Which DVD Recorder?

Where did you get your free PC?

I didn't need to getone I already had one.

As do I. I don't use it for watching TV... I bought the Sony and
haven't looked back. Firstly they're £300 not £400 now, and secondly,
much as I'm happy poking around inside my PC and messing around with
software, IMO you can't beat getting a decent off the shelf HDR with
integrated freeview (the DVD writer can come later if you like).

It's just the convenience - turn it on, it sets itself up, browse the
7 day freeview epg at leisure, click on a program - the recorder's
set, browse the list of previous recordings, all listed by program
title with thumnbnails (if I want). Watch, delete, all from the sofa.

There are a couple of minor niggles with the Sony, it's a bit
sluggish, doesn't record program description information, but it's
pretty handy.

Sky+ without the charges and the channels full of tripe.

I have so much stuff recorded on my hard drive it is difficult to manage it
all!!

You said it right there...

Where did you get your free PC?

I didn't need to getone I already had one.


As do I. I don't use it for watching TV...

I bought the Sony and haven't looked back. Firstly they're £300 not
£400 now, and secondly, much as I'm happy poking around inside my PC
and messing around with software, IMO you can't beat getting a decent
off the shelf HDR with
integrated freeview (the DVD writer can come later if you like).

It's just the convenience - turn it on, it sets itself up, browse the
7 day freeview epg at leisure, click on a program - the recorder's
set, browse the list of previous recordings, all listed by program
title with thumnbnails (if I want). Watch, delete, all from the
sofa.


There are a couple of minor niggles with the Sony, it's a bit
sluggish, doesn't record program description information, but it's
pretty handy.


Sky+ without the charges and the channels full of tripe.


I have so much stuff recorded on my hard drive it is difficult to manage it
all!!


You said it right there...

wrote in message
ups.com...
Where did you get your free PC?

I didn't need to getone I already had one.

As do I. I don't use it for watching TV... I bought the Sony and
haven't looked back. Firstly they're £300 not £400 now, and secondly,
much as I'm happy poking around inside my PC and messing around with
software, IMO you can't beat getting a decent off the shelf HDR with
integrated freeview (the DVD writer can come later if you like).

It's just the convenience - turn it on, it sets itself up, browse the
7 day freeview epg at leisure, click on a program - the recorder's
set, browse the list of previous recordings, all listed by program
title with thumnbnails (if I want). Watch, delete, all from the sofa.

There are a couple of minor niggles with the Sony, it's a bit
sluggish, doesn't record program description information, but it's
pretty handy.

Sky+ without the charges and the channels full of tripe.

I have so much stuff recorded on my hard drive it is difficult to manage
it
all!!

You said it right there...

"Turkey Cough" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
ups.com...
Where did you get your free PC?

I didn't need to getone I already had one.

As do I. I don't use it for watching TV... I bought the Sony and
haven't looked back. Firstly they're £300 not £400 now, and secondly,
much as I'm happy poking around inside my PC and messing around with
software, IMO you can't beat getting a decent off the shelf HDR with
integrated freeview (the DVD writer can come later if you like).

It's just the convenience - turn it on, it sets itself up, browse the
7 day freeview epg at leisure, click on a program - the recorder's
set, browse the list of previous recordings, all listed by program
title with thumnbnails (if I want). Watch, delete, all from the sofa.

There are a couple of minor niggles with the Sony, it's a bit
sluggish, doesn't record program description information, but it's
pretty handy.

Sky+ without the charges and the channels full of tripe.

I have so much stuff recorded on my hard drive it is difficult to manage
it
all!!

You said it right there...

Well it probabaly reflects the fact that I have a 250 megabyte hard drive
available
to record to rather then you measly 160. When I record something the file is
named the chanel and time, so when you have a list of 100 recordings you
can't
easilly see what each files contains. YOu say our doesn't record program
descriptions
so you must have a similar problems. OK you may have the program name, but
that
in many cases doesn't tell you much, and I can deduce that fairly easilly
from the
date and time stamp, I mainly record sporting events so I know an 10:30pm
recording
will be match of the day etc ut I won;t know which teams were playing,
similarly
even if I had a progra name such as "UEFA Cp football" it probably would not
say who was playing.
However it is obviously pretty easy to rename the files if I was not so
lazy!!
I am unsure how easy it is for your to rename your programs from your
remote control!! But anyway I can use a variety of free utilities to manage
and
play my files, u are stuck with whatever Sony saw fit for you to have.

