messiah

At the moment I have no VCR - and I don't intend on buying one either, but I'm stuck as to which route to recording heaven to take.

My Sky Digibox & DVD player are both getting a bit long in the tooth and I'm undecided whether to go for a Sky+ box (what other benefits does it have other than recording) or a new dvd player or recorder (Probably the Sony GXR300)

Suggestions?

Chip

Just bought a Pioneer DVR recorder with HDD. Excellent bit of kit. Also got SKY+ as well though.

chip

MOK79

DVD Recorder. Alot bloody cheaper. However sky+ is suppose to be good fun.

But I reckon only for 5 minutes

dharbige

They're different beasties really.

If you record stuff to keep, get a DVD writer. If you record stuff to watch then delete, get Sky+.

Sky+ also allows you to rewind live TV; watch one (sky) channel whilst recording another; record 2 channels at the same time (whilst watching something you've already recorded); set "series links" to automatically record all episodes of the same programme; integrates very nicely into the 'normal' sky programme guide; washes up; cooks the dinner; walks the dog

OK, the last 3 are not quite true, but it's still a pretty neat piece of kit.

Tiggs

staggering answer!!!!


Sky + is the best thing i bought in last couple of years.

ease of use 10/10
cleverness 10/10
record two channels at once 10/10
coolness 10/10

Over all 10/10

dharbige

I've had mine for nearly a year now,and still think it's a fantastic piece of kit. What's more, the wife thinks it's great too.

braaaptish

inherent (and probably irrational) dislike of anything related with SKY ... I reckon there's more going on in that box and being sent down the lines than you know about ... Ridiculously expensive subscriptions too ... distrust ...

stevencotton

Subscriptions are free if you already subscribe to a certain amount of Sky stuff. Are you wearing a tin foil hat?

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Depends what you are after:

1) Record the odd programme you would normally miss, then Sky+
2) Only record the programmes you plan on keeping for a while, then DVD recorder

I currently have cable TV connected to my Tivo (similar to Sky+) but I'm looking at getting a DVD recorder for programmes I plan to keep longer.

Tiggs

dislike sky........so many people say this but really...who cares? Quite frankly Osama Bin Laden could be running Sky and as long as the Sky Box is as clever as it is and they keep pumping crazy yank TV with the odd bit of Ant and Dec into my living room...im happy!

££££££...cheap as chips...whats sky +? extra £10 pm???? i'd pay loads more for it...worth every penny.

Distrust sky......oh dear...its Mulder and Scully time......i really dont care what they have hidden in my box....i dont care if every night a small man from sky pops out from the back of the box and checks to see how much we enjoy using the slow motion button on Playboy TV!

It all rocks!

ozzy

PMSL @ Steve

I think he's being monitored by a Fox satellite

Sky+ is £99 + £10 per month if you want multi-room. You could add a DVR to this, but you have to play from the Sky box and record onto the DVR at x1 speed. No high-speed dubbing unfortunately.

As has been said before, DVR's are great if you want to keep stuff. Watch out for DVR compatibility with media. IIRC one of the best DVR is the Tosh X32 one.

Stefan

MOK79

Maybe I should take it all back and get me this then.

dtriggs

Sky + is great but I also have a Dvd recorder with HDD - I use the Dvd recorder for other stuff like the camcorder as well as stuff to keep.

So my answer is get both as they have different uses and appeals.

braaaptish

DVDR - you can keep stuff then and also transfer old video/ camcorder stuff so it doesn't deteriorate - your wedding video? haha

... yes I took the pills today

ozzy

If you want to transfer stuff from a digi-camcorder to a DVD make sure you get a DVR with a AV-In (Firewire IEEE1394) socket.

messiah

I think I could well end up getting both anyway - I've gone so long without a VCR that I don't miss it anymore, however, since the missus started doing aquacise which interfere's with Holby City I'm getting aggro!

If there's something I'll want to keep I'll more than likely buy the DVD version anyway - but as my player needs replacing anyway - and the multiregion recorders can be had for around the £200 so that will be the next likely upgrade...

oh I can't decide!

scoobyjimbo

Just got the latest sky+160 with the new 160GB hd.. it is superb.. i upgraded from the standard sky+ box as i was always filling it.. anyway the new one for £300 notes is great.. i also have one of those cheap dvd recorder which is a lite one. It works well and for £139 is a bagain...

J

messiah

The Sky+ 160 box is too overpriced for me - it's cheaper to buy another HDD and fire that in anyway, the sky+ will sort it out for you IIRC.

Apparition

We teated ourselves to Sky+ for Xmas last year ....or was it the year before? anyways, its brill.
Does all the mentioned above and is irreplaceable as far as we are concerned.
Only gripe? well there has to be one...... if you accidently delete something... and I have done , there's no way on gawds earth of getting it back. Be warned, keep clear of the yellow button unless you really mean it.

Tiggs

not sure how you can fill a sky box????? never had mine over 40% used and thats a lot of TV????? if you fill it you should get out more not get more HD!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Don't you mean they should stay in more?

Obviously they are leading such active lives that they don't have a chance to watch TV. (rather than Sky+ recording a whole load of carp! )

Bajie

I've had mine to 87% full!!!
Got a Panasonic DVD recorder too which is well worth the time and effort.
Samsung are doing a DVD Recorder for around £250 which has DV inputs too iirc.
Buy 'em both

Andy ... you'd be amazed how much of that "carp" your kids want recorded.
Not to mention Top Gear on series link, Pimp My Ride , discovery channel.
Funnily enough, I couldn't be without the damned thing now as we do get out of the house quite often

Hammoc

....emmmm Sky+ sounds very tempting.

The VCR recently went wrong. Doesn't seem worth replacing. Been thinkin' about Sky+. Friends who've got it say it's great. Seems to be the same with people who've posted here.

Hammoc

...just seen upgrade is reduced. http://existing.sky.com/offers.asp

Does anyone know if upgrade prices are coming down now the Sky+ 160 boxes are out?