Limited Dvd Recorder availability

[kennywally]

limpy


I noticed that too, the market seems to be holding back on these.

Perhaps after tv goes full digital, they'll open it up.

==========

all these places carry a few decent models, I didn't discover them until after I bought the philips

http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/dvdrecorders.html

http://www.dvdoverseas.com/store/index.html?loadfile=catalog98_0.html

http://www.world-import.com/dvd.htm

http://www.220-electronics.com/dvdrecorders/dvdrecorders.html

http://www.mindlogic.com/MSDVDR_PION_dvr-650_DTL.shtml

[highvolumeJP]

I am surprised honestly - there should be a very big market for DVD recorders as they are not ONLY used for tuner recordings but also converting your old VHS & Hi8 and MiniDV to DVD - everyone has home movies from the past and old tapes - there are DVD recorders out there, but the choice is limited and the choices are not necessarily the best ones

[kennywally]

Lordsmurf

" I think that matches some research from late last year, that showed DVD recorder adoption in the 20-30% range, and HDD versions to be maybe 10-20% of the adopters. The machines simply were not desired by consumers. Hobbyists and pros rarely wanted them either, as quality was too limited for anything they would want to do "

Back before I bought mine, I asked the guys at BEST BUY if they could demonstrate using it, they could not!!!!

How in the world can the mfrs expects good sales without GOOD SALES TOOLS for the salesmen to sell the product?!?!?!

Zenith had the right idea with the vcr, to include a brief tape on the basics of the machine. It was a great tool for the clumsy consumer and could also be shown at the retail store.

That's all that they had to do, was make up a brief intro dvd included in the packaging to play. The guys at RETAIL STORES would have seen that and played it and then quickly learned the ins and outs.

Inspite all the odds against me, I went and bought two of them, I was planning on sending one back but I procrastinated past 30 days and was stuck with it. I went back to BEST BUY and tried again for operational tips but the kids didn't have a clue.

Eventually I got around to calling panasonic for some help. Once the tech helped me thru a cpl sticking points, I was good to go, no problem.

The industry screwed itself, they got noone to blame but them selves. I imagine at the same time those were coming out, the dvr satellite ones were coming of age too, so maybe they just didn't care about that end of the market anymore. But they definitely dropped the ball on the first batch for the consumers.

[kennywally]

I also have the philips one from sams club, if you love panasonic you won't like this one as much.

I bought it out of desperation because no one else is carrying it.

As soon as I can replace it with a panasonic or a pioneer, I'm selling it on ebay.

the price is decent, but the editing part is not to my liking and the hdd is not that big

[highvolumeJP]

A DVD included with your recorder LOL you must be dreaming! Yeah in an ideal world they would include and instructional video with your VCR on how to fix the flashing 12:00 problem too At the current cheap prices of electronics now and companies cutting corners with build quality, you can't expect them to include an instructional DVD ! Imagine the millions of units produced times the cost involved in replicating DVDs, packaging, printing - it represents millions more - so instead they provide you with a piss poor translated manual that is incomplete

[handyguy]

A DVD included with your recorder LOL you must be dreaming! Yeah in an ideal world they would include and instructional video with your VCR on how to fix the flashing 12:00 problem too

Black tape.

[Bagheera]

A DVD included with your recorder LOL you must be dreaming! Yeah in an ideal world they would include and instructional video with your VCR on how to fix the flashing 12:00 problem too

Black tape.

LOL!

[jman98]

Back before I bought mine, I asked the guys at BEST BUY if they could demonstrate using it, they could not!!!!

How in the world can the mfrs expects good sales without GOOD SALES TOOLS for the salesmen to sell the product?!?!?!

Really, you should not be surprised at this. I'm going to tell you how things really work in the USA. Nobody actually trains their employees in retail or if they do, it is some quick 1 day thing that won't really be enough for them to truly know a lot about what they sell. It's been true for over 20 years when I was a college kid and worked retail and sold electronics. I got no training of any kind and the only reason I did a good job was that I was interested in the subject and I had personal experience with a lot of equipment we sold.

The only safe way to deal with retail stores is to do your research first on the internet and only then go in with a very good idea of what you want. If you expect the sales droids to help you, usually you will be disappointed. I'm sorry but that is reality. You don't have to like it, but that is how it is. The sooner you except this and understand that it's up to YOU to make an informed purchasing decision, the better you will be. Before I bought my HDTV 2 years ago, I spent time over the course of several months doing research to be sure I understood the subject so that I could make an informed purchase. I held off buying an HDTV until I reached the point that I was sure that I would be satisfied with what I bought and almost 2 years later I can honestly say that it was a great decision. If you are not willing to do your own research prior to purchasing, then you can realistically expect to be lied to and manipulated by sales droids who are masters at telling you what you want to hear to get your money.

[kennywally]

highvolumeJP



"A DVD included with your recorder LOL you must be dreaming!"


