philips to stop making dvd recorders

[DarrellS]

I was in the electronics department of three different Walmart stores this weekend, looking for a new surge protector (none of them had the one that I saw on their website) and thought I'd check to see what the prices were on the Philips recorders and they didn't have one single Philips recorder in any of the three Walmarts that I checked. Not just the 3576 but any Philips recorders at all.

[oldfart13]

Philips dvdr3576 now at best buy canada, $299.00 plus tax and shipping, my shipping to vancouver island was only $7 !

No Best Buy where I am and Futureshop only carries Pioneer and LG. Wal-Mart has Magnavox 80 Gig units for $199 but I'm hoping those drop a tad before I'd buy one. My fixable Daytek 950's cost me $25 including shipping off Ebay. Nice deal since I was able to completely restore one unit, pull a spare HDD from the other (160 Gig) and now have 3 remotes that go for $35 each from the manufacturer. That gives me 2 Daytek 950-S, 1 Panasonic E80H and 2 Liteon 5001s. Still looking for more fixable hardware...

[handyguy]

I was in the electronics department of three different Walmart stores this weekend, looking for a new surge protector (none of them had the one that I saw on their website) and thought I'd check to see what the prices were on the Philips recorders and they didn't have one single Philips recorder in any of the three Walmarts that I checked. Not just the 3576 but any Philips recorders at all.

But you can buy them cheap from philips outlet store on the web. Refurb.

[victoriabears]

Not in Canada we cannot unless you have a USA friend who will act as post office.

For our "oldfart13" can he not order on line?

[DarrellS]

But you can buy them cheap from philips outlet store on the web. Refurb.

I was referring to Walmart either already not stocking them or they're flying off their selves faster than they can restock them.

[Seeker47]

But you can buy them cheap from philips outlet store on the web. Refurb.

I was referring to Walmart either already not stocking them or they're flying off their selves faster than they can restock them.

Either / both of those sound very possible. Bearing in mind what Walmart's market is, I still wonder if they all stock the exact same lineup ? Unfortunately, I've only set foot in about 3 of their locations -- all older stores that were pretty shabby and downmarket, in part reflecting their location -- so I couldn't really say if some of their stores might be more likely to carry certain items. For the ones I have been in, their shelf locations where you could see a product tag for the Phillips (or, much earlier, the Pioneer) models, were usually empty, even back when these units were much more widely available.

[yoda313]

What they needed to was incorporate fiber optic or digital coax inputs into dvd recorders. Then you could get high quality 720x480 with 5.1 input.

That might have spurred new growth. At the very least it would have appealed to video gamers who want to record their games.

[samijubal]

Philips doesn't make DVD recorders. Their recorders are Funai. They can stop selling them but they can't stop making something they don't make.

[PuzZLeR]

The FutureShop chain here in Canada carries some great DVR deals almost every other week. Feel free to check out their online flyer.

As a local here, I don't mind helping a community member interested in getting one of these deals. Just PM me and I can give you my postal code, and if you like a deal here in my area I can arrange for them to ship it to you direct without you going through a ton of hassle.

[RabidDog]

Yoda, they heard and obeyed.. but then thought, nope, North Americans cant have it! see 5520/5570 euro models

[lordsmurf]

I saw a whole stack of 3575 machines in Lawrenceburg, TN, while on a trip some weeks ago. Stopped in for a snack (for you health nuts out there, skip fast food on the road, go to the nearest grocery store deli!), but browsed electronics on the way out. Was just passing through, middle of nowhere.

[hiptune]

I do all my recording, editing and authoring on PC and have thought about a DVD recorder for years to do the easy stuff. Is time running out on a good one?

I agree the studios and software companies (you know who) are trying to lock everything up even in an analog link.

[samijubal]

Time is already gone on a good one.

[handyguy]

But you can use you computer & make a nice one:
byopvr.com

Build your own pvr

[usually_quiet]

Building a HTPC/PC-Based PVR is an option, but not an inexpensive one, if it includes a digital tuner and the ability to record HD, which most people would want.

In any case, I suspect that in N. America future PC's that can be used as video recording devices will also be affected by HDMI, and the restrictions will be implemented via hardware as well as software, so they can't easily be circumvented. Obtaining hardware from a source outside N. America would be the only way.