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New DVD Recorder With 52 hours Of HDD Recording Time

BlueQuark writes "I thought that this is cool. Everybody needs one. When I was liviving in Tokyo about a year and a half ago, Pioneer just released a DVD Recorder, which was quite nice. Now it looks like Panasonic will have one that does 52 hours. It's about 200,000 yen or about $1709.00 @ 117.76Tokyo's Y/$ rate. The blurb is a bit short, but can be found here. Or here is a more complete press release which is at Matsushita's site."

109 comments

  1. Cool by SpanishInquisition · · Score: 3, Funny

    52 hours of porn is what I need.

    --
    Je t'aime Stéphanie
    1. Re:Cool by hoggoth · · Score: 5, Funny

      > 52 hours of porn is what I need.

      Actually, from what I hear, 30 seconds of porn is what you need.

      --
      - For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat /dev/random (may take some time)
    2. Re:Cool by perttu · · Score: 1

      What I NEED is a <$500 device that can save 4 different (porn-)channels at the same time for one day straight, while playbacking one saved stream at a freely choosable speed without missing frames, eg. @ 75 fps /w 150Hz refresh rate on the display device.

    3. Re:Cool by hoggoth · · Score: 1

      Hmmmph. Now I know the secret to Karma. Forget posting useful information... I'll just keep up the sex jokes.

      --
      - For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat /dev/random (may take some time)
  2. divx? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how many hours of divx video could fit on a DVD?

    1. Re:divx? by TheFlyingGoat · · Score: 2, Informative

      As files, or as actual video? DVD video is encoded as high quality MPEG, I believe, so divx wouldn't save space. It would just be converted to MPEG and be written to the DVD. The total onto a double sided disk would be around 4 hours.

      As a file written to DVD-RAM, you can only do one layer on each side for a total of 5.2gb (http://www.cd-info.com/CDIC/Technology/DVD/dvd.ht ml).

      --
      You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. --Winston Churchill
    2. Re:divx? by tjackson · · Score: 5, Interesting

      With Divx running at Quantizer 2 (Which mean compress it as little as possible, a.k.a.: Highest quality), The bandwidth used is about 2-3 Mbaud. If you use AC3 Audio, the bandwith for that is 192Kbaud - 384Kbaud. So, a maximal estimate would be 3456Kbaud. That's 432 KB/sec. A Single sided/single layer DVD holds about 4GB. 4GB / 432KB = 9709 sec = 161 min = 2.7Hours. Interesting... works out to about the same as a good length (but still ugly) VHS tape.

      If you make it double sided, It goes up to 323min/5.4hr. If you can manage to make it record Double-sided, double-LAYERed, you'll get 647min/10.8hr.

      Mind you, these are excessive estimates. This would be visibly lossless encoding (not lossless, but you wouldn't be able to tell). It rarely gets up to 3MBaud when you're encoding regular video. 1.5MBaud would be very much sufficient. Use that for the numbers and you can pretty much double it.

      Number of minutes:
      HQ BQ (High/Best)
      SS: 323 161
      DS: 647 323
      DD: 1294 647

      So, at HQ/DD you get 21.5hrs.

    3. Re:divx? by bigdavex · · Score: 1

      baud == symbols per second

      baud != bits / second (except when 1 bit is encoded in each symbol)

      Since we don't know how you're transporting the bits, the information we need is bits/second.

      Thanks for info, by the way.

      --
      -Dave
    4. Re:divx? by bigdavex · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'm a dumbass. Nevermind.

      als;khfl alksgfa asglbkag lajisdglaig alksdlgajks algljakgbv alknljksdvn anvljasdnv

      --
      -Dave
    5. Re:divx? by TheFlyingGoat · · Score: 1

      He's referring to divx the digital video compression format, not divx the Circuit City digital video rip-off scheme. Check out http://www.divx.com/support/what.php for more info.

      --
      You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. --Winston Churchill
    6. Re:divx? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DivX can easily use more than 2-3 MBits (the
      term baud is more appropriate for modems, I think
      it means something completely different than
      bits but I cannot tell you for sure).

      DivX is not much more efficient than MPEG-2,
      so if you need ~10-12MBps for DVD quality you
      definitely need as much as 6 MBps DivX to
      achieve ~98-99% quality. Now, I agree with
      you that 1.5MBps is usually sufficient, but
      if I had that sort of device I'd be compressing
      at 4-5 MBps.

  3. Popup alert by Spootnik · · Score: 5, Funny

    MPAA would like to interrupt your DVD recording to inform you that your media will autodestruct in 3, 2, 1...

