So what's happened to digital?

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by cpemma, 23 Jun 2007.

?

What are you looking for in your next DVD recorder?

  1. Freeview tuner

    11 vote(s)
    68.8%

  2. Hard Drive

    15 vote(s)
    93.8%

  3. HDMI

    9 vote(s)
    56.3%

  4. HD DVD or Blu-ray (whoever looks like winning)

    7 vote(s)
    43.8%

  5. Top-up TV slot

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  6. Memory card TV slot

    1 vote(s)
    6.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    For months now I've been looking around for a DVD recorder with HDD and Freeview tuner, thinking with analogue doomed from next year there'd be plenty of choice. So what's happened? The only choice seems to be a few £400 models and the odd low-budget box with no HDD, nothing in between.

    Why are we waiting? We want it now!
     
    cpemma, 23 Jun 2007
    #1
  2. DougEdey

    DougEdey I pwn all your storage

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    There's a lot of cheap dual tuner PVR units (about £70 with 120GB), not seen one with a DVD recorder though, I assume it's because not a lot of people pass stuff round anymore.
     
    DougEdey, 23 Jun 2007
    #2
  3. oasked

    oasked Stuck in (better) mud

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    ^ Yeah, certainly a lot of users get all of their TV fixes from the internet.
     
    oasked, 23 Jun 2007
    #3
  4. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    I was looking at one last night, price drop on Digihome PVR160 to £100 at Argos. Is it straightforward to archive stuff from the HDD to a DVD?
     
    cpemma, 23 Jun 2007
    #4
  5. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    ch424, 23 Jun 2007
    #5
  6. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    And look at the stock situation...a few of those are unobtainium anywhere. :(
     
    cpemma, 23 Jun 2007
    #6
  7. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    Ooops, oh yeah, sorry. That's really really lame. hrrrm.
    I guess part of that market is being taken by media centre computers that offer quite a bit more, but they're so much more expensive you'd expect there to be some hole in the market. How odd...

    Edit: you can configure a dell with Vista Premium (which I think has Media Center, right?), 1GB ram, 160GB hdd, Semperon 3400, a digital tv tuner and no monitor for £350 including delivery, so that's in the 'gap' you're looking at.
     
    ch424, 23 Jun 2007
    #7
  8. DougEdey

    DougEdey I pwn all your storage

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    you'll need Dual tuners remember, and silence.
     
    DougEdey, 23 Jun 2007
    #8
  9. Spaceraver

    Spaceraver Ultralurker

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    Heh, what TV?? Don't ahve one and never will I think.. Couch potatoes are all too well known..
     
    Spaceraver, 23 Jun 2007
    #9
  10. Hazardous

    Hazardous What's a Dremel?

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    I've got it now :D

    As I mentioned in the 'Latest Purchases' thread... I've just bought meself a 250GB Panasonic DMR-EX87EB-K DVD recorder.
    It has everything you've mentioned - and more... for under £300 :idea:

    250GB HDD, DVB-T tuner, HDMI connection (with a Viera Link), a SD slot, and [the clinching factor for me] 1080p upscaling. All for £290.68 [including delivery] :rock:
    As an added bonus... it looks absolutely gorgeous (in my opinion) :cooldude: It's a lot better looking than the DMR-EX85EB-S it replaced!

    If you're interested... I got it here :thumb: (Seems I got mine just in time. They're OOS now!)
     
    Hazardous, 23 Jun 2007
    #10
  11. SteveyG

    SteveyG Electromodder

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    I've noticed this too. My parents just got a new LCD telly with a free £199 DVD recorder which isn't even out to buy separately yet, but the DVD recorder doesn't have freeview. For something new to the market/not even out yet you'd think it'd have a freeview tuner in it considering analogue starts getting turned off next yet :sigh:

    Seems a bit of a waste tbh...
     
    SteveyG, 24 Jun 2007
    #11
  12. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    I'd been following a Toshiba RD85DT, which had been steadily dropping in price down to £219 in my Amazon basket. Another few quid and I'd have pounced. Then Amazon discontinued it, with rumours of a newer RD87DT model out ("Release Date : Thursday 8 March 2007" according to the link but not shown at the official Tosh UK site).

    So now I'm leaning towards a cheapish PVR and a basic recorder for anything we want to keep.
     
    cpemma, 24 Jun 2007
    #12
  13. Cabe

    Cabe What's a Dremel?

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    Why has no one asked for an Ethernet link? I have a world of stuff on my PC that I would like to play, yes my Xbox with XBMC playes them lovely but if I could get one box to rule them all that wasnt a PC I would be laying coin right about now.

    Incidentally, we have a Humax 9200T here bought the year before last, solid as a rock and does everything we ask it to. Dual tuners (record 2 and watch a 3rd from the same MUX) and a 160GB HD.
     
    Cabe, 24 Jun 2007
    #13

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