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Posted by Citizen Bob on 10/22/06 11:44
On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 07:44:30 -0700, Karl S <karlsch@-no-spam-ak.net>
wrote:
>> You might want to take a look at the Polaroid DRM-2001G at WalMart for
>> $219. You get a 90-day no questions asked evaluation period. I have
>> one and I like it thus far. There are a couple quirks but I have
>> learned to live with them.
>This looks like something I might want to buy. Walmart Web site says it is
>available online only.
Don't believe it. I bought mine at a brick and mortar W-M down the
street from where I live (it is not a "super store). Be sure to get
the G06 version and not the B06.
>I don't see anything about the evaluation period,
>just a 90 day warranty for defects.
I have returned items that I did not like and there were no questions
asked. Check with your local W-M.
>It also looks like you can
>start watching a program live, pause it for up to 60 minutes, and come back
>and start watching it again
That time extends to 3 hours if you are also recoding the program.
>and fast forward through the commercials-it
>appears to have a 30 second advance.
That is correct, and even more valuable is the 10-second back step.
That way if you overshoot your mark you can step back in smaller
increments. That feature alone is enough to make be keep the unit.
However the step forward/backward feature does not work with DVD
discs, which I consider a serious flaw. You have to use the Prev and
Fwd buttons which are a pain in the ass. However most of our viewing
is off the HDD so it is not enough to cause me to reject the unit.
>I don't need the sophisticated features of TIVO, so paying their montly fee
>doesn't appeal to me. The Polaroid might be more suitable.
For the price it is a steal. I am going to get the 3-year extended
warranty for $23. I will have to get it online as it is not available
in stores. I have 30 days from purchase.
Another unit worth mentioning is a player by Philips, the DVP5960. It
is a new revision of the 5900. It has an HDMI connector and a USB
port. My son bought one for his 62" TV and it works beautifully even
on Component (he has to buy an HDMI cable Monday). He plugged his
flash disk in the USB port and played an AVI XviD straight away. If I
had a need, I would have gotten one, but I did not need another
player. Philips has this available in a 160GB recorder for $299 at W-M
but I plan to stick with the Polaroid for now.
The absolute coolest PVR is broken into two separate pieces connected
together with a LAN, either hardwired or wireless. The two main
components are both from Hauppauge - a two channel TV card that goes
into your main computer (the one you are using now).
http://www.directron.com/wintvpvr500mce.html
You run an application called DVB WebScheduler and it does all the
work capturing up to two TV shows at one time. You can put two dual
channel cards in and capture 4 shows. All you need is a computer with
1 GHz or faster processor.
http://www.digtv.no-ip.com/webscheduler/
http://wiki.dvbowners.com/index.php/WebScheduler
This computer does not need to be anywhere near the TV as long as it
is connected to the LAN.
The other component is next to the TV. It is a Hauppauge media center
unit, known as a Digital Media Player
http://www.directron.com/mediamvp.html
http://www.directron.com/mediamvp1016.html
This is connected to the LAN and the TV. It has a remote control. It
acts like a DVD player except that the content stream comes over the
LAN.
So, for a couple hundred bucks you can have the ultimate PVR, with two
TV channels to record 2 shows at the same time. I like the capture
functionality on my main computer where I can edit. Editing from a DVD
recorder is terrible. And I like the DVD player like functionality of
the Digital Media Player - no keyboards or Windows crap to fool with
at the TV set.
Give it another year to mature, and I may buy it. For now the HDD DVDR
and a simple DVD player (on an A-B box to the TV) works for me. If I
miss a show, that's what bit torrents are for.
--
"Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverence. Talent
will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and
determination alone are omnipotent."
--Calvin Coolidge
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