So you've finally convinced your Significant Other that there's no way you can keep up with the Joneses unless you buy a DVR, pronto! You're right on the money because DVR (Digital Video Recorder - aka PVRs, or Personal Video Recorders) is a really big digital deal!
DVRs are made by many manufacturers and are available at a wide range of prices. Here are the key things to look for when deciding which standard or HDTV DVR is right for you:
- Purchase or rent: How much your DVR costs depends upon where it comes from. Some units are offered to consumers for outright purchase; others are rented from a cable company or other provider on a monthly basis.
- Programming guide fees: Many DVRs require a monthly service fee to access the on-screen program guide (it makes the DVR work, and you should consider it mandatory). Some, like those rented from a cable company, may not charge for this guide or include this cost in the equipment rental fee. In some cases, you can save money by purchasing a "lifetime" subscription, which are a good deal only if the company that sells them stays in business for the lifetime of your DVR.
- Hard-drive size: The main technical specification to check in a DVR is hard drive size - often described as hours of programming that fit on the hard drive.
- Number of tuners: Consider a two-tuner DVR so that you can either record two programs at once or watch one while recording another. Some DVRs have only a single TV tuner built-in. You can record just one program at a time - if this single tuner DVR is built into your cable or satellite set-top box, you may be able to watch only the program you're recording.
- Hardware features: The most basic DVRs simply have connections for TVs and TV source signals. Others can connect to home networks (via Ethernet) or even wireless LANs for sharing content between DVRs within the home.
- Software features: Some DVRs are built around sophisticated GUIs that can recommend shows you'd like (based on your viewing habits), display pictures or play music that's stored on your PCs, or even incorporate Internet content.
When buying a DVR, you also need to consider how it fits into the space you want to put it in - its form factor. Some DVRs are self-contained units - in other words, a chassis with a DVR inside, and nothing else. Others are incorporated into other devices, providing a multipurpose device that takes up less room on that equipment rack under your HDTV.
Your choices include the following:
- Standalone DVRs: The most popular DVR is a standalone unit, like the traditional TiVo and ReplayTV models.
- Cable and satellite DVRs: If you connect your HDTV primarily to digital cable or satellite service, you should consider a DVR that is built into your receiver or set-top box. These DVRs save space and receive the digital signals used by these services (which standalone DVRs can't do).
- DVR recorder DVRs: Some standalone DVRs have a built-in DVD recorder. A DVD recorder solves the biggest issue most DVR owners run into - what to do with all those back episodes of your favorite show when your hard drive starts to get full. With a DVD recorder, you "burn" a DVD archive and clear your hard drive for new recordings.
- Using your PC: You can use a PC in a couple of ways:
• If you have a Windows XP Media Center PC, you have a DVR. These PCs already have the hardware and software to record TV programs; the stuff works just like a regular DVR.
• You can turn a standard PC into a DVR by adding some inexpensive hardware and software.