I'll have you know, that in the 80's I bought a nice vcr from zenith, and it came with a short how to video, on the basic operations of the unit.

Well thought out, they even had cue cards in the box , so as you opened it up it told you what wires to put where in order to watch the vide and it was most excellent.

I realize the corporations are just well dressed whores now, but back then, zenith got a pat on the back from me.


One more incident I had was checking out the minidisc, I needed a recorder that I could record from the internet and playback and edit etc...circuit city couldn't do it, they couldn't give me a demonstration, but I bit the bullet and bought it, I ended up with a few of them and was very happy with the product.

I asked a buddy of mine in the home electronics industry, he said then, they big boys had already decided on no moving parts media, flash, mp3 etc was the new technology they were gonna push and they didn't care about the minidisc market, which still has a lot of loyal users.


" BLACK TAPE" .......I think he meant blank? or was there another meaning there I missed?


anyways,


CAN ANYONE TELL ME, Why Philips DVDR3576H/37 160GB Hard Drive ATSC DVD Player and Recorder
seems to be the only available dvd hdd out there, HERE, in the usa?

I've looked around alot, and it looks like the whores of the world decided to cut the usa out of this product [ hdd/dvd recorder ] which the UK and AUS still have available, but we're talking 230vac units, so to use them here, you'd need a voltage converter.

ANYONE have any thoughts on this?

[Marvingj]

PVR are easier and cheap, whereas dvd recorders are too complex for the average Joe Public. Reminds me with the first vcr came out and people couldn't use the timer,

[victoriabears]

All the electronics I have from the UK 220 volts work fine on 110.

[kennywally]

victoriabears,

tell me what you have, where you got it from, and what kind of voltage converter are you using?

I just may go that route. As I'm not wanting to spend a lotof time building one

[kennywally]

Marvingj

was there something at that link besides a black box going in circles?

[victoriabears]

Sorry, slightly naff info, as far as I know you would need a dvd recorder with a hard disc that can be PAL or NTSC, and thats a panasonic, with the current batch of Philips they no longer allow that option (shame !).

A voltage converter should not be necessary if a 220 works with plug changed to plug into a 110, as far as I know plugging a 220 item into 110 does no harm , merely does not work.

Look at

www.panasonic.co.uk

or try one of the many vendors in the USA who sell dual system dvd recorders with hard discs, :-

http://search.ebay.ca/_W0QQsassZmulti-system

I could not see hard disc models but he is very helpful and may be able to source one.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dvd+recorde...rive&x=14&y=21

has a few which suprised me, why not go for the Philips.

[samijubal]

For me, I see no point to a HDD recorder that doesn't allow setting the bitrate in increments. The main advantage of a HDD recorder is being able to raise the bitrate to fit the disc. Editing on a PC is easier, faster, more accurate, unless using VR mode, and has better menus. I'm sure other people feel different but since I never use a recorder for playback, players last far longer and my recorders aren't even in the room I watch TV in, without the adjustable bitrate the HDD is useless and is just more steps and time to do the same thing as a non HDD recorder.

[Bagheera]

A DVD included with your recorder LOL you must be dreaming! Yeah in an ideal world they would include and instructional video with your VCR on how to fix the flashing 12:00 problem too

Black tape.

LOL!

KennyWally,

He was making a joke about the whole flashing clock thing.. He was saying that the best way to fix the flashing clock on the VCR is to place black tape over the clock display so you cannot see it anymore. Hence, problem solved.

[kennywally]

Bagheera

zoom, right over my head,

ok I get it now. I just never heard that expression before. lmao

[kennywally]

" Limited Dvd Recorder availability "

I finally got around to talking to my friend who is in the electronics industry/music end of the business, and been in the industry for 30 yrs.

I asked him wtf is going on, why is philips the only one making these boxes.

He says, they don't care about us, we're in the minority. They care about the satellite/cable compay boxes.

People get their boxes with a subscription and many can't deal with the units that we do, the sales were slow, so....

So, that's probably not much of a surprise to most of you, but for those who had no clue at all, well now you know something that you probably would not have heard talked about on tv anyways.

So it looks like I may get an aussie unit or a uk unit, before they stop making those as well!!!


FWIW anyone considering a philips from sams club, I can tell you, that the controls and options are not as detailed as the panasonic and I'm going to try to nurse the 2 analog models, I have, along til I can't use them anymore while considering my options for a foreign model and or a do-it-yourself pc based PVR.

[Bagheera]

KennyWally,

You might have to resort to my solution in the end. I spent some cash on replacement parts to keep my dvr actually running. Not cheap for sure. And most folks wouldn't invest that much into any machine to repair it. But in the end, some of us have had to consider this as a "last ditch" effort to keep them up and running.

While I admit that this is a VERY expensive proposition in many cases. It very well might be our only hope.

