Best PVR for older/non-techie people

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote
In article ,
Alan wrote:
My Topfield fits all that - and is actually easier to use than most
VCRs. For basic record/replay.


I suspect that it doesn't out-of-the-box!

It does. The various TAPs tend to add facilities rather than simplify
things. To record a prog not yet on all you have to do is find it in the
EPG and double click on OK. Don't think any VCR could be set that easily.


I have a lot of bug fix patches on my Toppy that didn't come from
Topfield. I suspect that the OP wants a machine where the user doesn't
have to fix it themselves before it becomes reliable. The OP stated "no
software glitches, no crashes, no random resets/reboots".

While a Topfield can be made to be one of the better machines IMO
out-of-the-box it ain't too hot, especially if it is the latest model
delivered with the latest Freeview+ firmware.
http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/view...hlight=bug+lis
t+firmware#160549
--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Mike Henry wrote:

The only consumer product (not PC solution) which comes close in usability
IMHO which is on sale now in the UK, is Sony's PVR add-on for the PS3.
Followed by a Toppy fully loaded with TAPs, then a Toppy without TAPs,
then - bringing up the rear and much further behind - Sky+HD with Sky's
so-called "new" EPG, then (not really worthy of the term PVR) normal Sky+.

However, a critism of all these GUI driven things - is that a user;

1. needs the dexterity and understanding of joypad
up/down/left/right/fire 'the golden shot' control and recognises the
screen highlight and any screen to screen paging,

2. has a memory to remember in what menu an option is present or possible,

3. has an inquisitive mind to experiment and consult the instructions,

4. has the wherewithal to be able to scan and find relevent information
within the instructions when stuck,

5. has the ability to cope with several stages of decision making with
regard to deleting or preparing space for other recordings,

6. can do things quickly in sequence so that the machine doesn't give up
and time out in the middle of an entry,

And then there is peering closely at the remote without glasses trying
to make out and press buttons and illuminating the ceiling with infra-red.

And also getting defeated by multi-device remote controls accidently
switched to controling something else rather than the device in question.



Compared to all that a video recorder is just tape-in then press record.

Some folks I know are used to doing that do just that.

Wait until 7.30pm. Insert a 3hr tape.

Select BBC 1, Press play/record.

Leave and go down the club ...

--
Adrian C

Dr Zoidberg ] said:

jamie powell wrote:
I'm put off the Humax ones because of the user interface, which many say
is non-intuitive.

Personally I find the Humax very straightforward , as does everyone I
know who owns one or uses mine.

I'd have a look at one yourself rather than dismissing it out of hand.

Me too -

Press button to get up EPG - find programme with up/down/left/right
buttons - press OK button to record.

In article ,
Alan wrote:
It does. The various TAPs tend to add facilities rather than simplify
things. To record a prog not yet on all you have to do is find it in
the EPG and double click on OK. Don't think any VCR could be set that
easily.


I have a lot of bug fix patches on my Toppy that didn't come from
Topfield. I suspect that the OP wants a machine where the user doesn't
have to fix it themselves before it becomes reliable. The OP stated "no
software glitches, no crashes, no random resets/reboots".

Mine has never done any of those. Although I'd admit to only using it as a
more versatile VCR. I've never used it to edit, etc.

While a Topfield can be made to be one of the better machines IMO
out-of-the-box it ain't too hot, especially if it is the latest model
delivered with the latest Freeview+ firmware.
http://forum.toppy.org.uk/forum/view...hlight=bug+lis
t+firmware#160549

Dunno about the latest model.

--
*Why is 'abbreviation' such a long word?

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

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

It does. The various TAPs tend to add facilities rather than simplify
things. To record a prog not yet on all you have to do is find it in the
EPG and double click on OK. Don't think any VCR could be set that easily.

While I have a Topfield and think it is great, I certainly wouldn't
recommend it to an elderly relative. The recent Freeview updates (split
NIT, etc) proved this. I hadn't updated my firmware in a while and had
to find the appropriate firmware updates and install them from a
computer. Then channels had to be deleted etc etc. It it wasn't for
toppy.org I think I would have junked the Topfield as the whole
procedure was not straightforward.

On Nov 19, 6:05*pm, "jamie powell" wrote:
Argos are currently selling a T825 (branded as the Alba ALDTR160) for £99.99 .
However there are reports of them freezing/locking up, the sound randomly
disappearing, the menu navigation becoming sluggish, and series-linked timer
settings disappearing whenever the box is put into standby.

