Set Top DVD Recorders

[floppybootstomp]

My Mum has decided she wants a Set Top DVD Recorder and to gradually phase out her VCR.

She's of the opinion that DVD-RW's can be used over and over, rather like VHS cassettes.

Now, I don't know a single thing about these devices, is this a viable option?

How do you erase a DVD-RW on a set top player/recorder? My Mum doesn't have a computer so she can't use, say, Nero, to erase.

If anybody has any experience of these things, some knowledge or good links, I'd apreciate hearing from you.

Do these things record straight from the TV tuner? I really haven't a clue.

[5lab]

i think that they can, but im not sure. the general way they are sold implies to me that they are really meant for storing things more permanently onto a dvd - for instance the rugby world cup final

i think you can get one to record off an areal signal but i dont think all do this - worth checking befor buying (all i think have scart/firewire in). maybe a vivo style box would be a better idea, or sky plus?

[Jiff Lemon]

Probably a better solution would be a HDD/DVD setup. They're fairly new (therefore not cheap, around £800) but essentially you record from any source to HDD, then have the option of archiving to DVD ram for long term storage.

[floppybootstomp]

Thanks for replies.

I've been looking about a bit and I get the impression that this live recording to DVD is in it's (relative) infancy.

I'm beginning to think that maybe a TIVO device (HDD storage) may suit her needs better, maybe with a stand alone DVD recorder for stuff she wants to keep - is such a thing available?

As for Sky, neither me Mum or I are fond of Rupert Murdoch. Sorry, but I'd rather, er, be tortured with a red hot poker than subscribe to one of his services.

And me Mum's widowed now, so she has to watch monthly outgoings.

Jiff: You got any links to the devices you've mentioned?

[Jonny M]

Pace make a digital Freeview box with built in HDD. I think its around £250.

http://www.pacefreetoview.co.uk/02twin.asp

[Jiff Lemon]

Originally posted by floppybootstomp
Jiff: You got any links to the devices you've mentioned?

Here's one....

[CrimsonAvenger]

persuade her to get Sky+ dude!

Wouldn't go back to VCR now, ever, I'd rather do without

[floppybootstomp]

Jiff:

That Looks perfect, thanks, you're a gentleman

CA:

Sky? See comment about four posts up

[CrimsonAvenger]

Uh, yup - didn't see that.

Not a particular fan myself, but if you want something that's easy to use (and I mean a whole heap easier than a VCR) and cheapish compared to DVD recorders..........but yes point noted

[Rave]

Hmm; there isn't really a perfect all in one solution on the market at this moment. If your Mum is happy with just analogue terrestrial, then the Pioneer will be good (if she can afford it ). If she wants Freeview the Pace box and a cheaper DVD recorder without a hard disk would be cool, but then you're into sodding about with two remotes, synchronising play and record etc.. If you want cable then again, you want something like the Pioneer, but you've got to think that NTL are at this moment frantically working away at a Sky+ competitor.

Although this is always my advice, I would wait a few more months before buying. The market for these things is a couple of years old now but it'll be a little while longer before products that are really polished come along. I'm reasonably confident that someone will launch a recorder with built in Freeview soon, and at some point next year, Dual Layer DVD and Blu Ray recorders will both start showing up, with 2x and 4x the recording capability respectively. They'll be expensive, but you can bet they'll force down the price of today's models.

Rich :¬)

[floppybootstomp]

CA, rave, thanks for replies.

I haven't actually checked out the price of the Pioneer yet, that steep is it?

My gut feeling is to actually wait on this thing, I've a feeling this year will bring quite a few new developments, as it's a relatively new market.

I'll visit me Mum soon, and try and give some advice.

I've a feeling though, that if that Pioneer model fits the bill, she'll go for it, despite price. me Mum's a bit of a spendthrift, but if she wants something, she'll get it.

For myself, if I want to preserve something from an analogue video recording, I record from VCR >> Computer >> Pinnacle Studio 8 >> Nero Video Express >> Pioneer A106 DVDRW, even though it's a lot of messing about, it works well.

[Jiff Lemon]

The pioneer is around £800.

I too am sat waiting, because, like yourself I've got a work around. It's not the sort of thing I'd give to my folks and at the end of the day, if it's something you want and you can afford it, then you get it.

They're are precious few things that get better and increase in value after you've bought them!

[floppybootstomp]

Thanks Jiff, that's the sort of price I expected.

My Mum was talking around £500.00.

Maybe that'll put her off for a while, hehe

I still think best to give it 6 months or so, but we'll see.

[Rave]

Yeah, I reckon next gen recorders will be out six months from now- they'll be 3rd or 4th generation, and that usually when things start to get serious in my experience.

I don't know how much the DVD only recorders will come down, but I'm convinced the price of the HD + DVD recorders is set to plummet. They're pretty much the same thing except for the fact that one has a £60 Hard disk inside, and yet the price difference is £400ish! Once all the early adopters have petered out, they'll have to slash the price if they want to keep selling them. Especially so if Micro$haft Media Centre (or whatever it's called) PCs start getting heavily promoted.

Rich :¬)

[Oakey]

Philips DVDR75 for £220 at Richer Sounds, bargain. It's DVD+R and DVD+RW though that isn't a problem if you have a PC DVD burner.

And combined with Sky+ it's great. What my friend does is save anything on Sky+, anything worth keeping he sticks on DVD+RW, rips it on the PC, removes the adverts, adds a menu, chapters, etc and burns to DVD-R.

Of course you don't have to add all the menu's, but if you're looking for a cheap (and fairly simple) method of archiving your favourite shows then this is probably best way.

The DVDR70/75 is a good recorder, especially at the price Richer Sounds are offering (although it's instore only), the menu's easy enough to use and it has 2 Scart sockets, rf, s-vhs, optical out, etc.

I'm reasonably confident that someone will launch a recorder with built in Freeview soon, and at some point next year, Dual Layer DVD and Blu Ray recorders will both start showing up, with 2x and 4x the recording capability respectively. They'll be expensive, but you can bet they'll force down the price of today's models

You are joking right? Bog standard DVD-R / DVD+R recorders are still fairly expensive, Dual Layer will no doubt be as expensive as single layer originally was, not to mention the media isn't going to be cheap. You also forget that early revisions of new tech tend to have high fault rates until it's matured a bit. As for Blu Ray, yeah, right, that's far off yet. People won't accept another format change and WILL NOT want to update their recently (the last 3-4 years) acquired DVD collection (don't forget VHS was around for about 15 years+). I doubt we'll see Blu Ray in the set top market for a long while, we might get it earlier in the PC hardware market though.

As for HDD / DVD Recorders coming down in price, again, highly unlikely, as I said before, DVD Recorders are still fairly expensive, HDD combined models aren't going to drop by much.

[floppybootstomp]

Oakey, thanks for reply, apreciated.

But, as I pointed out earlier, my Mum won't subscribe to Sky and she doesn't have a PC.

She's just looking for a digital alternative to VCR that's user-friendly.

And, contrary to your opinion, I believe that prices will fall this year.

I mean, look at DVD recorders, I bought the Pioneer (PC) recorder for £120 after it dropped from £180.00. And now it only costs £80.00. As do better models from MSI and others.

I've persuaded her to hang on for six months or so, then review the market. If prices haven't dropped by then, she'll probably fork out the £800.00.

Remember we're talking about somebody here who's not computer savvy but who can programme a timer and insert a blank DVD.