Hi-tech buying advice for Christmas - ask in HEXUS.lifestyle!

Tell us what you need to know and - between HEXUS.lifestyle and our hugely-knowledgeable forum members - we'll surely be able to give you the advice you need. :rolleyes:

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Hi-def TV and video (including Sky HD, Telewest TVDrive and upscaling DVD players) - HEXUS.HD

Other general AV hardware (little or large) - audio/visual arena (yes, right here!)

Still cameras (SLR and compact) - creative

Any other digital goodies that don't seem appropriate in the above - my.lifestyle

My housemate wants to recommend a cheapish PVR for his mum to buy his dad this Christmas.

It needs to be:

Simple and with an EPG
HDD based recording

It'd be nice to have:

DVD burner
Simultaneous record & timeshift
Progressive output

Any gems out there?

Steve,

A few likkle questions.

Do we know what sort of price-range "cheapish" encompasses?

I ask because I suspect that progressive output and cheapish don't usually appear in the same sentence.

Preferences for analogue or Freeview?

My own preference would be to have both but if I could only have one - because of pricing or some other reason - then I'd choose Freeview.

But Freeview reception isn't as widespread as analogue so it would be wise to do a post-code check for Freeview reception for the place where the PVR is going to live. The checker is on Freeview's home page.

Bob,

The place has Freeview from the mighty Mendip transmitter (second only to the overlord of transmitters, Belmont). So it'd need to be a Freeview PVR.

Price-range: £200ish, not all that rigid though.

:) Cheers.