  4. HDD not HD by meatplow · · Score: 3, Flamebait

    There is a HUGE difference between
    HARD DRIVE - HDD
    and
    HIGH DEFINITION - HD
    please update headline....



    http://www.fuckbunny.org

    1. Re:HDD not HD by composer777 · · Score: 1

      EXACTLY. I got really excited, until I went and read the press release, and realized that it was another #$!#$#$&*$&^ slashdot typo.

    2. Re:HDD not HD by ekrout · · Score: 1

      Don't you mean

      HARD DISK DRIVE - HDD

      and

      HIGH DEFINITION - HD

      ?

      That is, after all, where the 2 `D's come in.

      --

      If you celebrate Xmas, befriend me (538
    3. Re:HDD not HD by agdv · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      YES, I'm friends with Britney Spears


      Is that a CD-R she's holding in one of the pictures? It sure looks like one. I find it extremely ironic, if so. Then again, it may be an on-topic pirated DVD :-)

    4. Re:HDD not HD by dark3r · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      If you're friends with her, how come you're not in any of the pictures with her?

    5. Re:HDD not HD by microbob · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No doubt! I've been looking for a PVR that can record my HDTV signal. So far I've not found one.

      Anyone know of a HDTV PVR?

    6. Re:HDD not HD by markt4 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      What? You don't think she should be able to listen to CD-R recordings of her own songs? I'm sure that's what she's listening to.

      By the way these are paparazzi pics from Britney's trip to Australia. These are on Bondi beach, not some So-Cal beach.

    7. Re:HDD not HD by ekrout · · Score: 1

      'Cause it's my camera :-D

      --

      If you celebrate Xmas, befriend me (538
    8. Re:HDD not HD by zero2k · · Score: 1

      Bondi is a beach? Man all this time I thought it was a patch of sand near some water. You wanna see real beaches, head up to the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. That's a real beach for ya.

  5. DVD-R reviews by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anybody know of a good list of DVD recorders and their pros/cons? I'd like to buy one, if only to back up my computer, and I can't find a good comparison chart anywhere.

  6. Media company responese? by plaisted · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Looks like TiVo that retails for $2000 and writes to DVDs. Won't the media companies try to block this in any way they can? With TiVo you had to hack your unit to be able to read from the hard drive and get the video on your computer so you could post it on the net, but with this you just write to a DVD and then read it to your computer.

    Of course, if this becomes popular then maybe CmdrTaco won't have to complain about having missed the Enterprise pilot episode.

    1. Re:Media company responese? by Sc00ter · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well it doesn't seem like it has all the cool TiVo features (thumbs up/down, guide, season passes). and remember, this isn't in the US.

  7. And the news is.. ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This sounds like a Tivo to me, 60 hours with some hacks, and a much smaller fraction of the cost. I don't get it...

  8. Mirror by robbyjo · · Score: 1, Informative

    Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 18:30 JST TOKYO -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Wednesday it will introduce a new DVD video system Dec. 1 with a built-in hard disk drive able to record a maximum 52 hours of video. The DMR-HS1 can edit and store recorded TV broadcasts and images from digital video cameras, said Matsushita, best known for its Panasonic brand products.

    The recorder will sell for 200,000 yen. (Kyodo News)

    Now my question: Recording 52 hours of what quality of video? A DVD quality video or what? I hope that this is not a result of marketing mumbo jumbo...

    --

    --
    Error 500: Internal sig error
    1. Re:Mirror by xkenny13 · · Score: 1
      • Now my question: Recording 52 hours of what quality of video? A DVD quality video or what? I hope that this is not a result of marketing mumbo jumbo...
      From the article:
      • The internal 40 GB HDD makes possible up to 52 hours of extended recording in EP mode to the HDD and 12 hours to a double-sided DVD-RAM disc
      "EP mode" doesn't sound like DVD quality to me...
    2. Re:Mirror by PMan88 · · Score: 0

      it's 52 hours in EP mode, which has less fps than SP mode. the picture quality should be the same, but it won't be a smooth

  9. 52 hours... hummm! by albator69 · · Score: 0

    I think that I will finally realize my goal, to watch the complete 2 series of Lodoss War non-stop, without even have to change the DVD between them... =)

    Oh, bu I think that I'll need a lot of cafeine cola to keep up during these 52 hours too... dah!

    1. Re:52 hours... hummm! by Havokmon · · Score: 2, Funny
      War? You could get the whole invasion of Grenada on that..

