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| Thread ID: 75525 | 2007-01-01 19:17:00 | How not to buy a DVD Hard Drive Recorder | Strommer (42) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 511832 | 2007-05-04 08:37:00 | Do you plan to use it as a DVD recorder, or???? Link for Altech MG-25 - Ascent - $173 www.ascent.co.nz Not if I buy the Altech. There's no record function. I think I will buy the Sony after all - just need to sell a couple more things on Trademe first :) |
teszeract (8723) | ||
| 511833 | 2007-05-06 05:48:00 | Hi - as a newbie to this forum I would like to add my 2c worth and see if anyone else out there has invented the wheel to save me. I agree with comment below as regards output requirements for DVD recorders. There are many models around that have USB and Firewire inputs but none that I have found with outputs to connect to an external PC. I have a DickSmith G1926 (which is a rebadged Hyundai (Ellion Electronics DVD950A) with a 120GB recorder and it is a pain to extract a 3hour recording from the HDD via DVD+RW. Any recommendations for this feature mix?: HDD DVD recorder must be able to transfer files from PC/Mac via USB or Firewire thumbnails (the sony has them, the altech doesn't) good error correction divx playback not much eh ;) Another forum www.normediasolutions.com has come up with the idea of converting the recorder to use a removeable hard drive so that the HDD can be slotted in to a normal PC which also has a caddy for a removeable drive but IMHO a cabled solution would be ideal (ethernet, USB, Firewire, whatever). Has anyone made progress on this? keep up the good work.pressf1.co.nz :lol: |
bb2 (11697) | ||
| 511834 | 2007-05-06 06:47:00 | :thumbs: Welcome to PF1, bb2 ! :) Be careful though: If you stay on this forum long enough you may get a strange sense of humour and a head full of very useful and not useful information. :lol: I am not sure if I follow all that you say, but if a DVD recorder has the option to make a DVD from anything on the hard drive, and the ability to transfer from DVD to hd (non copyright disk) then there is no need to worry about a pc connection or removable hd. Am I on the right track here? |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 511835 | 2007-05-11 08:01:00 | :thumbs: I am not sure if I follow all that you say, but if a DVD recorder has the option to make a DVD from anything on the hard drive, and the ability to transfer from DVD to hd (non copyright disk) then there is no need to worry about a pc connection or removable hd . Am I on the right track here? Hi Steve - Let me update about the Phillips 3455 - There are some program inbuild to Cut u r adds and unwanted things . Then it can be taken thro DVD RW disc as a single file - when v go for ripping, it will give single output file ( 30 Min program single . avi file ) More than . 99 GB, files are splited each (Vob01_01, Vob01_02 continue ) files . So, There is no chance to change my unit as its halted more days with me . I asked sony markets - as per them still its too costly ( Double ) of Phillips rate . :xmouth: |
Thankam (11696) | ||
| 511836 | 2007-05-11 09:30:00 | Thankam I am curious what you pay - USD or NZD if you can convert it - for a Sony or your Philips in your "Middle East country"? (Jordan or Saudi Arabia, maybe UAR?) | Strommer (42) | ||
| 511837 | 2007-05-23 02:37:00 | User Review of Transonic DVD Recorder with 80 Gb hard drive model TC2058DR I will begin with the good points and end with the reasons I am returning the Transonic for a refund, after only having it for two hours. You may not be bothered with the negative points so read on if you are considering purchasing one of these recorders. The Warehouse has this on sale for $330, marked down $100. It comes with a 2 year warranty and if you pay another 10% - a mere $33 - you can get another 2 years extended warranty, bringing the totals to $363 for a 4 year warranty. When most all other DVD recorders cost around twice as much and have only a 1 year warranty, the Transonic is appealing despite the brand having a consumer status rating of zippo. For a low priced unit the styling is good. The remote control has all the features you would want, including Mute, FFW and REV up to 32x, Slow Forward (but no slow reverse). There are many other functions but suffice it to say now that nothing is missing. I especially like the front panel RCA, camera cable DV input, and S Video socket. :thumbs: A USB connector is on the back (unless you plan a permanent connection, simply get a USB cable extension so you can use USB from the front). Take note that other pricey recorders will not have front panel connections or USB. So far, so good. There are six quality settings for recording to the hard drive. I compared recordings on the two lowest (i.e. worst