Sony DHG-HDD500 in stores now...

[picrthis]

My local store just got the new Sony DHG-HDD500 recorder in-stock.
500GB HD and it records HD. I thought this wasn't coming out until later this fall as reported at CES. Here's a link from Sony's site on this unit.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/-/-/-/SY_DisplayProductIn...tSKU=DHGHDD500

One thing that I'm very disappointed is this unit unlike their RDR-HX900,
this new unit does NOT have a Burner in it, so there is no way to archive/burn-off any of the video even when not recording HD content; seems like one step forward and a gaint step backwards.

[BJ_M]

it has a USB port , what is that for ?

[donpedro]

USB : Reserved for potential future applications.

[BJ_M]

hmm --

just like phantom firewire connections ..

[oldfart13]

This is a PVR. I guess Sony doesn't want to step on anyone's toes calling it that. To have a burner in the unit that would allow HD recordings requires a Blu-Ray unit which would put the PVR out of the reach of the vast majority of consumers. I guess we'll have to await future models...

[picrthis]

This is a PVR. I guess Sony doesn't want to step on anyone's toes calling it that. To have a burner in the unit that would allow HD recordings requires a Blu-Ray unit which would put the PVR out of the reach of the vast majority of consumers. I guess we'll have to await future models...

Well they could have let us record regular content to a DVD-R, and record HD content to the hard drive and then recode IF you wanted to burn it off to DVD-R. When you copy standard video from current dvr's to a dvd-r and change it from say SP to LP it recodes, so it should have been *no* big deal.

I'd never spend $1,000.00 for a recorder that I can't save/archive to disk

They loose, I save my $$$, I would have bought this in a heartbeat IF I could save/re-record to disk. My local dealer said he is getting so many "customers" coming in and looking at it and telling him the same thing.

Sony is going to have a hard time trying to sell this unit.

[oldfart13]

The new Sony units will allow recordings to be done at the out-of-spec 15 Mbps bitrate to the hard drive but it recodes it to fit a standard DVD-R. That's not really what you want to do though is it? You want to be able to record Hi-Def to a standard DVD-R? No such varmint yet...

[pchan]

They are a bunch of control freaks at Sony. Proprietary is their motto.

[LCSHG]

If its a Sony. I figure it will have a bug, chipset or whatever to gather all your personal infomation and phone home. Anything they make will most likely have problems because of all the protection crap they build into it. I think the toes they may step on could be Dish Network and Direct TV. It would take all there lawyers and more to take them on. They have also built in a lot of connections and equipment for future equipment that never materialize. I think if Sony had its way no DVd made would have a recorder in it and if you are caught with a recorder you will never be seen again.
A big gripe is there proprietary BS. A good example is the Betamax vs VHS They tried strongarm tatics and lost in there greed. I hope more of the same comes there way.