Peter Allen
03-05-2005, 08:19 AM
On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 08:02:48 GMT, "Longines" <LGNS@yyx.com> wrote:
>My needs are simple, I record a program and watch it within days, I'm
>wondering if
>there is value to buy a dvd recorder with a HD for general TV recording .
>
>My simple thinking is that it would be much cheaper to use a DVD recorder
>with a rewriteable DVD and simply over record when necessary.
>It seems that an extra approx $500 just for the HD seems excessive.
>I'm sure that I'm missing some simple logic here :-)
>
Not sure I'm quite clear on your requirements, but here's a few
thoughts.
For time shifting, a HD alone WITHOUT the DVD (PVR) is to my mind
ideal:
Pro:
- PVRs have one or two digital tuners - the best can record two
programs at once while simultaneously playing back a previously
recorded program, whereas DVD and DVD/HD recorders tend to have one
analogue tuner.
- PVRs record at broadcast quality - no extended modes with reduced
quality are needed.
- A 120 GB PVR, for example, will record over 40 hours. You can set up
all your regular and occasional recordings in advance using the timer
without ever having to remember to put in a blank tape or a recordable
DVD.
Con:
- Limited portability - you can only play back your recording at the
location of the PVR (unless you dump it to tape or a DVD).
- Price, but note that a combination HD/DVD recorder is more expensive
again (and is still likely to have an analogue tuner), and a DVD
recorder can only record 1 or 2 hrs per disc before quality
degradation cuts in.
Depends what you're after!
Cheers,
Peter
>My needs are simple, I record a program and watch it within days, I'm
>wondering if
>there is value to buy a dvd recorder with a HD for general TV recording .
>
>My simple thinking is that it would be much cheaper to use a DVD recorder
>with a rewriteable DVD and simply over record when necessary.
>It seems that an extra approx $500 just for the HD seems excessive.
>I'm sure that I'm missing some simple logic here :-)
>
Not sure I'm quite clear on your requirements, but here's a few
thoughts.
For time shifting, a HD alone WITHOUT the DVD (PVR) is to my mind
ideal:
Pro:
- PVRs have one or two digital tuners - the best can record two
programs at once while simultaneously playing back a previously
recorded program, whereas DVD and DVD/HD recorders tend to have one
analogue tuner.
- PVRs record at broadcast quality - no extended modes with reduced
quality are needed.
- A 120 GB PVR, for example, will record over 40 hours. You can set up
all your regular and occasional recordings in advance using the timer
without ever having to remember to put in a blank tape or a recordable
DVD.
Con:
- Limited portability - you can only play back your recording at the
location of the PVR (unless you dump it to tape or a DVD).
- Price, but note that a combination HD/DVD recorder is more expensive
again (and is still likely to have an analogue tuner), and a DVD
recorder can only record 1 or 2 hrs per disc before quality
degradation cuts in.
Depends what you're after!
Cheers,
Peter