G4 Tech TV Reviews Three New HDTV DVRs 107
Thomas Hawk writes "G4techTV does a review of three of the new HDTV recorders. Noticeably absent is Microsoft's Media Center 2005. The Hughes HD 10-250 gets the highest marks and is the 'G4tech TV Lab Pick.' Although I haven't used the other two HDTV recorders I have to say I would concur on their opinion of TiVo's DirecTV box."
Re:Interesting (Score:2, Informative)
Hughes (Score:5, Informative)
Only complaint? The usual slow Guide rendering.
As an owner... (Score:2, Informative)
oh... and yeah... $1000
Re:MCE 2005 (Score:2, Informative)
Re:MCE 2005 (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.anandtech.com/multimedia/showdoc.asp
Re:Hughes (Score:2, Informative)
OTA on Hughes as well (Score:5, Informative)
Its odd (Score:3, Informative)
Re:G4 Tech TV (Score:3, Informative)
There are a few reasons Call For Help got picked up by G4TechTV Canada. From what I've heard, quite a few Canadians wrote in to complain about it being pulled.
Also, there are special rules in Canada about Canadian content. Since the show is filmed in Toronto with a Canadian crew and 2 Canadian co-hosts (Andy Walker was born in the UK but I expect he qualifies as Canadian as far as CanCon rules are concerned), it gives them a show that takes up Canadian Content airtime and is popular.
HDTiVo can output to non-HDCP sets (Score:4, Informative)
However, if the broadcast flag is ever flipped on (no one's done it yet), then those people using non-HDCP sets will get downres output on DVI.
Re:Hughes (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Its odd (Score:3, Informative)
Service Fees (Score:5, Informative)
The $10.99/month is for a package of HDTV channels (ESPN-HD, Discovery-HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Bravo-HD.) You are not required to purchase this package.
For no additional charge, you can record all of your local off-the-air channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, etc.). And, if you have HBO or Showtime, those you automatically get their HD channels as part of your existing package.
Roll Your Own (Score:4, Informative)
Some of the options:
- pchdtv.com HD-2000 / HD-3000 cards + MythTV, on Linux. This option has a ton of potential. But, from what I hear, there are still some fairly major kinks to be worked out. I am hoping this improves, as I would love to switch to a Linux solution.
- MyHD MDP-120. HD tuner card with hardware MPEG2 decoder (so, system requirements are very low). Probably the best of the group of similar cards with hardware tuner. Software is reliable for basic recording and playback. Can't do full PVR functionality, like pausing live TV or playing a saved file while recording another. (Some of the similar cards are: AccessHDTV, HiPix, OnAir DTV Pro, etc)
- Dvico FusionHDTV. HD Tuner card, MPEG decoding done in software.. simpler hardware means it's cheaper. Software has been unstable in the past, but seems to be improving. Reportedly making BDA drivers for use with Windows Media Center 2005.
- ATI HDTV Wonder. Fairly new. Software based MPEG decoding. Is supposed to have good MS Media Center 2005 integration.
- ElGato EyeTV 500. MacOS X HDTV solution. Firewire based device, uses software MPEG decoding.
- Sasem OnAir USB HDTV. supported on Windows only, connects via USB 2.0 port.
Dish Network Fee (Score:4, Informative)
Just offering that heads up
Re:Digital cable standards (Score:3, Informative)