Retired In-laws want an easy to use HD PVR
Discussion
My In-laws want a new recorder, they will get the freeview switch over in March.
I got them a 32" Sony Bravia HD TV a few years ago and got a deal on a DVD with a Hard Disc recorder at the same time (RDR-HX725), they find the DVD/PVR complex and difficult to use.
They want a more simple version of PVR recorder
No need for the PVR to be combined with a DVD/Blu-ray player
Auto tuning
Auto Firmware updates
One button recording
Easy & Big EPG
Most critically they want auto extending recording based on program not on EPG (so doesn't miss the end of programs especially on the BBC)
Series record
Auto record at the highest res available
Dual HD recorders (watch and record different channels)
Anyone got any ideas? I am personally getting the Humax T2 Fox HDR at Christmas and whilst they have wireless set up in their house they only use it for booking holidays on the internet and don't have a need for online services, so I'm not sure if it is a bit too much for them. I don't mind setting it up for them, but ideally that should be it.
I got them a 32" Sony Bravia HD TV a few years ago and got a deal on a DVD with a Hard Disc recorder at the same time (RDR-HX725), they find the DVD/PVR complex and difficult to use.
They want a more simple version of PVR recorder
No need for the PVR to be combined with a DVD/Blu-ray player
Auto tuning
Auto Firmware updates
One button recording
Easy & Big EPG
Most critically they want auto extending recording based on program not on EPG (so doesn't miss the end of programs especially on the BBC)
Series record
Auto record at the highest res available
Dual HD recorders (watch and record different channels)
Anyone got any ideas? I am personally getting the Humax T2 Fox HDR at Christmas and whilst they have wireless set up in their house they only use it for booking holidays on the internet and don't have a need for online services, so I'm not sure if it is a bit too much for them. I don't mind setting it up for them, but ideally that should be it.
Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 30th November 21:35
miniman said:
I find the Humax kit, whilst excellent in general, quite complex to operate.
The Sky+HD box is a big step forward compared to the earlier EPG.
I suspect the Virgin TiVo box is the best overall, but of course if the cable doesn't come along the street...
No chance of cable in darkest Dorset I'm afraid and SKY is a no goer either. Basically they want a SKY+ HD box for Freeview HD.The Sky+HD box is a big step forward compared to the earlier EPG.
I suspect the Virgin TiVo box is the best overall, but of course if the cable doesn't come along the street...
I would have said the Humax too. I have the HD version and find it works really well, records two things at once, I can even watch a third live channel if it's on the same 'mux' or a recording. It tracks series links very well (sometimes goes a bit mad and records repeats of the same episode of CSI Miami, but I stopped watching that so not a problem anymore 
). It has the iPlayer in it too so I occasionally catch up with missed programs using that.
The only thing that would concern me is the 'retired in laws' bit: I bought a older version of the Humax of my retired Dad and StepMum, they just couldn't get their heads round it and I ended up unplugging it in the end. Maybe take them somewhere like John Lewis that have one on display so they can play around with the controls and menu first. Also, it really helps if you setup a more limited collection of channels so the guide is smaller (they might need you to do this initially though
).
). It has the iPlayer in it too so I occasionally catch up with missed programs using that.The only thing that would concern me is the 'retired in laws' bit: I bought a older version of the Humax of my retired Dad and StepMum, they just couldn't get their heads round it and I ended up unplugging it in the end. Maybe take them somewhere like John Lewis that have one on display so they can play around with the controls and menu first. Also, it really helps if you setup a more limited collection of channels so the guide is smaller (they might need you to do this initially though
). Humax is good but not very user friendly.
I have had this discussion with them at trade shows
ME you should make it more like sky plus
THEM we want it to have its own idendity
ME if you make it too geeky then only geeks will buy it
Yes it works well but I have spent many hours with elderly people trying to explain freeview,recording etc.
It may be more expensive but you could consider some of the pvr/dvd recording type machines from sony or panasonic. The sony will have the advantage of common remotes. Will you actually need twin tuner? The tv will have freeview, and you could get them to view the pvr as a "video" so day to day tv watching on the tv and recordings via the hdmi pvr. You may be able to get the tv to skip all other unused AV inputs
I have had this discussion with them at trade shows
ME you should make it more like sky plus
THEM we want it to have its own idendity
ME if you make it too geeky then only geeks will buy it
Yes it works well but I have spent many hours with elderly people trying to explain freeview,recording etc.
It may be more expensive but you could consider some of the pvr/dvd recording type machines from sony or panasonic. The sony will have the advantage of common remotes. Will you actually need twin tuner? The tv will have freeview, and you could get them to view the pvr as a "video" so day to day tv watching on the tv and recordings via the hdmi pvr. You may be able to get the tv to skip all other unused AV inputs
My Humax has just arrived from Amazon. It's still in its box as I type and I'm a bit scared of getting it out tbh because of its daunting reputation for non-userfriendliness. Fortunately I have a 16yr old son who will doubtless have it up and running in 2 mins. It's going to go with a 32in Bravia as well, funnily enough.
I ended up with the Humax after a lot of research. In a nutshell there's a surprisingly poor selection of PVRs on the market, it's one area of TV tech where the Japanese/Koreans etc seem to be less than dominant.
