Replacing VHS player...seriously

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dazzazzad

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My folks still use a VHS player and its ridiculous in this day and age seeing tapes stacked up and them watching the things as they jump and skip and have to freaking rewind and clean the heads of the machine and...god, its so depressing.

So I was thinking of getting them a proper recorder for Xmas. Since I watch everything on my PC I'm totally clueless about the options out there and was hoping someone could help me choose something for them.

Basically it just has to be a recorder with a decent sized HD and a user friendly interface for recording and playback etc. Also would be good if I can attach a USB or external HD and give them TV shows that I download to play from their recorder. Not sure if that's possible.

Oh, and not too expensive because I'm *cough*cheap*cough*.
 
I'm so glad somebody asked this. I've also been considering one of these for a while and need the USB functionality.
 
Sounds pretty good and the price isn't too bad. Can it record TV channels though?
 
Seriously, buy them a self cleaning VCR and some new tapes.
DVD recorders are painful and the recording media fails every time you need it.
PVR's require some tech savvy.
 
Oeggg, been there, done that, done that again, still doin it............

Went through same thing, with extra issue, Parental unit shares tapes with other family units,...

If they do not have to share, option 1 MUST be a PVR Decoder (asuming they watch/use Mnet) By far the least complex - 2nd hand SD PVR?

Assuming they Do Not watch/want DSTV, your next option is a DVD Recorder/Player, with Built in Hard Drive.
I am unsure about prices, guestimate R1500?
It is not about the DVD recording capabilities (trust me it is crap!) but the hard drive.
If it is fairly modern, it will have USB capabilities included (ie. play recording/mobvie from USB - not record to USB!)
Try Makro for prices.

Next option is a DiVX player with recording capabilities. Basically a little black box with/without built-in hard drive, that connects to TV.
Some use external-usb drives. You will have to google for these, they are all imported and vary alot. Again minimum R1500.
(The med8er can only play, end not record!)

Last option is a HTPC -PC connected to TV, expensive and difficult, but nice project if you have the time.

Does this help?
 
Does indeed help. There's no need for them to share TV shows they have recorded for themselves (they have MNET and DSTV). As long as they can choose to keep it on the HD as long as they want to. But I would like to be able to give them shows via their device. I do that a bit right now with dvd's burnt for their dvd player but that just results in stacks of dvd cases, which are admittedly better than VHS tapes but I'd like to do it all digitally if possible.
 
I got an LG DVD player with HDD. Bought from House & Home. Was the only option in the entire market (3 or 4 years ago) that had the hard drive, DVD Player, AM/FM Radio, USB & FireWire port. Along with this, it came with a SUB & 5 speakers (5.1).

Fantastic product, but as with anything with a hard drive & software it does freeze up from time to time. And if the unit goes, I will probably have to replace the entire setup.

My only gripe is that I can plug in my flash drive and play music of it, but I can't plug in a external powered hard drive. The unit wants to format it, so I let it. then my windows pc can't pick it up and eventually have to remove the partition and format the drive for normal use again.

So I would like what I have (I actually use all it's functions) but with the added ability to plug in a powered hard drive with movies in AVI / MPEG formats and watch - that would be ideal!
 
I've got a LG PVR (HDD version) and love it. Even my wife can use it. Got USB port for reading movies off flash drive, easy menus and it just works. We record 4-5 programs each day without fault.
 
spiff said:
sadly NO...not yet anyway :( pity as it's a cool gadget. I have a LG Hdd recorder which I now seldom use thanks to my DSTV PVR

a Hdd recorder will be u best bet then.
Click to expand...

Any make and model suggestions?
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Just go to any descent store and ask for a LG PVR with HDD (some only have the DVD Writer). Just make sure its a new model.


EDIT: They are actually called DVD Recorders by retailers (PVR denotes DSTV)

http://www.dionwired.co.za/LG-DVD-recoder-RH387-491144.aspx
Click to expand...

Great, thanks. So that will play ball with recording from DSTV etc. And will also be able to play divx and whatever via a flash/external? Cos if so then that's perfect.
 
dazzazzad said:
Great, thanks. So that will play ball with recording from DSTV etc. And will also be able to play divx and whatever via a flash/external? Cos if so then that's perfect.
Click to expand...

DIVX no problem, and you can even copy to HDD. Also can record from HDD to DVD (but not DVD to HDD). Alot of people actually use the LG PVR to edit their home movies as you can cut 'n paste. Great for removing ads and joining a series or two into one.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
DIVX no problem, and you can even copy to HDD. Also can record from HDD to DVD (but not DVD to HDD). Alot of people actually use the LG PVR to edit their home movies as you can cut 'n paste. Great for removing ads and joining a series or two into one.
Click to expand...

Sweet. Hopefully it'll be a bit cheaper later in the year :-D
 
Yup, the Dvd players with the HDD are still expensive, no idea why. They go for R2500+
Maybe rather looks at a dvd player that writes to dvd? Those can be sourced for around R1000.
 
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