[kennywally]

Bagheera

I take it that a uk, aussie or canadian unit did not appeal to you.

And what did you have [ brand / model ] and what needed replacing? how long did the hdd last b4 u replaced it ?

[samijubal]

Why not just look on ebay? Every recorder I've bought on ebay has worked and I've bought more than a few of them. Just choose wisely.

[Bagheera]

Hi there KennyWally,

Well, it really wasn't that these units didn't appeal to me, it was just that I had a very special unit that was bought for me before my dad passed away. He bought me a DVR-220. After he passed I couldn't bear to think of getting rid of it, so, I paid to buy the parts to fix it myself.

The 220 was not a very expensive recorder. But the parts sure were. The DVD Burner drive in it was $300 just by itself. This unit has no HDD. Just a DVD Burner/player. And a tuner. I have to admit though, it has a wonderful picture to it and I don't regret spending the cash. It was well worth it to me. You cannot find them anymore. (at least not in good condition.)

The uk, aussie units would be fine with me really. The only thing I would be concerned with is changing out the region code, unless it's a region free unit. And of course power concerns. But, these things would be minor to me and I wouldn't hesitate to purchase one if I was in the market.

Pioneer is the way to go.

[kennywally]

Bagheera

Thanks for the info, and why do you say pioneer? I've only read the specs which look as good as the panasonics do. But why them over panasonic?

They've been berry berry good to me!

[Seeker47]

The uk, aussie units would be fine with me really. The only thing I would be concerned with is changing out the region code, unless it's a region free unit. And of course power concerns. But, these things would be minor to me and I wouldn't hesitate to purchase one if I was in the market.

Pioneer is the way to go.

While the prices are sky-high, those dual-current, multi-region Pioneers (often modded to have larger hard-drives) seem to still be available from at least a couple of those 220 electronics vendors, so that remains an option for those undeterred by the cost. You would not have a warranty, except perhaps from the vendor, but you would not have one either for a new unit from Canada, the UK, or AU. The latter two are going to have big shipping charges, and all three may incur customs charges as well. That factor may narrow the cost gap with the NYC-based 220 dealers a bit. (I think that first post of this thread by Kennywally has some of their links.)

And as Samijubal said, Ebay remains an option also, if one is patient, careful, and maybe a bit lucky. I've seen ridiculous auctions for the 520 and the 640 close there in the $700. range, but, on the other hand, I bought a low-mileage 640 there for less than half that, shipping included. People continue to unload these for various reasons. I know an older couple who have a barely used 520 (this is a very sought-after model), and just never had any interest in learning how to use it. (But they plan to keep it, unlike many others in that demographic.) VCRs were about the last piece of such electronics gear they bothered to learn the basics of using.

Thanks for the info, and why do you say pioneer? I've only read the specs which look as good as the panasonics do. But why them over panasonic?

If you talk to the more knowledgeable people who have owned different makes and models, going back a few years, I think you'll find a consensus that the Pioneers and the older Toshibas were clearly the best. (Don't want to over-generalize here, because the particular model matters a lot.) Maybe not in terms of absolute best PQ, but in terms of features / accessibility, build-quality, and longevity. You can find plenty of discussion of the Panasonics and the other makes in past forum threads here.

[jjeff]

I think Orsetto said it best. If you're used to a Panny you probably won't be happy with a Pio. On the other hand if you're used to a Pio you probably wouldn't like a Panny.
I think either machines are a far site better than anything else out their and from what I've read a Panny EH-67 from W/I would run you ~$480 and be modified for region free. Note the Panny only has a PAL tuner if that matters to you. I believe?? the Pios have a multi system analog tuner, just going off memory though.
Link to a recent thread talking about the Panny EH-67
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1071388

[kennywally]

I guess the best thing to do would be to go local, I have 2 places not too far away who have similar models, maybe I can get a demonstration.

The pioneer looks nice, but that comment about a panny owner not liking the pioneer, makes me want to look first this time. last time, I just took the leap. lol

FWIW I am looking for one which will get the hd broadcasts off the air, I don't have cable. Don't Really want it.

[jjeff]

Then unless you want to get the Philips 3575/6 you'll be stuck using a converter box with a Panny or Pio.
I use a CM-7000 converter box with my Panny EH-55 and get great results. My EH-55 has the analog tuner but I never use it, instead I prefer the better PQ using the CM. Not sure about the EH-67 but the EH-55 uses a IR blaster to automatically change the channel on my CM box. Works like a charm. Did require a bit of setting up though.

[FulciLives]

Pioneer is better than Panny. Panny sucks.

I love my Pioneer

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[kennywally]

FulciLives

lol

ok, I get it, you're partial, but WHY?!

I need details

[samijubal]

Toshiba all the way. I get surprisingly good widescreen recordings with a Zenith converter box. The Toshiba HDD recorders were the best ever made.