PVR Wire

Robert Silva at About.com has provided an in-depth look at the Pioneer DVR-233-S DVD recorder, an entry-level unit that retails for around $180.

Some of the features of the DVR-233-S include recording to DVD-R, DVD-RW  DVD-RW, plus playback of DVD video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R/RW and VCD.

As with many of About.com's reviews, Robert takes the DVR-233-S through some stringent tests, including playback of selected DVDs, recording tests and comparison tests of the equipment with a variety of televisions and sound systems - plus the feature of what he did/didn't like about it, which I like to employ myself on reviews.

Over at iRecordTV, John has summarized PCWorld's January 2006 roundup of DVD Recorders with hard drives.

Not all of the units listed feature reviews, but they've given some basic feature highlights and rated each unit with a useful test report that gives some technical details, such as hard drive size, output formats, inputs and outputs.

Top of the list is the $700 Toshiba RD-XS54, with the Panasonic DMR-EH50S a close second (and a much more reasonable $400).

 


A good friend of PVR Wire, iRecordTV, has some updates today discussing the feature-packed LG LRM-519, which runs on the Microsoft Program Guide (MPG).

You can also find out a bit more about Pioneer's high-end DVR-930H-S HDD DVD recorder -- which has a 400 GB hard drive and can record more than 700 hours of video.

And there's also an entry on the new range of Toshiba home networked HDD recorders, which are only available in Japan at the moment, but feature 250 GB and 400 GB drives.

If you fast-forward through the "what is a DVD recorder?" part of About.com's report on the Pioneer DVR-533H, there's a thorough four-star review and consumer test of the unit, including some personal insights from reviewer Robert Silva on his experience of installing and setting up this "stylish, entry-level DVD Recorder/Hard Drive combo."

Along with the usual formats, the DVR-533H features DVD-R, DVD-R LD, DVD-RW (Video Mode), and DVD-RW (VR Mode) recording capability, while the on-board hard drive boasts an impressive 80GB storage space.

Other standard PVR functions include: real time dubbing from DVD to the hard drive and high-speed dubbing from hard drive to DVD, while the DVD can simultaneously record and play back when recording in DVD-RW.

Prices should start around $340.

As the Blu-Ray disc format battle hots up, Pioneer has pressed ahead in the DVD-R/RW war with the release of their DVR-110D.

More than just an ordinary DVD burner, the DVR-110D has an 8X/8X DVD±R DL burner, which is now the fastest -R DL writing speed on the market. It also features Pioneer's "Precision Recording Technology," an auto-adjustable writing technique which enables burning under the best conditions for each individual disc.

The 110D will be officially released in September.

More: CDR Info.

 
It looks like owners of some Pioneer TiVo units may be getting coupons toward future Pioneer purchases. A class-action lawsuit, which could be finalized at an Aug. 5 approval of settlement hearing, alleged that the TiVo unit were subpar in many ways.

This included "providing unsatisfactory picture quality… not [recording] as much programming to the hard drive or to a DVD disc as advertised and [taking] longer to record to a DVD disc than advertised," according to an Engadget article.

How much are the coupons worth? Well, if you spent about $800 on the DVR-810H-S, you'll receive a $100 voucher. That doesn't seem like much if you've had hassles with your unit. And if you've had problems with a Pioneer, do you necessarily want to buy another one?

I was beaten today by our own Engadget and The New York Times, both of which reviewed a new on-demand TV device called Akimbo. I was going to (and still may) review this device because it has some PVR characteristics.

Containing an 80 GB hard drive, and about the size of a VCR or TiVo, Akimbo is able to download programming over the Internet on demand. You can think of it as a PVR that lets you choose programming beyond that available to you from cable TV and satellite TV services.

The box is currently on sale for $99. The downloading service is $10 a month or a one-time $170 fee. These charges will get you a library of 2,000 TV shows and movies you can download. Unfortunately, not every show is free; some carry charges of $2.99 or so for a month's viewing. After that period, you have to pay up again to watch them.

The review in the New York Times was brutal. Here's a snippet:

"And despite Akimbo's claim to be `the first digital quality video-on-demand service over the Internet,' the video quality is erratic. None of it is high-definition, none of it looks as good as a DVD, and some of it has the blockiness and pixellation of a Web cam. One children's series is so obviously a transfer from a VHS cassette, you can actually see the white streaks of the VCR's dirty heads."