Someone also said that the hard disc spins up every 45mins when the box is in
standby mode, and the noise of this is annoying.

Have you experienced any of these issues?

Thanks.

In a word ...no. The menu / EPG navigation has always been fairly
slow, but it hasn't got any worse since the boxes were new. Series
links are for sure not dissappearing on standby, the HDD is not
spinning up every 45 mins - and when it does it's still very quiet.
I've been pleasantly suprised by the complete lack of lock-ups on
these boxes - or maybe I'm just lucky..

In article m,
Mark Ingle wrote:
It does. The various TAPs tend to add facilities rather than simplify
things. To record a prog not yet on all you have to do is find it in
the EPG and double click on OK. Don't think any VCR could be set that
easily.

While I have a Topfield and think it is great, I certainly wouldn't
recommend it to an elderly relative. The recent Freeview updates (split
NIT, etc) proved this. I hadn't updated my firmware in a while and had
to find the appropriate firmware updates and install them from a
computer. Then channels had to be deleted etc etc. It it wasn't for
toppy.org I think I would have junked the Topfield as the whole
procedure was not straightforward.

I had no problems with the recent FreeView updates in the London area.
However, for such a rare occurrence, any such proceeder could confuse some
regardless of the equipment. So you could just pop round to the elderly
relative and sort it out yourself. It's the day to day operation of the
thing which is more important.
What TAPs would you think essential for an elderly person? Many make the
on screen graphics less legible in the name of 'graphic design' or
whatever.

--
*Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

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

On Nov 20, 9:13*am, airsmoothed wrote:
On Nov 19, 6:05*pm, "jamie powell" wrote:

Argos are currently selling a T825 (branded as the Alba ALDTR160) for £99.99 .
However there are reports of them freezing/locking up, the sound randomly
disappearing, the menu navigation becoming sluggish, and series-linked timer
settings disappearing whenever the box is put into standby.

Someone also said that the hard disc spins up every 45mins when the box is in
standby mode, and the noise of this is annoying.

Have you experienced any of these issues?

Thanks.

In a word ...no. The menu / EPG navigation has always been fairly
slow, but it hasn't got any worse since the boxes were new. Series
links are for sure not dissappearing on standby, the HDD is not
spinning up every 45 mins - and when it does it's still very quiet.
I've been pleasantly suprised by the complete lack of lock-ups on
these boxes - or maybe I'm just lucky..

Not so many bugs for the T825 logged he-

http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/my_view_page.php

"jamie powell" wrote in message
...

"Zimmy" wrote in message
...


TVonics +1. Easy to use, reliable and the remote also controls the TV and
DVD.

Which model do you have? and how long have you been using it?

I've had it a few years now I think it is possibly a DVR-150.



I've heard stories of sound sync problems, broken "series link" feature,
and random reboots from some people - have you experienced any of these?

There is a very rare sound sync problem after doing a lot of
rewinding/f.forwarding, but it is easily fixed by pausing and unpausing
again. Mine doesn't have series link as such, just a repeating record I
think but I don't really use it.
I've not had random reboots, on the one or two occasions (in several years)
it has crashed (possibly due to a poor signal), it reboots itself.

It seems infinitely more stable than any other box I've used and I would
hope such things are fixed in the latest models, but I suspect there is no
box out there that is 100% reliable and foolproof.

Z

On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:45:58 +0000, Dr Zoidberg
wrote:

jamie powell wrote:
I'm put off the Humax ones because of the user interface, which many say
is non-intuitive.

Personally I find the Humax very straightforward , as does everyone I
know who owns one or uses mine.


Just bought one for a friend who lives 250 miles away (If she didn't
I'd have bought a Toppy and MyStuff'd it.)

After setting the Hummy up and spending two days teaching her how to
use it, I have to admit I was extremely disappointed with what it
offers.

EPG lost on standby, padding not easy, editing a nightmare, no user
manual, all spring immediately to mind.

Puts me in a difficult position I've recommended several Toppys to
local friends, and upgraded them. Add the latest Mystuff and the
machine totally wipes the floor with anything else I've seen.
Admittently I've only tried around half a dozen - including the
dreadful Thomson.

I too would not know what to recommend to a non techie, so look
forward to seeing what appears from others.

GrahamC