OK... Recommend me a DVD player / Hard Drive recorder

NeilF · 22 Nov 2006 at 22:58

1) MUST be able to play DivX/XVid etc. It's replacing my old Philips DVP630 dvd player which I use to watch downloaded material (on DVDRW) as well as standard films.
2) Must be able to record stuff from my Sky digi box, and control my Sky digi box - I believe some of these units can change the Sky digi channel etc themselves, at least for recording purposes.
3) Must be able to dump material/files from DVD (eg: DivX files) down to the HD.
4) Must have a digital optical output - My sound system uses that.
5) Region free. I do have some none-region 2 DVDs.
6) Must be easy to use.

Any recommendations appreciated

squiffy · 23 Nov 2006 at 12:02

A HTPC covers 1,3,4 & 5. 6 will be, but initial software setup will take sometime. Dunno about 2, but you can record and watch DVB and Sky, you just need tuner cards.

3 will just need a "Windows File browser" like plugin for media centre/media portal/meedio front end.

4- soundcard/onboard.

5- Flash DVD drive and use DVD genie, or DVD region killer.

NeilF · 23 Nov 2006 at 12:32

squiffy said:
A HTPC covers 1,3,4 & 5. 6 will be, but initial software setup will take sometime. Dunno about 2, but you can record and watch DVB and Sky, you just need tuner cards.

3 will just need a "Windows File browser" like plugin for media centre/media portal/meedio front end.

4- soundcard/onboard.

5- Flash DVD drive and use DVD genie, or DVD region killer.

You're talking £600-1000 aren't you? :eek:

Doesn't quite as cheap and straight forward as a hard drive recorder with DivX (etc) compatability...

squiffy · 23 Nov 2006 at 12:38

I guess with two tuner cards it'll be upwards towards £1k. Mine was around £600. Think about it though, how much money does a DVD player (£30-£300) DVD/HD recorder (£150-£300) Music Soundserver (£2500) FM radio (£150) Internet Radio (£100) Sky (£100) DVB (£100) add upto? And how many boxes and remote controls?

At least with a PC if something causes problems, just fix it. You can't add codecs to a DVD player.

My HTPC is pretty simple, just music squeezebox server, downloader box, music/video storage and DVD playback. Worth every penny. I can also browser net on my TV.

NeilF · 23 Nov 2006 at 13:04

squiffy said:
I guess with two tuner cards it'll be upwards towards £1k. Mine was around £600. Think about it though, how much money does a DVD player (£30-£300) DVD/HD recorder (£150-£300) Music Soundserver (£2500) FM radio (£150) Internet Radio (£100) Sky (£100) DVB (£100) add upto? And how many boxes and remote controls?

At least with a PC if something causes problems, just fix it. You can't add codecs to a DVD player.

My HTPC is pretty simple, just music squeezebox server, downloader box, music/video storage and DVD playback. Worth every penny. I can also browser net on my TV.

Well, I have a laptop in the lounge for MP3, through my hifi system.

All I want it for about £200 is a unit to take over from my Philips DVD player, and also allow me to record on a HD.

So I would not have any more remote controls than now, but be able to:-
1) Download and store DivX/XVid stuff on the units HD to watch when ever.
2) Record Sky (without having to touch Sky at all). ie: It will change channels for me etc.
3) Possibly even play MP3 and show photos from the HD as well, but the lap top can do this...

I prefer (at the moment) technology in small blocks. I suspect in about 5 years you'll find the PC (or XBox 720 or PS4) will be the media hub... But at the moment just seems to expensive and clunky...