Anyway my USB stick actually stopped workiing (I think I may have spilt
something
on it possibly) however I can get a new one on Ebay for £20.
Now if your Sony packs up its a more (much) expensive problem.
Anyway I have a lot of flexibbility, you have little, my new stick will, I
think
be high definition compatible, I would image you would be looking at a new
machine for that?

I have a 250 megabyte hard drive

I assume you mean gigabyte.

OK you may have the program name, but that
in many cases doesn't tell you much

Erm...I generally find that the program name and date-time stamp are
plenty (much more useful than the date-time alone).
I can manually edit the recording name (and edit the recording as
well), but you're right - it's a pain using the remote and I don't
generally bother as I have no need.

If it goes wrong it has a 2 yr guarantee. If it goes wrong after that
(as it may well do) then I'll get it mended or get a new one (they're
getting cheaper all the time), whichever seems more sensible.

I can see that there's a lot of flexibility in using a PC as an HD
recorder, and advantages linked to that, but my point is that here is
also a lot of convenience in using a "good" dedicated device, and
using a PC isn't free (as Alan already pointed out).

I work in IT and am very comfortable using a PC, but in front room
it's nice to have one simple box with a remote that covers my
requirements perfectly well. Just because you're happy with your setup
it doesn't mean all others are a "total rip off".

I have a 250 megabyte hard drive


I assume you mean gigabyte.


OK you may have the program name, but that
in many cases doesn't tell you much


Erm...I generally find that the program name and date-time stamp are
plenty (much more useful than the date-time alone).
I can manually edit the recording name (and edit the recording as
well), but you're right - it's a pain using the remote and I don't
generally bother as I have no need.

If it goes wrong it has a 2 yr guarantee. If it goes wrong after
that
(as it may well do) then I'll get it mended or get a new one (they're
getting cheaper all the time), whichever seems more sensible.


I can see that there's a lot of flexibility in using a PC as an HD
recorder, and advantages linked to that, but my point is that here is
also a lot of convenience in using a "good" dedicated device, and
using a PC isn't free (as Alan already pointed out).


I work in IT and am very comfortable using a PC, but in front room
it's nice to have one simple box with a remote that covers my
requirements perfectly well. Just because you're happy with your
setup
it doesn't mean all others are a "total rip off".

"PlasticManc" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a 250 megabyte hard drive

I assume you mean gigabyte.

Thats why I said that.


OK you may have the program name, but that
in many cases doesn't tell you much

Erm...I generally find that the program name and date-time stamp are
plenty (much more useful than the date-time alone).
I can manually edit the recording name (and edit the recording as
well), but you're right - it's a pain using the remote and I don't
generally bother as I have no need.

If it goes wrong it has a 2 yr guarantee. If it goes wrong after that
(as it may well do) then I'll get it mended or get a new one (they're
getting cheaper all the time), whichever seems more sensible.

I can see that there's a lot of flexibility in using a PC as an HD
recorder, and advantages linked to that, but my point is that here is
also a lot of convenience in using a "good" dedicated device, and
using a PC isn't free (as Alan already pointed out).

I work in IT and am very comfortable using a PC, but in front room
it's nice to have one simple box with a remote that covers my
requirements perfectly well. Just because you're happy with your setup
it doesn't mean all others are a "total rip off".

Well I effectively got a PVR with a 250 gig hard drive for less than £100
At the time an equivilant PVR was about £300

If you price the componets of a PVR it does not add up for example
at the moment you can get a 160 gig drive for about £7 more than a
80 gig drive. However if you buy that drive installed in a PVR such as
say a sagem that drive now costs £29 more so I don't think "total rip off"
is too wide of the mark because that is precisely what it is.
As for paying £80 more when the costof the drive is about £10 more well....
Indeed you can buy a 250 gig drive for £30, just £5 more than a and 80 gig
drive.
However when its inside a PVR......that will be and extra £57 sir :O)

So it is a rip off thats why I won't by one (yet).


Drive prices
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/product...co=10#Pag ing

What they cost in a PVR at Currys
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...&show_all=true

It's high street robbery.