      "What a weekend.."

      --
      "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
  10. Here is the Press Release in case it gets /.'d by Cy+Guy · · Score: 5, Informative

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Media Contacts: Akira Kadota, International PR, Tokyo
    Tel: 03-3578-1237 Fax: 03-3437-2776
    Yoshihiro Kitadeya, International PR, Osaka
    Tel: 06-6908-0447 Fax: 06-6907-2013

    Matsushita Electric (Panasonic) Introduces New DMR-HS1 DVD Video Recorder with built-in HDD
    -- Offers a maximum of 52 hours of recording with built-in HDD --
    PIC
    OSAKA, Japan -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic brand of consumer electronic and digital communications products, today announced that it will introduce a new DVD video recorder with built-in hard disk drive (HDD), the DMR-HS1, to kick off its new lineup of DVD video recorders. By combining an HDD with a DVD recorder, the new unit enables a maximum of 52 hours of recording on the HDD and 12 hours on DVD-RAM discs to realize easy editing and storage of recorded TV broadcasts and images from digital video cameras. The DMR-HS1 will be launched in the Japanese market on December 1, 2001 at a price of 200,000 yen. In addition, the new DVD video recorder will be exhibited at the Panasonic booth at CEATEC JAPAN 2001, to be held from October 2 to 6 at Makuhari Messe (Nippon Convention Center) in Chiba, east of Tokyo.

    Panasonic's DMR-HS1 DVD video recorder offers a wide range of recording versatility. The internal 40 GB HDD makes possible up to 52 hours of extended recording in EP mode to the HDD and 12 hours to a double-sided DVD-RAM disc. Timer recording can automatically reuse the recorded program settings every week for serial TV programs, freeing viewers from having to delete last week's episodes to retrieve space for new ones when disk space is limited.

    In addition, a "Time Slip" function is offered that includes Chase Playback and Simultaneous Recording and Playback capabilities. This function enables playback from any point in a previously recorded or currently recording program while recording continues until the current program's end.

    Employing an iLINK cable and incorporated DV input terminal, high quality digital images can be dubbed onto DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs through its easy-to-use "DV Automatic Recording" mode. The "Play List," a list of still images representing a sequence of scenes, can be made automatically to make editing easier. High-speed dubbing at 22 Mbps from the HDD to DVD-RAM can be done with the touch of a single button, enabling 12x speed in EP mode at its quickest (e.g., a one-hour program can be dubbed in just 5 minutes). Dubbing from DVD-RAM to the HDD is available as well.

    The DVD video recording technology used in this new unit complies with the DVD-RAM recording formats standardized by the DVD Forum. DVD-RAM is not only compatible with both audio/video and PC applications, but its optical format also boasts superior rewritability, allowing approximately 100,000 rewrites per disc.

    The global demand for DVD players in fiscal year 2001 (year ending March 2002) is forecast to reach 25 million units, with more than 11,000 DVD software titles. With its vast capacity, high-speed data transmission, high-speed random access, exceptional image quality, and high sound quality, DVD-RAM is the optimal choice in today's expanding digital media environment.

    About Matsushita Electric Industrial
    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic, National, Technics, and Quasar brand names, is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronics products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated sales of US$61.45 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. In addition to the Tokyo and other Japanese stock exchanges (6752), Matsushita's shares are also listed on the Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, New York, Pacific (NYSE/PCX: MC), and Paris stock exchanges. For more information, visit the Matsushita web site at http://www.panasonic.co.jp/global/top.html.

    1. Re:Here is the Press Release in case it gets /.'d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      all i can say is: Karma Whore!

    2. Re:Here is the Press Release in case it gets /.'d by Overt+Coward · · Score: 2

      Ok, so basically, it looks like a no-frills TiVO with an additional DVD-RAM drive for archival. Am I reading that pretty much correctly?

    3. Re:Here is the Press Release in case it gets /.'d by Sabalon · · Score: 2

      That, and you plug your miniDV camera into the i.Link (ie firewire) port and you create an instant DVD of Juniors Little League game that you can then send off to the techno-grandparents.

    4. Re:Here is the Press Release in case it gets /.'d by lucasorion · · Score: 1

      Imagine where the consumer video/photo market would be if there weren't any grandparents. If we had adopted the tradition of sending our old folks into the wilderness to relieve us of the need to care for them, what would we do with all our video recordings and digital photos?

