Replacing VHS player...seriously

[Nerfherder]

They use to be cheap last year (R2200) but their prices shot up this year for some reason.

I think it has to do with the copy protection that DSTV implimented a while back. I imagine that a whole whack of DVD recorders became obsolete overnight and they had to replace them with expensive ones.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

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.

Trust me, with the hard drive its not worth it.

 

[arf9999]

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.

Just upgrade their DSTV decoder to a PVR. R60 extra per month, 2 Tuner HD PVR is R2000.

 

[Dyl106]

Here is my simple suggestion ... though might not, or just might be what you are looking for. I have one and am very happy with it: http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/23500770/HDD_Multimedia_Player_DVR_with_DVB_T_Hi_Def_up_to_1080i.html

 

[Tanya35]

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.

I read that with some of the cheaper DIVX or XVID compatible ones, the firmware needs an upgrade every now and again to keep up with new code.

 

[genetic]

Just upgrade their DSTV decoder to a PVR. R60 extra per month, 2 Tuner HD PVR is R2000.

Completely agree. It's a simple and easy decision - although you can't share flash based media with the DSTV PVR.

 

[Tanya35]

Completely agree. It's a simple and easy decision - although you can't share flash based media with the DSTV PVR.

It's far too restrictive. Your recordings get written over, you can't do anything with them, DRM, ... it's not the best option.

 

[arf9999]

It's far too restrictive. Your recordings get written over, you can't do anything with them, DRM, ... it's not the best option.

Did you read their requirements? They need it to time-shift, all these other solutions, technologically advanced as they might be, are complex, require some IT skills and don't work seamlessly with DSTV. Also, they can actually record HD with the DSTV PVR, no other solution will do that off air. If they want to share dazzard's stuff, then they can get a little AC Ryan box that works with a harddrive or usb stick in addition... but that isn't the primary goal.