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Thread ID: 60505	2005-08-04 00:48:00	Slightly Off Topic: DVD/HDD recorders	Lizard (2409)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
378054	2005-08-04 00:48:00	Hi everyone, Just an idle wondering - does anyone have any experiences of using HDD-based DVD recorders? I've been considering getting one, and there seem to be three key models - Sony, Philips and Panasonic - with two main flavours - 80gb or 160gb. When I went to a store to have a look, I asked the salesperson if he could show me one working (in the middle of the week, when hardly anyone else was shopping). It was the panasonic brand, which I favoured at the time, and in spite of his best efforts (which weren't that great, to be honest), he couldn't get it working in the store. Is it unreasonable, do you think, to expect a dvd recorder to be functionable in the store? Particularly when you advertise features like time-slip recording on the HDD, pausing live tv, etc. At any rate, what I thought would have been a simple request (it would have helped me make my mind up), ended up discouraging me from the Panasonic model. So I'm interested to hear from anyone who has one of these, and how easy/useful/feature-rich they are in real-life (i.e. outside a magazine's review page). Cheers Lizard	Lizard (2409)
378055	2005-08-04 01:08:00	I haven't used it myself yet but my dad has a Panasonic he bought in Ozzie and is very happy with it	bartsdadhomer (80)
378056	2005-08-04 01:55:00	Lizard, try and get hold of the June 2005 Consumer mag, an excellent comparrison between the different models. I'm looking at geting one as well, and am pleased I read this...	Aporosa (5671)
378057	2005-08-04 02:06:00	Lizard, try and get hold of the June 2005 Consumer mag, an excellent comparrison between the different models. I'm looking at geting one as well, and am pleased I read this... I have to say, the approach of the store salesperson was surprising. He muttered something about how I should have "booked" a demonstration, which is fair comment I suppose, but he said that after he spent 30 mins trying to get reception on the tv without plugging in an aerial. I went to another store and started by asking "would they be able to demonstrate one of their models working if I made a "booking"", and they said straight out "no", because then the recorder would be "shop-soiled" - this in spite of the fact that they had three working models on the shelf (but not plugged in). Go figure... I find it bizarre that people are expected to accept on faith the merits or otherwise of these devices, which are often a high-cost purchase, without any kind of working, day-to-day demonstration. Everybody gets to see the tv's working, and I can't think of anyone who would buy a tv without seeing it working first, yet when it comes to shelling out $1000 for a dvd recorder, we're asked to exhibit blind-faith. It baffles me...	Lizard (2409)
378058	2005-08-04 02:22:00	Sony!! Also he probably never had anyone want to see it going first and therefore didn't know how himself. (What will people ask for next - warranties?) :D Go to another shop and ask for a demo.	pctek (84)
378059	2005-08-04 02:29:00	Lizard Check for previous posts by me. There are several containing posts about DVD recorders. I purchased at Panasonic DVD recorder a few months back and it's childs play to operate. So simple I didn't even read the manual till I wanted to learn more about a feature or two. Very happy with it including the editing, time slipping, titling, chapter creation etc If you in Auckland bring some beers and I'll give you a home demonstration. :thumbs:	EX-WESTY (221)
378060	2005-08-04 02:46:00	Sony!! Also he probably never had anyone want to see it going first and therefore didn't know how himself. (What will people ask for next - warranties?) :D Go to another shop and ask for a demo. It was certainly apparent that the salesperson had no idea how to set it up. Two of them worked on it, and when I left (30 mins later), I still hadn't seen a frame of dvd, either playing or recorded. The second store I went to refused point blank to offer a demo, which is a pity because it would probably have been my first choice to buy from them, given half a chance.	Lizard (2409)
378061	2005-08-04 06:09:00	Just about to buy one actually... best price I've found so far is from Paul Money. $800 for an 80gb Pioneer 520 model. Everyone else is still $900 for the Panasonic 80gb. Lo.	Lohsing (219)
378062	2005-08-04 11:42:00	I would go with the pioneer myself. my two cents.	wmoore (6009)
378063	2005-08-04 21:00:00	Pioneer!! My dad has the 80GB model and can't stop talking about it :D In a Fast Forward mag a few months ago the Pioneer was their pick of the bunch.	CYaBro (73)
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