  11. Copywrite Implications? by vstat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I can imagine the number of bootleg movies will be up, since you can record and burn the material with the same machine. Won't hurt the movie theater industry since the movies on television have usually been out of theatres for a while, but don't you think that companies might be a little concerned about DVD sales? Just like music, why buy if you can get it for free? Or get from someone for a fraction on the cost?

    1. Re:Copywrite Implications? by well_jung · · Score: 4, Informative
      This won't affect it too much. It uses DVD-RAM, which few poeple actually care to invest in (DVD-RW is the standard for desktop DVD recording)

      They won't play in regular DVD players (different media)

      --
      Carl G. Jung
      --
      "With one breath, with one flow, You will know Synchronicity" -La Policia
    2. Re:Copywrite Implications? by alastairm · · Score: 1

      WRONG It uses DVD-RAM or DVD-R
      DVD-R plays back very nicely in DVD Video players thank you very much.

    3. Re:Copywrite Implications? by well_jung · · Score: 2
      You are welcome. Didn't notice that when reading the article. Thanks for the correction.

      --
      Carl G. Jung
      --
      "With one breath, with one flow, You will know Synchronicity" -La Policia
  12. Missing one thing... by Phil+Wilkins · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...a PVR service. If they teamed up with TiVo, they'd have a killer product, and several lawsuits to boot...

    1. Re:Missing one thing... by kvigor · · Score: 1

      Panasonic already makes a TiVo competitor, the Showstopper (which is a re-badged ReplayTV).

      I obviously don't know the terms of their agreement with Replay (now SonicBlue), but if they want PVR functionality, they have an existing partnership...

  13. some specifics by Alien54 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    By combining an HDD with a DVD recorder, the new unit enables a maximum of 52 hours of recording on the HDD and 12 hours on DVD-RAM discs to realize easy editing and storage of recorded TV broadcasts and images from digital video cameras. [...] The internal 40 GB HDD makes possible up to 52 hours of extended recording in EP mode to the HDD and 12 hours to a double-sided DVD-RAM disc. [...] High-speed dubbing at 22 Mbps from the HDD to DVD-RAM can be done with the touch of a single button, enabling 12x speed in EP mode at its quickest (e.g., a one-hour program can be dubbed in just 5 minutes). Dubbing from DVD-RAM to the HDD is available as well.

    don't forget those essential copy protection features!

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
  14. kick ass, robotech marathon here i come! by Alcimedes · · Score: 1
    so does this mean i no longer have to get ripped off to watch my favorite tv shows in series? (rentals) finally, a digital recording option, so all those tv marathons that were recorded in the past can make their way to a respectable media format!


    'course, at these current prices i could probably just buy every set of every show i want, but that's not the same. :)

  15. DVD-RAM?!? by vanyel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's an interesting idea, but DVD-RAM?!? That means it won't play on any real dvd players. Which wouldn't be so bad, except they slipped in that little line about "compatible with PC audio/video applications" so that you would see that keyword "compatible" and if you're just skimming it, that's what might stick. That seems like a pretty slimy marketing trick to me. In any case, as far as I'm concerned, if it's not compatible with a regular DVD player, what's the point?

    1. Re:DVD-RAM?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Open up the DVD-RAM cartridge via the tab on the top, slide out the DVD and pop it into a player.

    2. Re:DVD-RAM?!? by Ryu2 · · Score: 2

      That will only work for the newest DVD players that have been specifically engineered to read DVD-RAM (not a whole lot of work, just a matter of laser wavelength, but still, incompatible with most pre-2001 DVD players)

      --
      There's 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
    3. Re:DVD-RAM?!? by Jburkholder · · Score: 1

      ...and then never be able to use it again as a RAM?

    4. Re:DVD-RAM?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not happened to me yet..

    5. Re:DVD-RAM?!? by questionlp · · Score: 1

      Panasonic/Matsushita Electric have backed both the PD and the DVD-RAM formats for a while, which is why they wouldn't choose a competiting format like DVD-RW or DVD+RW.

  16. 52 hours = 40 GB = $80 by peter303 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The press release says 52 hours is 40 GB.
    (Most DVCR users would recommend 2GB / hour.)
    Even so, the disk cost should be $80 at current
    commodity disk prices.

    1. Re:52 hours = 40 GB = $80 by fux · · Score: 2, Interesting

      not bad. 40gb = near one month of mp3 music = no cd changers anymore! :]

    2. Re:52 hours = 40 GB = $80 by Mad+Marlin · · Score: 1
      not bad. 40gb = near one month of mp3 music = no cd changers anymore! :]

      Actually, I have about 6.5GB of mp3's, and that is a lot more than I listen to on a regular basis. About half of it is stuff I downloaded because somebody else wanted to hear it. I haven't even listened to a CD in about 3 months (since my car died, the last place I was using them). It will be nice when I can do the same with video, and have all of Star Trek on my hard drive.

