DVD Recorder Questions

[dlminehart]

Kristofer: Is the 2.4 the version of Tivo kernel? Shouldn't this be updated automatically for me by Tivo? Is it still compatible with the Tivo Desktop 2.0, which apparently I need for compatibility with the MyDVD software, that has yet to be updated for the new Tivo Desktop software? Are you getting 3.2Mb/s over 802.11b (which is all I have on the Tivo) or .11g? I tried to update the Tivo wireless USB to g, only to find that the Tivo-certified ones (aside from Tivo itself) were no longer sold at my local stores, being outdated models.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Simple answer to your question. Yes, the DVD recorder will happily replace your VCR. You will experience some of the problems associated with VHS recordings such as recording the wrong program at the wrong time. You will likely have a "coaster" or two, ie bad burn disks. Circuit City has been having some great deals on Sony material lately, like 50 pks for $15. I have had better experience with brand name disks.
The warning about not copying copywrighted material is simply advising that if you try to feed the output of a DVD player into the input of the DVD recorder to make a copy it will not work due to copy protection of the disk.
Again, DVD recorder is a feasible replacement for VCR.

But Satellite boxs with hard drive recorders, HiDef cable boxes with recorders and the previously mentioned Tivo ROCK! It's too darn easy. When I got a couple of HDTVs in the last couple months and needed HD feed. Cable company provided and one with hard drive recorder was only $5 more per month, which is much cheaper than Tivo subscription.

[jAngiel]

I have a dvd recorder that I bought at Walmart. It was cheap, maybe $120, I think its less now. I think it's a great replacement for my vcr. It even has similar features allowing 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours per disc. I like this cheapo one because it allows me to update the firmware whenever there is an update online.

I have used it to copy vcr tapes to dvd, move home 8mm videos of the kids to dvd and also to my pc (I used to not have a capture device, but I do now), and also the typical recording of tivoed shows to dvd.

That said, I tried tivo. It's an awesome way to watch tv. The stuff I want to watch, I can. WHEN I WANT TO. Even LOML loves it, that is the first thing TV, entertainment center, home theater wise, whatever that she as ever agreed was a good idea. She has even been praising it to all her friends.

As far as the original post, ignore the last part of the message and just read the first two paragraphs.

[bobby_m]

Have you checked with your cable provider? Most, if not all, cable companies are now leasing DVR enabled cable boxes. Mine actually does charge $9.99 per month extra for the capability, but if you factor in the convenience of not having to feed discs to the machine, and not purchase a quickly depriating piece of equipment, I think it's a great service. I rarely ever feel the need to permanently archive a TV show, it's really all about short-term time shifting for me.

Bobby

[Tom Miller]

Have you checked with your cable provider?

Well, I did. All I have to do is upgrade from my $45/month basic service, to ~$75/month digital service. Then I have the option of renting their Tivo-like device for $10/month.

Regards,
Tom

[vaking]

I have a Microsoft HTPC (Windows XP, MCE) , never used DVD burner but I am wondering about one aspect of this. My HTPC has some sort of digital rights protection. I can record a show from any channel. I can view any of the recorded shows, but if I transfer the recording to another HTPC - recodrings made on basic channels will play, recording made on a premium channel will not. Those can only be played on the same HTPC that recorded it. It does not matter if I transfer via DVD, flash device, anything else. I think there may be a way around it by converting the recording to a regular DVD format from Microsoft DVD format. I wonder if DVD-recorders have something like that.

[drumpriest]

Vaking, you are talking about DRM, which is the worst thing, well possibly ever. Basically it screws people over. For instance, in music, if you have a membership to napster, and you are paying xxx$ a month, you can download wma files that will only work on the computer you used to download it, or on another computer with napster's client installed and your username and password. So you don't really have the ability to listen to that song that you just paid for in your car.

They charge extra for "CD burnable" songs. So long as DRM exists, CDs will survive.

Anyway, DVD format doesn't have any such animal, as it was spec'd prior to this travesty against consumers was invented. You sure can assume though that the next format will include such insipid devices to prevent you from enjoying the media for which you've paid. The information contained in the file that is killing you is in that specific file format. Once you encode to MPEG 2, it's not going to be there. The problem that you are going to have is that some encoders probably won't let you go to mpeg 2.

Thank you Microsoft for proving yet again that you really couldn't care less about those people using your products. There's nothing like having market share to make a company stop providing useful software.