HDD recorders generally turn off after timed recording?

[xpete]

This may be a newbie question, but I could not find the answer searching this site.

I have acquired a PHILIPS DVDR3330H DVD/HDD recorder.
I am generally pleased with it: includes time shift, pause live tv, ability to view DVD or other HDD recording while doing a recording.

But one "feature" annoys me: When a timed recording ends, the unit will always go to standby mode even though I am watching, say, a DVD or another recording (or perhaps an earlier part of the just recorded title from the time shift buffer).

I have had a conversation with philips support about this, and they say that the unit *has* to go to standby to "prepare for the next timed recording", and that "all VCRs and DVD/HDD recorders (all brands) need to be in standby when a timed recording starts".

However I believe this is a lie: If I am watching DVD/HDD when a timed recording is *starting*, the recording starts just fine (even though the unit is not in standby).

So my question is: Is this going to standby really necessary for technical reasons, or is it just an excuse for a stupid bug from Philips?

Do any brands make recorders where you can (uninterrupted) watch one source, when a timed recording completes?

Of course I know about the problem that the unit needs to use the tuner for a timed recording of a certain channel, but the unit actually reports this conflict, if I am watching another channel when the timed recording is about to start. This conflict test alone suggests to me that the unit should not have to go to standby after the timed recording (could just warn similarly if the next timed recording would conflict with what is being watched).
And to me it seems that at least the unit should not turn down in preparation for the next timed recording unless this next one is really close: a timed recording scheduled for the next day should not make the ending of the current timed recording force the unit to standby mode!

Am I just having too high expextations, or is this a crappy behavior?

[TimBooth4Eva]

Hey xpete,

I have a Toshiba RD XS24 DVD Recorder.

I think you have been fed some BS. My machine will record from timer whether it's in standby or turned on.

If it is turned on, about 5 minutes before the scheduled time, a message comes up on the TV screen warning you that if you are 'manually' recording another prog, that will stop and the timer prog will take over.

I'm happy with that!

[handyguy]

If my Panasonics are on at first, they stay on after a recording is complete.

[Krispy Kritter]

There was a post within the last two weeks about a unit that would not record by timer unless the unit was in stand by. If the unit was on, then the recording would not start. So it appears the process varies by brand.