  17. Does this use ReplayTV? by crow · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is from the one company that has previously partnered with ReplayTV. I didn't see anything about the software they're using; whether it's their own or from a partner. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out they're partnering with ReplayTV on this, just like they did with the Showstopper.

  18. 200 hour tivo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I love my 200 hour tivo. After the 2 new hard drives and lifetime subscription, it cost about $700 less than this 52 hour unit. Hrmmm.

    1. Re:200 hour tivo by wurp · · Score: 1

      Can you point me at this? I have a Tivo, but hadn't hacked it because I didn't see any big advantage. I thought due to the proprietary file system, you couldn't extend the time beyond the max time for the standard Tivo boxes.

    2. Re:200 hour tivo by RedX · · Score: 3, Offtopic

      Check out the TiVo Hack FAQ for all the info you need. The drive upgrade is so easy, even a Windows user can do it.

    3. Re:200 hour tivo by Patrick+Lewis · · Score: 1

      You might want to check out the Hindsdale howto as well. The other Hack FAQ is a little out of date.

      --
      "If I am such a genius, how come that I am drunk and lost in the desert with a bullet in my ass?" --Otto (Malcom ITM)
  19. How Much by JohnHegarty · · Score: 0

    Anyone know how much stoage that is (mb/gb)?

    Also , can it record more at lower quality, becuase that would be a alot of hours a vhs quality.

  20. 40GB?? by t_allardyce · · Score: 1

    40GB?? thats 'bout 10 dvds? if you divx them, maybe you can fit enough pirate stuff on a disk to make the price of that disk worthwhile... unless you break the disk :(

    I wonder how long it will take for the price fixing on blank media to stop.

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  21. Easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just record that "disinfecting" scene in Star Trel enterprise over and over.

  22. TIVO is useless when the drive dies. by Win-Developer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Although this logic doesn't hold for us geeks who know better, people think that once a drive dies you can't get another one.

    With removable media, if a DVD cracks or scratches, you can just get another one.

  23. CDR? by pixel.jonah · · Score: 1

    it sure looks like the lable edge of the case says "CDR-74" on it...

  24. Post it on the net? by oneiros27 · · Score: 3, Informative
    Why not just wait for the ReplayTV new offerings?

    $2000, and it's got an ethernet port, so you can just hook it to the internet and share it with others:
    http://www.replaytv.com/partners_products/features .html

    (the $2000 model is 320hrs...they don't mention a drive size, so I'm going to assume it'll record about 200hrs of decent quality stuff, based on the way TiVo numbers their stuff...there's also a $700 model, with only '40 hours' [ie, 25hrs-ish] record time)

    And before you complain that 'but then the folks you send it to will have to have the same brand machine', you didn't think that even though thesre new boxes mentions write to DVD-RAM, that they'd be encoded in a way to read from a normal DVD player, did you? That encoding would take too long for 'em to be able to do in real time without it costing some serious cash.
    --
    Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
    1. Re:Post it on the net? by Telek · · Score: 2

      or this just in!!

      spend $250 to get a wintv PVR, $400 to get 2x75GB HD and you have 150GB and a PVR that can record 12mbit/sec mpeg2 video at 5% processor utilization, store up to 290 hours at VCD quality, and you can you the disk space for other stuff, and ALL FOR LESS THAN the $700 model TiVo that gives you 25 hours. Pop on the net and get freeware/shareware PVR solutions and you're all set.

      I don't know exactly why anyone would spend so much money on a TiVo ($2000????? PC +$15 for an ethernet card) when you can get much better use (and use the HD for other stuff) out of doing it yourself on your computer. Perhaps not _as_ simple, and you can't view it _directly_ on your TV, but if you really want that, drop another $100 and get a pretty decent 3d accellerator card with TV output and you're all set.

      is there something I'm missing here?

      Oh and BTW, Why would encoding in real time to mpeg2 be so costly to do in real time? You can get specialized hardware to do it for very cheap... For example, the $250 WinTV PVR card has a built in mpeg2 encoder. It's not serious cash.

      --

      If God gave us curiosity
    2. Re:Post it on the net? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      is there something I'm missing here?

      Yes: the point.

