DVD recorders with hard drive. Which one?
Discussion
I see they have dropped in price now.
Which is a good one to go for around £300?
Want it to read as many formats as possible.
If there is one thats rated highly for CD sound quality I'd be interested.
Currently looking at Sony and Panasonic. Nay Particular models to suggest?
Any good retailers?
Which is a good one to go for around £300?
Want it to read as many formats as possible.
If there is one thats rated highly for CD sound quality I'd be interested.
Currently looking at Sony and Panasonic. Nay Particular models to suggest?
Any good retailers?
Hi Dusty. I bought the Pioneer DVR 5100 last year.
And paid a whopping £730 for it
It was the first one of its kind and offered a hard disk (80 gig) but more importantly for me it had Firewire, which meant I could transfer files over my LAN and watch programs on other pc's.
Since then you can buy this model for £580 but there are other newcomers now as you have mentioned for around the £380 price which makes my blood boil
It is a good piece of kit but I am waiting for someone to write a hard disk swap release for it as 80 gig is far too small, as it only gives about 25 hours on high quality (which I have to use when put through the pj). Pioneer's latest incarnation offers 120 gig for less money but unless your desperate I would hold fire on a new one as the market is starting to go bonkers and competition should see overall prices fall and better specs emerging.
The 5100 is a wonderful machine but and it does everything ie has dvd burner too, but it's still too expensive given you can buy similar unbranded products for almost half of that
edited to add that
>> Edited by ultimasimon on Friday 15th April 15:25
And paid a whopping £730 for it
It was the first one of its kind and offered a hard disk (80 gig) but more importantly for me it had Firewire, which meant I could transfer files over my LAN and watch programs on other pc's. Since then you can buy this model for £580 but there are other newcomers now as you have mentioned for around the £380 price which makes my blood boil
It is a good piece of kit but I am waiting for someone to write a hard disk swap release for it as 80 gig is far too small, as it only gives about 25 hours on high quality (which I have to use when put through the pj). Pioneer's latest incarnation offers 120 gig for less money but unless your desperate I would hold fire on a new one as the market is starting to go bonkers and competition should see overall prices fall and better specs emerging.
The 5100 is a wonderful machine but and it does everything ie has dvd burner too, but it's still too expensive given you can buy similar unbranded products for almost half of that
edited to add that
>> Edited by ultimasimon on Friday 15th April 15:25
Agree. I'm planning on building my own which will come in at under £500 will all the bells and whistles, and will look just like a normal set-top box 
I'd wait a couple of months for the next few models to come out. Look for machines that support 'GuidePlus' which is like the SkyPlus programme guide and allows you to see the next week's TV programmes and select ones to record from a menu.
As it is, next year Sky and others will be doing HDTV (High definition) broadcasts, and DVD manufacturers will be supporting a couple of new formats (DVDHD, and Blu-Ray I think they're called). Both will mean better quality and longer play times on DVDs, so you might want to hold off for a player/recorder that will support the new gizmos.
MediaCentre PCs are a long way from being worthwhile - they cost a lot, will need a lot of fiddling with and buying one whilst standards are still being fought over almost guarantees you'll lose. On top of that you will be paying the Microsoft tax which some people find hard to stomach.
As it is, next year Sky and others will be doing HDTV (High definition) broadcasts, and DVD manufacturers will be supporting a couple of new formats (DVDHD, and Blu-Ray I think they're called). Both will mean better quality and longer play times on DVDs, so you might want to hold off for a player/recorder that will support the new gizmos.
MediaCentre PCs are a long way from being worthwhile - they cost a lot, will need a lot of fiddling with and buying one whilst standards are still being fought over almost guarantees you'll lose. On top of that you will be paying the Microsoft tax which some people find hard to stomach.
Tuna said:
MediaCentre PCs are a long way from being worthwhile - they cost a lot, will need a lot of fiddling with and buying one whilst standards are still being fought over almost guarantees you'll lose. On top of that you will be paying the Microsoft tax which some people find hard to stomach.
Can't agree with that. Quite the opposite in fact. Their very nature means they are upgradeable and therfore alot more future-proof. MCE 2005 is excellent
catretriever said:
MediaCentre PCs are a long way from being worthwhile - they cost a lot, will need a lot of fiddling with and buying one whilst standards are still being fought over almost guarantees you'll lose. On top of that you will be paying the Microsoft tax which some people find hard to stomach.
Can't agree with that. Quite the opposite in fact. Their very nature means they are upgradeable and therfore alot more future-proof. MCE 2005 is excellent
Sure, the software is upgradable, but most Media Centre PCs use mildly customised components to look like set top boxes. When the next format of DVD comes out, or you need to provide component RGB to your monitor, or a different tuner card for HDTV broadcasts, the chances of getting the new hardware to fit your box is low. Unless you go for a bog-standard PC box - and even then you will have to worry about the motherboard supporting whatever the latest devices require.
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