pslewis

Just noticed that the DVD Recorders are now £249!! WOW!!

I think I might jump into the market now, BUT, last time I looked a couple of years ago there were numerous different formats - has that situation now become clearer? Is there a clear leader in the field?

You are talking to someone who has historically jumped on the WRONG boat ..... Beta!! Philips CDi!! the list goes on ..... I want to pick the winner this time!!

So? whats your take on it? Make? Standard? What is an absolute requirement and what features are about as useful as a 'Bright' button!!

Pete

Inforcer

This PS's thread makes a bit more sense for a change!

pslewis

Yes, but your response is as I expect from a clown!!

Pete

Fatman

Have a look here, Pete. There's a few multi-standard writers to choose from. For example, the Pioneer DVR-A06 claims to support pretty much all standards in existence (review here). Pretty cheap too, should be under £140 inc. VAT and delivery . Overclockers is a good supplier - I can recommend them.

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

I think Pete means one for his T.V. don't you Pete?, and not a computer one!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fatman

Oh, OK... 'fraid I can't help then.

Jye

Good Grief .......... you REALLY ARE as slow as you come across!!

I knew this 2 months ago!!

A young whipper snapper months ahead of you - how does it feel to be behind the pack??

paulr

Thinking about it too.
249...where from?

Andy555

Go for the one with Gold Wheels, they are better quality.

pugoetru

LOL yes definately gold wheels

Chip

What, for his zimmer frame.

Chip.

CRAIGFIN

Pete,

I can only vouch for my Philips DVDR-880. I have owned it for a year now and can't get by without it. It is a great bit of kit and extremly cheap right now.

Craig.

Newbie123

I'm waiting for the Sony ones to be launched. Whichever format Sony go for will become the standard.

lightning101

If anyone is interested take a look at www.ebuyer.co.uk

DVD writers 4 speed + and - for £78 NEC branded etc

uksti

you do realise these things require electricity ? won't that be a problem for your cave ?

Baz

Scoobydick

Sod these new fangled formats - just wait for all the films to come out in book

pslewis

Newbie - Sony have this model out now:-

Sony's RDR-GX7 DVD Recorder is available now! Record to DVD from your television and see the difference digital technology makes. You'll experience the benefits of DVD+RW/-RW/-R DVD Format Recording Compatibility

Is that the same as the Philips or Panasonic standard??

Paulr - do a search for the Philips DVDR70 - COMET have it for £269 ... online suppliers are cheaper

Should I jump for the Philips, if thats what Sony have adopted??

Pete

IWatkins

Pete,

Do you actually need a DVD recorder ? I.e. do you need to archive stuff from TV for ever ? Of would a video recorder that uses 21st century technology work also ? If so, consider a hard disc recorder. Plenty about, some which are also Freeview TV decoders, some which have DVD recorders as well etc.

I.e. what is your requirement.

Cheers

Ian

damian666

Let me just stop you there and remind you of:

SACD
MiniDisc
Betamax
etc(!)

Damo

Alan C

OK PS, Mr Sensible here.

I've just picked up a Panasonic DMR-E50 from Curry's ata round the price you stated. A few things to note;

At this price, you will pick up a machine that DOES NOT have a hard drive inside and will require you to do your day to day recording on a RAM disk. This is basically a machine sepcific DVD-RW that will allow you to record and erase programmes, but will not be readable in another DVD. All the hard disk does is stop you from having to remove the RAM disk to put a standard disk in to record to (see below).

However, my particular machine CANNOT write to normal DVD-RW's, it will only copy to the RAM disk or DVD-R's. Which means that once the disk has been written to, that is it (you can erase the data, but that disk portion is written off and cannot be reused). You then 'finalise' the DVD-R after putting all you stuff on, which can the be read in a standard DVD player. When finished with that £5 disk, you have to throw it away.

If you want this DVD-RW capability that saves on non reusable DVD-R's, especially if you do alot of copying to play elswhere, then look for a machine that can copy to DVD-RW and then MAKE SURE that they can be read in a standard DVD player as some won't read them.

DVD recorders have plenty of fancy extras that VCR's do not. One useful one is the ability to record a programme and watch a seperate programme of the same disk.

I have got a DVD for the car, and I have started to archive some videos to DVD. In extended play, I can squeeze 4hrs worth of videos and DVD's onto one disk. There is a SP setting which allows you record 6 hours, but the quality degrades a little. Be carful though, as some Video tapes and DVD's come with copy protection built onto the original and the machine refuses to copy these at all. My nipper has a couple of DVD's with 13+ videos on. Plenty to keep her quiet on any journey.

Plus I can set the machine to copy her fave CBEEBIES progs for the week and bingo, automatic peace from the back.

There is a little 'CP' trinagle on the back of the cases that tells you that that particular Video or DVD cannot be coipied.

Just be a bit careful with some of the standards as there are dozens around, and some machines will not play, copy or record to other standards. Just make sure that you can swap the finalised DVD's you record to other machines that you have. A bit like the old Betamax standard, but times that by 10 for the ammount of standards that are out there.

Some DVD recorders will play PC CD-RW, MP3's etc etc as mine does, so it adds ta little fliexibility if you want to watch on your main TV that music single with the video on that you can normally only watch on the PC.

I'll stop now due to the fact that I could be here all night!

Hope this little piece was what you needed. If not don't hesitate to get in touch if you want any more info before parting with your cash....

Cheers mate...

Al.

[Edited by Alan C - 10/12/2003 1:46:28 PM]

paulr

Phillips dvdr70 £269 at comet,like you say.my sis has just got one.

my question is will anything i record on that play on my sony standalone dvd player?

I've tried some dvd-r copies on my sis's philips and they work.

paulr

btw my sony dvdp500(not recorder)will play dvd-r and dvd-rw and vcd. from my pc dvdwriter.

paulr

So....are you gonna buy one Pete?

pslewis

Alan C - thanks mate ........... I didn't 'quite' understand what you were saying really??? All I want is to record my Family Videos and Films off TV onto DVD ...... discs are so much easier to store than Videos!!

Paulr - just been into Dixons, who have the Philips - the salesman says that the recorded DVD's will play in 80% of the worlds DVD players!!??

I wish it was simply a matter of walk in and buy!!!

Pete

pslewis

Alders is a department store around here who have proudly announced that they have these at the 'reduced' price of £349!! some shops make you laugh don't they?? .... always seem a decade behind everyone else BUT stay in business!!

Pete

paulr

Put it on ebay and you'll probably get £400 for it.

pslewis

Yes maybe - but some 12 year old japanese lad will hack in and steal me bloody money!!

Pete

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

Panasonic DMRE50 here for £249

http://homepages.force9.net/grahamas...indexhome.html

pslewis

Yes, good price - but no good if Panasonic have selected the wrong format to go with??

Philips and Sony have gone one way ......... this could be the route to follow??

Why can't they get together and settle on ONE standard and help us all embrace a new technology early on??

Pete

pslewis

Thanks Alan for having another go to educate a thicko like me!!

Its hardly likely that, in 5 years time then, that the recordings I make NOW will still play on anything??

However, at £250 I suppose its worth a bash now?

Cheers for the help!!

Pete