    3. Re:Post it on the net? by alastairm · · Score: 2, Informative
      Christ - read the article before replying!
      Employing an iLINK cable and incorporated DV input terminal, high quality digital images can be dubbed onto DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs through its easy-to-use "DV Automatic Recording" mode


      DVD-R uses standard DVD-Video formating. Hence it will playback in ANY DVD-Video player. This is what is really cool about this device - Make DVD Videos for the family from your home movies.
    4. Re:Post it on the net? by oneiros27 · · Score: 2

      I appologize for skimming the article so quickly.
      After your pointing out that it writes DVD-R [I must've assumed DVD-RW (F, not D) or something], I'm really surprised that they mentioned DVD-RAM so many times, and DVD-R only once in the official press release, as for years, DVD-R writers were priced well over US$10k.

      [For those confused on the topic -- DVD-RW isn't 100% compatible with run-of-the-mill off-the-shelf appliance style DVD players. DVD-R is, however]

      --
      Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
    5. Re:Post it on the net? by Rob+Parkhill · · Score: 1

      This WinTV card would be great, if it were not for the fact that it is completely useless if you get your TV signal through a set-top box (satelite, microwave, digital cable).

      For an extra $5, they could have added an "IR blaster" output that you could program to your set top box specs, and it could then change the channel on your box and actually become useful.

      But like all TV cards on the market, they assume that you have old-fashioned analog cable service. Too bad.

      --
      "Tomorrow's forecast: a few sprinkles of genius with a chance of doom!" - Stewie Griffin
    6. Re:Post it on the net? by Telek · · Score: 2

      Just about every motherboard these days has an IR thingy already, it shouldn't be very hard to get an extension for it to fire at the settop box.

      --

      If God gave us curiosity
  25. Your not counting subscription fees by Srin+Tuar · · Score: 1
    Those costs are recurring.


    And Tivo doesnt support the use of their box as a stand alone DVCR, because they wont make money that way.


    I'd much prefer a system that I had control over- and wasnt required to subscribe to a directory (read monitoring) service.

    1. Re:Your not counting subscription fees by koreth · · Score: 1

      He said "lifetime subscription" -- no recurring cost.

  26. could be cool by Prolixium · · Score: 1

    Lots of data...too expensive for now. Wait a year or two...

    Btw, what's liviving?

  27. About the cost of a DVD writer... by Atomizer · · Score: 1

    $700 is about the cost of the DVD writer you're missing.

  28. WOW by ryanvm · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Man I think I'm going to move to Tokyo. Just so I can tell people back home, "Yup, I'm pullin' down a cool 6,000,000 Yen a year.".

  29. dvd-ram? by mastagee · · Score: 1

    isnt this format a bit outdated? Last i heard was that most dvd players will not play dvd-ram discs (though dvd-rom drives will and presumably dvd players based on dvd-rom drives such as most of the apex players). I would only consider buying one of these if it supported dvd-rw+ discs.

  30. Can you hook this thing up to yer computer? by Sean+Johnson · · Score: 1

    ......cause that would be cool....and allow more pirated movies to be more easily available for trading ...heh heh heh!

    --
    >>>>>> Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him into the hyperdrive.
  31. 52 hours in EP mode? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That blows. and WTF is up with the HD? 12 hours is enough. It beats the hell out of a video casette. But this is EP mode? pathetic.

  32. Re:Kill Muslims. Destroy Islam. Death to Arabs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck you guys. That's not right.
    It was a select group of people, not the whole culture. You'd think you'd know better being geeks and all.
    Whipe my ass.
    -[W]arp

  33. Archive storage by HeelBiter · · Score: 1

    That's true, but I think the main advantage here is the ability to archive entire seasons of your favorite programs on DVD. So the issue becomes not only the disposable nature of removable media, but its infinite (read: buy more discs) storage capacity without loss of fidelity. You can archive TiVo to VHS fairly easily, but not to a digital format without hacking the unit/OS (as I understand it). This is simply an issue of paying for convenience.

    Pretty cool. I must admit though, I can think of better things to do with $1,700.00--still, the price will drop, as it invariably must...

    --
    ------------------------------
    ...harder than Chinese Algebra.
  34. Er, Informative? by horza · · Score: 2

    How comes this comment is +2 informative and the parent comment to this +4, when the above is totally wrong? Don't the moderators even read what they are marking up?

    Phillip.

  35. Read posts above by horza · · Score: 2

    Read this comment before continuing this thread. Blah blah lameness filter won't let me post blah blah hope this is enough padding blah blah

    Phillip.