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General discussion

media center pc OR dvd recorder

Sep 24, 2005 12:18PM PDT

so, which one would be better to record my shows and whatnot? and while im at it, whats the cost for making a media center pc?

Discussion is locked

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Depends
Sep 24, 2005 2:04PM PDT

What are you wanting to do? Record to DVD, time shift, edit? Dish PVR is a great product for time shifting as is TiVo. A DVD recorder with a hard drive is a good choice. A DVD recorder with RW media can do it on the cheap. A good media PC is very versatile and the most expensive choice. First decide what you are going to use it for.

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Just recording tv shows
Sep 26, 2005 6:52AM PDT

or whatever tv movie looks good. But yeah, just recording my tv shows.

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I like DVD recorder with hard drive
Sep 27, 2005 12:23AM PDT

It' not as convenient as a Tivo but then you don't have the potential of someone doing market research on your viewing habits (the Tivo schedule downloads can send back info to the service provider) and the recent uproar over Tivo "accidentally" sending a red flag warning of limiting storage time of certain shows indicates that the company is prepared to bow down to Hollywood pressures and start dictating what you can and can't record.

The DVD with hard drive allows you to record, edit commercials, and burn to disc. This sounds like what your looking for if I read your post correctly.

grim

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My solution
Sep 27, 2005 10:52AM PDT

I have a DVR (actually 2 of them) with DishNetwork and can time shift with that just great, but eventually you fill up the hard drive and have to delete something to make room. I bought a Pioneer combo DVD/VHS recorder. This setup allows me to timeshift with the DVR, record from the DVR to VHS or DVD, dub old VHS to DVD, record TV shows directly from TV broadcast to DVD or VHS, record Dish programmimg to DVD or VHS, copy external sources like a video camera to DVD or VHS, and dub DVD to VHS(if there is a reason to ever want to do this). With DVD-RW media you can reuse the media much like a VCR. With DVD-R media you can make permanent copies of shows or movies you want to archive.

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media center pc OR dvd recorder
Sep 27, 2005 1:23AM PDT

DVD recodred with a HD. XP MCE is NOT a big deal.