutually incompatible system?

Thanks in advance