I ended up with the Humax after a lot of research. In a nutshell there's a surprisingly poor selection of PVRs on the market, it's one area of TV tech where the Japanese/Koreans etc seem to be less than dominant.
Humax, non-user friendly, really? I think it's got one of the best EPGs around. Much better than the standard Sky one, possibly not better than the HD one. I know quite a few elderly friends of the family who have Humax twin-tuner Freeview+ PVRs which they operate fine..
Although saying that I'm fairly certain that a PVR of any description wouldn't be my father's cup of tea.
Although saying that I'm fairly certain that a PVR of any description wouldn't be my father's cup of tea.
tonym911 said:
Humax is going nicely, didn't even need the 16yr old son to help set it up, and I agree with you, not sure what all the fuss about user-friendliness was about.
because to an oldie looking in the "media" menu to then be confronted with another few options is not quite a simple as slipping the one tape you own and rewinding it to the begining and pressing the big play buttonI can see by the fact you can post on an internet forum you can probably deal with it, but having met many elderly customers even the change to freeview and its extra channels is quite a step, a recorder is another step again. Some of my pensioner customers have asked why they cant just keep the 4 channels they had before..............
The problem I find with some people of a certain age is they don't want to learn and have told them selves they cant do it before you have even got there! Humax does seem to be the best and easiest out there at the moment since they finally sorted their slow to load guide problem out, but as for missing the end of programs well they all do it.
I get the feeling there is a poor selection of PVR's as there isnt really much use for them with all of the +1 channels, repeats and on demand services, I actually cant remember the last time I recorded anything at all.
I get the feeling there is a poor selection of PVR's as there isnt really much use for them with all of the +1 channels, repeats and on demand services, I actually cant remember the last time I recorded anything at all.
You add 'padding' to the recordings made by the Humax (it's in one of the setup menus IIRC as a permant choice or you can manually edit recordings in the schedule). It doesn't solve everything though and if you have two recordings going and a third that starts after, then something can get cut (either the end or the start of the next). Still used to happen with video recorders though, so nothing new there.
I definately agree with the 'not wanting to learn anything new': My StepMum just took the view that she might somehow break the PVR by pressing the wrong button (not helped by my Dad's 'must read the manual 300 times before even touching any device' attitude). It didn't help that being in a poor reception area they couldn't pick up the required software update properly, so some annoying niggles that would have been resolved by this update couldn't be fixed.
I got tired of phonecalls about the 'box is recording something' when my Dad came down in the morning. I'd just tell him to delete the recording afterwards, but he seemed to get really stressed about a simple light on the front panel. It turned out they'd somehow setup a series link rather than just a single event recording, but the damage was done as they both just decided it was too complicated.
Maybe it's just me losing my patience with the parents, but the MIL rang last week as they had no picture on their TV (they have cable) and I was sure it was just the scart lead had come out. I spent maybe 15 minutes on the phone trying to explain, but gave up. They went without TV for 24 hours as I couldn't get over there until the next evening when I pushed the same blue scart lead I'd been talking about, back into the cable box's socket.
Funny though, my real Mum and StepDad have used a PVR for maybe 5 years now. My Mum happily uses the internet and computers for photgraphy.video editting, so it's definately down to their attitude.
I definately agree with the 'not wanting to learn anything new': My StepMum just took the view that she might somehow break the PVR by pressing the wrong button (not helped by my Dad's 'must read the manual 300 times before even touching any device' attitude). It didn't help that being in a poor reception area they couldn't pick up the required software update properly, so some annoying niggles that would have been resolved by this update couldn't be fixed.
I got tired of phonecalls about the 'box is recording something' when my Dad came down in the morning. I'd just tell him to delete the recording afterwards, but he seemed to get really stressed about a simple light on the front panel. It turned out they'd somehow setup a series link rather than just a single event recording, but the damage was done as they both just decided it was too complicated.
Maybe it's just me losing my patience with the parents, but the MIL rang last week as they had no picture on their TV (they have cable) and I was sure it was just the scart lead had come out. I spent maybe 15 minutes on the phone trying to explain, but gave up. They went without TV for 24 hours as I couldn't get over there until the next evening when I pushed the same blue scart lead I'd been talking about, back into the cable box's socket.
Funny though, my real Mum and StepDad have used a PVR for maybe 5 years now. My Mum happily uses the internet and computers for photgraphy.video editting, so it's definately down to their attitude.
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Sunday 4th December 13:18
The problem is those silly coloured buttons - no consistency as they do different things on different screens, which is totally unintuative. The easiest to use systems can get away with MENU, OK, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT. Unfortunately only TiVo seem to understand this.
Everything I've had since the Series 1 TiVo has been shockingly bad in the UI front and I don't see any improvement on the horizon.
Edited to add - the Humax EPG is poor, but slightly less shockingly poor than the Sky+ one.
Everything I've had since the Series 1 TiVo has been shockingly bad in the UI front and I don't see any improvement on the horizon.
Edited to add - the Humax EPG is poor, but slightly less shockingly poor than the Sky+ one.
Edited by page3 on Sunday 4th December 17:49
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