quality but giving the longest times) settings and was pleasantly surprised at the result: on a 29 inch screen I had a hard time telling the difference between the recordings and the actual tv picture. The lowest setting - Super Long Play - would be fine for most people as the result is very good indeed. Also note that ASFAIK the Warehouse's Sanyo dvd recorders HVRDX700 and HVRDX710 only have four quality settings; this is important when using the lowest (poor quality / long time) settings because if the bottom two settings give a pixelated / fuzzy picture, then you will have to use a higher setting and then get reduced recording time. Is 80 Gb enough? Yes. My friend has a $750 Sony with 160 Gb and after 6 months only about 60 Gb is used. Look at it this way: if you record on the Transonic's second lowest quality setting you will get 68 hours total recording time and this = eleven VHS tapes (when the VCR is set to Long Play). And if you do happen to run out of room on the hard drive then transfer your recordings to DVD-R or DVD-RW disks. If money is no problem then go ahead and get a recorder with a larger hard drive... but anyone reading this wants a bargain and will not fork over $700+ for a Pioneer or Sony. There are many other features that I liked but will not comment on. Go back and read the very first post of this thread and read my comments about the Philips recorder - basically the Transonic is an improvement and if I had a choice between the two I would get the Transonic. But wait, there is more... why I am returning it to the Warehouse. There are two big faults with the Transonic: 1. There is no provision to use G-Codes for recording. Think how much extra fiddling is involved having to key in the date and times. :stare: 2. You cannot watch a DVD disk and have the Timer record a program. So if the little ones want to watch a kiddie flick from Video Ezy and you want to record rugby or Top Gear at the same time - forget it. The Timer only records when the Transonic is in Standby mode; its either / or. :mad: If you don't mind being without G-Codes, perhaps you could use your old DVD player or even a VCR to record a TV program while a DVD disk movie is being played. For me, its too much of a hassle. I'm off to the Warehouse to get a refund... and to see if the 160 Gb Sanyo HVRDX710 has G-codes. :lol: ------- See the Transonic TC2058DR user manual on The Warehouse site: www.thewarehouse.co.nz |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 511838 | 2007-05-23 03:00:00 | ... still more... :) The Transonic has VPS/PDC Time Adjustment which means that if you input the announced time and date of the programme that you want to record, and that programme happens to run late, for example, VPS and PDC will automatically correct the timed recording on your recorder. :groan: But if VPS/PDC is used, then only 8 Timer settings can be used. It is easy to fill up the Timer page when 4 or 5 programs are set to record on the Weekly setting. :thumbs: BTW, the Transonic does allow for Weekly from Monday - Friday, or variations including Sat and/or Sunday. In other words, all normal configurations are covered. |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 511839 | 2007-05-23 03:51:00 | Steve_L > is there any DVD Hard Drive Recorder that you have not used yet? :p :) (PC world could do a thing on DVD Hard Drive Recorders & they could use your posts ;) :)) | stu161204 (123) | ||
| 511840 | 2007-05-23 04:33:00 | There are two big faults with the Transonic: 2 . You cannot watch a DVD disk and have the Timer record a program . So if the little ones want to watch a kiddie flick from Video Ezy and you want to record rugby or Top Gear at the same time - forget it . The Timer only records when the Transonic is in Standby mode; its either / or . :mad: No - I am wrong on this point . The manual first states that the unit must be in Standby mode in order for the Timer to start recording a program, but at the end of the manual there are some 'tricks' . . . I am reading through these to see if I can get it working but evidently you can in fact watch a DVD disk and get a recording done at the same time . I'll see if I can get it to work . Also, the link I gave at the bottom of that post, for the User Manual, is not for the Transonic but for one of the Sanyo recorders . |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 511841 | 2007-05-23 04:35:00 | Stu: :lol: Hey, I have only reviewed 2 DVD recorders, not counting the few comments made about my friend's Sony. As far as PC World mag, I doubt it since these are stand alone recorders and not part of computers. BTW, manufacturers must pay a whack of $$ for the right to use G-Codes. I guess this is why cheapie recorders don't have G-Code. |
Strommer (42) | ||
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