DVD Recorders
Posted by: Jean-Marc on 08 November 2003
A little bit off-topic, but I would like to have some feedback on the current DVD recorders available on the market.
My VCD died a few weeks ago and I don't feel like buying a new one now.
A quick trip to the mass-market electronic appliances dealer shows me some Philips DVDR at around 500 Euros (£300), and some Sony at 800 Euros (£550). There's also Panasonic, JVC and other far-east suppliers available.
My concerns are mainly ease-of-use and reliability (Philips's seem to be not that reliable). I have also heard of some new format (blue ray) conming next year?
Thanks to share your experience / thought on the matter.
Jean-Marc
Posted on: 08 November 2003 by Nick Riley
Jean-Marc,
I live in Japan and for years have been getting my Mother to send me Videos of English TV to me. Whilst back last Summer I bought her the SONY DVD Recorder - For the money, quite simply brilliant. I imagined having a nightmare trying to teach a 60 year old to use it but it is very,very easy and very reliable. I did check the market out including Philips and Panasonic and found them confusing at best compared to the Sony. The Sony model will take DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RW.
Blu-Ray was launched here in Japan in June. It is incredibly expensive, and the only model available at present is simply huge. Yes, it has more storage but it was primarily designed for people to record HDTV and to retain the quality.
Good Luck,
Nick.
Posted on: 10 November 2003 by Adrian F.
Hello Jean-Marc!
Did you think about a harddisk recorder?
Something like this e.g.
(sorry - german manufacturers site)
http://www.tv-server.de/Found a UK link, too...
http://www.tv-server.co.uk/It depends on how you use your recorder though... to me it's more time-shifting than achive movies.
happy listening
Adrian
[This message was edited by Adrian Frauchiger on MONDAY 10 November 2003 at 13:08.]
Posted on: 10 November 2003 by prowla
I think I saw a DVD recorder in Sainsbury's supermarket for £199 the other day.
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 10 November 2003 by Stuart M
The reliability problems for Philips is for the old range DVDR 880, 890 etc. The new models 70,75,80 are more reliable. I had an 890 and had loads of problems, this was exchanged for a new 80 and all has been well.
The main advantage of the Philips over the others is it records in a way that lets you then take the recorded disk and add decent menus using a program like Moviefactory 2. That said ergonomically it's a bit of a pain.
Load of info here:
http://forum.dvdplusrw.org/cgi/forum/ikonboard.cgiTo err is human; to really foul it up requires a computer.
