- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 12 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"good if you buy it for certain uses"
Pros: only HDD/dvd recorder in US market
Cons: lacks convenient features
Summary: For starters, this is the only dvr left on the market in the USA, although there is also a similar and slightly cheaper model from Polaroid. For some reason all the manufactures stopped making them here. From about 2004-2006 every major electronics manufacturer, had Hard Disk recorder models for sale. What the hell happened? In Europe you can still have numerous brand models to choose from including multiple models from Phillips.
Previous to this I was still using vcr's to record something. The dvr is a huge step up from that. No more looking for tapes, and trying to figure out whats on the tape or how much room is left, etc. This model holds about 30 hours at the best quality. I only record shows once awhile and I'm already aware when they are coming on. Its hooked up to an old Samsung crt tv and the picture playback quality is indisguisable from the original at the highest setting. I have not recorded with the lower settings. I don't know how the difference would appear on an hdtv screen. One bad thing about this model is it does not record or upconvert to 1080p like it claims, which you can read about on cnet.
The menu is pretty basic and mostly black and white, but is easy to use for the most part. Its easy to record and delete selections and you can view thumbnails of your recording which play with sound too when you scroll on them. The dvd, player also works fine, but I have yet to try and burn a dvd from a hard drive recording. However, it doesn't appear difficult. You cannot copy a dvd to the hard drive on this model.
The remote is normal size but some of the most important buttons are too small and oddly placed, making it difficult to operate this remote by feel.
Overall, if you want a device to replace your vhs, and don't want monthly fees, this is your best and currently only real option. If you only record shows once in awhile and are not concerned about the lack of tv menus, and other features found on tivo devices, you should be happy with this. If you record numerous hours of tv a week, and don't know when shows come on, or want to record more then one program at a time, then you need to get a tivo
