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DirecTV's New HD-DVR

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the lots-of-pics dept.

Earl Bonovich writes to tell us that he recently had a chance to take a look at DirecTV's new HD-DVR, the HR20-700. His results are posted over at DBSTalk including several pictures and videos. Some of the features include high definition output, dual SAT tuners, dual ATSC tuners, wired RJ-45 ethernet port, external SATA connection, and a 300GB SATA internal hard drive that can hold 30 hours of MPEG-2 HD, 50 hours of MPEG-4 HD, or 200 hours of standard definition video.

3 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. it's a good start, by yagu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's a good start to get a peek at this new DVR. Unfortunately, if consumers were to base their choice on listed features, capacities, and pictures of the unit (they already barely do that, the DirectTV would be another DVR with really beefy meaty specs... and would be a top candidate for a great addition to the Home Entertainment Center. But, this isn't really the review I'm looking for.

    I want to know (after using TiVo now for almost ten years, happily ever after):

    • how responsive is the interface?
    • how ergonomic? (TiVo's a hard act to follow on this one)
    • how often does the machine crash and burn, or just plain lock up? (any comcast DVR users out there?)
    • how well does it handle season passes with options of first showing, multiple channel, etc. (once again, TiVo is a hard act to follow on this one)
    • how well does it do video? any mosaics?, dropped frames?
    • are there things like "wish lists"? (TiVo does this wonderfully)
    • and, since we're talking about TiVo here too (apparently by my post), are there any impending lawsuits and injunctions against DirectTV for infringment upon TiVo's patents?

    This is just a partial list... but virtually none of which are really covered by the review in enough depth... too much to ask of one reviewer. I've been burned by the "wow" factor of a Comcast box (from a review), and now would wait for more concensus.

    And, as an aside, does anyone else find it really annoying technology is going the way of PVR's becoming the providers' commodities rather than manufacturers? Assuming this new PVR is the greatest thing since sliced bread, it still wouldn't be enough of a draw to switch providers -- it's more than a little annoying to find that if you like x, y, or z about some PVR, you have to switch to that provider? WTF?

    Interoperability with EVERYTHING (including over the air (OTA)) broadcast has been and continues to be one of the biggest draws for me with TiVo, though there's many indications of providers trying to shut TiVo out. Sigh.

    1. Re:it's a good start, by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 3, Insightful

      how well does it handle season passes with options of first showing, multiple channel, etc. (once again, TiVo is a hard act to follow on this one)
      Don't know.

      Are there things like "wish lists"? (TiVo does this wonderfully)
      Whatever those are?

      These are the things that TiVo users have a very hard time giving up, simply because they work so beautifully. "Season Passes" allow you to set the device to record any showing of a show (or specific ones if you want), with control over whether it records first airings and/or reruns and how it deals with shows that air on multiple channels. "Wish Lists" are search/record filters that you can set based on title, actor, director, genre, etc. So you can say "Record any Kubrick movie" simply by adding a director wishlist for Kubrick. On top of this, many users (though not all) also enjoy the "Suggestions" feature, whereby the TiVo autorecords shows and movies that it thinks you'd enjoy based on your previous recording/rating history. Of course, these recordings are the lowest priority and roll off the savelist in case it needs the space for something you've specifically requested it record. This feature is great on DirecTiVos because of the dual-tuner feature--it can almost always go off and record something else, even when you're watching something on the first tuner.

      --
      This guy's the limit!
  2. Ethernet port? by tji · · Score: 2, Insightful

    An ethernet port gives all sorts of interesting possibilities.. I wonder what they have planned for this?

    How about:

    - Content sharing to other DirecTV devices. My primary TV is downstairs, I would like a small satellite HD playback unit that can access content on the main DVR (don't the Moxi DVRs do this?).
    - PC integration, access music and photos from my PC for display/playback through my HDTV+Stereo.
    - Basic internet access via unit, WWW browser for display on HDTV.. sometimes this could be handy.
    - Access guide data, firmware updates, PPV requests, and other DirecTV content via the Internet. This could eliminate the need for a phone connection to the unit.
    - Additional storage on network (NFS, SMB) drives. Store content encrypted.

    Somehow, I doubt they will be as aggressive as I'm hoping.