Help! DVR Questions

[John Crichton]

Okay, let me put it this way. I want a 20-24 inch LCD HD TV (with integrated ATSC tuner) for under $400 (MSRP).

Try here -

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108580-3.html

And you shouldn't have to wait too long. Have some patience, man. Here is a quick search on cnet for the features you mentioned. Poke around a bit, there may be one in there you dig -

http://reviews.cnet.com/4566-6475_7...15_500961_82530_100021_10197538_&tag=dir.size

And I still want a user-friendly subscription-free DVR that I can program myself ... with a hard drive that I can upgrade. Heck, I'd settle for being able to plug in external HD via USB or Firewire.

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Aeolius. The subscription-free part of what you are looking for isn't something you are going to find on the market right now if you also want a user-friendly interface. These companies charge to maintain the program guides for a reason. You mentioned the VCR+ example before and I never used it either, I also had a ton of tapes sitting around. And yeah, it is easy to set something to record a date/time and have it happen every week.

However, a TiVo (I'm just going with what I know) does much more than that. The right ones allow you to record 2 shows that are on at the same time and possibly watch a third that you had previously recorded. It will catch programming changes that you may miss (like the last 2 minutes of Lost from about a year ago that people complained about). It also will record shows on other channels, not just the primary channel if you tell it to.

My suggestion would be to try one out from something like your cable company. Okay, I just checked again and you don't want to go to cable which I assume means satellite as well. Hmm, you may just have to wait for technology to catch up to your wish list as I look at I look at your upgradeable HD want.

 

[Ranger REG]

I understand your frustration. The stipulation for a "subscription-free DVR" is a difficult one to work with.

Yeah, that's like Sony offering subscription-free EverQuest Online RPG. "No, we don't need the extra money."

*Why is Morrus so afraid of rolleye smiley? Childhood trauma?*

A 6-year old PC, eh? Well, MacWorld Expo is in less than 2 weeks. Apple might announce the iTV product they've been working on. ::ducking::

*tries to bean Aeolius with Aeolius's iPod*

 

[Tewligan]

Okay, let me put it this way. I want a 20-24 inch LCD HD TV (with integrated ATSC tuner) for under $400 (MSRP).

And I still want a user-friendly subscription-free DVR that I can program myself ... with a hard drive that I can upgrade. Heck, I'd settle for being able to plug in external HD via USB or Firewire.

Ooh! And I want a magic pony that craps rainbows and vomits candy!

 

[Pyrex]

...The subscription-free part of what you are looking for isn't something you are going to find on the market right now if you also want a user-friendly interface...

*glances sideways at his subscription-free, user-friendly media center PC*

 

[Ranger REG]

Ooh! And I want a magic pony that craps rainbows and vomits candy!

Sorry. I only sell magic ponies that crap candies and vomit rainbows.

 

[Tewligan]

Sorry. I only sell magic ponies that crap candies and vomit rainbows.

Then that, sir, is a subpar magic pony! Unless, of course, the candy that it craps is Skittles - because, y'know, that's both candy AND a rainbow.

 

[Ranger REG]

Then that, sir, is a subpar magic pony! Unless, of course, the candy that it craps is Skittles - because, y'know, that's both candy AND a rainbow.

Oddly enough, it craps REGGIE! candy bars (circa 1970's-80's).