Suggestions for PVR please

I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?

Thanks

Steve

"Steve" wrote in message news
I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?


Humax PVR.
It's as straightforward as you'll get

--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger , then I hide until it goes away"

"Steve" wrote in message
news
I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?

I've not used the feature-topping Humax and Topfields, so I don't know how
easy they are to use. I do have a TVonics though which is very easy to use
(same guys who designed the Sonys apparently). My four year old daughter can
pause and record stuff directly no problem, and the EPG is very good. My
technophobe wife has no problems recording stuff either. It rarely crashes
and if it does, it resets itself so no unplugging necessary. It also comes
with an excellent remote that can also control your telly and DVD.

Z

On Fri, 01 May 2009 11:25:17 +0100, Zimmy wrote:


"Steve" wrote in message
news
I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?

I've not used the feature-topping Humax and Topfields, so I don't know how
easy they are to use. I do have a TVonics though which is very easy to use
(same guys who designed the Sonys apparently). My four year old daughter can
pause and record stuff directly no problem, and the EPG is very good. My
technophobe wife has no problems recording stuff either. It rarely crashes
and if it does, it resets itself so no unplugging necessary. It also comes
with an excellent remote that can also control your telly and DVD.

Thanks for the comments. More shudders - I'd forgotton about leaving it
plugged in, let alone plugged in and turned on! That might scupper the
whole idea.

Steve

"Steve" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 01 May 2009 11:25:17 +0100, Zimmy wrote:


"Steve" wrote in message
news
I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any
success
stories to share?

I've not used the feature-topping Humax and Topfields, so I don't know
how
easy they are to use. I do have a TVonics though which is very easy to
use
(same guys who designed the Sonys apparently). My four year old daughter
can
pause and record stuff directly no problem, and the EPG is very good. My
technophobe wife has no problems recording stuff either. It rarely
crashes
and if it does, it resets itself so no unplugging necessary. It also
comes
with an excellent remote that can also control your telly and DVD.

Thanks for the comments. More shudders - I'd forgotton about leaving it
plugged in, let alone plugged in and turned on! That might scupper the
whole idea.


Doesn't it rather defeat the object of having a recording device unplugged,
have you never previously owned a video recorder?

"Dr Zoidberg" wrote in message
...
"Steve" wrote in message
news
I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?


Humax PVR.
It's as straightforward as you'll get


But if it goes wrong don't even expect Humax to be interested, let alone
resolve matters!
Worst manufacturer I've ever dealt with.

On May 1, 12:24*pm, "Ivan" wrote:
"Steve" wrote in message

news




On Fri, 01 May 2009 11:25:17 +0100, Zimmy wrote:

"Steve" wrote in message
news I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any
success
stories to share?

I've not used the feature-topping Humax and Topfields, so I don't know
how
easy they are to use. I do have a TVonics though which is very easy to
use
(same guys who designed the Sonys apparently). My four year old daughter
can
pause and record stuff directly no problem, and the EPG is very good. My
technophobe wife has no problems recording stuff either. It rarely
crashes
and if it does, it resets itself so no unplugging necessary. It also
comes
with an excellent remote that can also control your telly and DVD.

Thanks for the comments. More shudders *- I'd forgotton about leaving it
plugged in, let alone plugged in and turned on! That might scupper the
whole idea.

Doesn't it rather defeat the object of having a recording device unplugged,
have you never previously owned a video recorder?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I suspect the OP's father in law is from the same generation as my
father, who methodically unplugs pretty much every appliance in the
house every night ;-)

On Fri, 1 May 2009 12:30:11 +0100, "Doctor D"
wrote:


"Dr Zoidberg" wrote in message
...
"Steve" wrote in message
news
I apologise if this topic has been covered recently, but a quick search
didn't bring anything to light.

My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach
him to use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?


Humax PVR.
It's as straightforward as you'll get

Unfortunately the elderly father-in-law might find the remote control a
bit tricky to manage. A few of the important buttons are under the
sliding cover. The majority of the buttons under the cover are totally
unnecessary for normal use of the PVR, but they exist and can cause fear
and confusion just by being there!

If possible it might be useful to provide written instructions
specifically for the FIL, complete with images of the remote with arrows
pointing to the relevant buttons.

Apart from that, I'm happy with the Humax PVR.

But if it goes wrong don't even expect Humax to be interested, let alone
resolve matters!
Worst manufacturer I've ever dealt with.

On Fri, 1 May 2009 04:38:54 -0700 (PDT), wrote:


I suspect the OP's father in law is from the same generation as my
father, who methodically unplugs pretty much every appliance in the
house every night ;-)

There was a time when that was a very sensible thing to do.

In article ,
Steve wrote:
My elderly father-in-law wants a freeview box with built in recorder. I
know there's plenty to choose from but I could use recommendations for
one which is easy to use for someone who has barely grasped using a
cordless phone or basic TV remote. The idea of trying to teach him to
use interactive menus gives me the shudders. Anyone got any success
stories to share?

Well, I'd say a Topfield just using the as supplied software pretty easy
to use for one who previously coped with a VCR - easier IMHO, since you
don't need to set times. One button calls up the EPG - scroll to the prog
you want and double click on OK to record. To replay you just press the
menu button for that - scroll to what you want - and click on that with
OK. Certainly easier than most VCRs - and an onscreen display should be
easier to read than an LCD one on a VCR.

--
*Why is it considered necessary to screw down the lid of a coffin?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.