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View Full Version : DVD recorder / HDD / streamer - all in one!

ScouserInEM
10-12-2007, 5:07 PM
Hi Can anyone help? The boss has just approved a new gadget and I am keen to get something that does everything in the title - record / play (and upscale) DVDs, HDD, Freeview tuner and connect to my network (Using Ethernet if possible).

I want a good bit of kit, and no fans if I can help it. Any suggestions anyone? Surely there is something. I quite like the look of some of the better HDD / DVD recorder combos (e.g Sony) but can't seem to spot one with streaming capability. I saw a review for an Evesham iPlayer but that looked a little lightweight in terms of build quality and HDD capacity (80GB).

Apologies if this is a commonly asked question - please point me to the correct thread / forum.

Thanks
rhubarbe
10-12-2007, 8:51 PM
It doesn't exist, I am afraid.
tony_yates
11-12-2007, 11:55 AM
It doesn't exist, I am afraid.

As rhubarbe says, I've searched all over, posted loads and nothing yet has turned up. The only solution at the moment is to buy or build an HTPC.

It seems to me off the shelf HTPCs are pricey for what you get hardware wise compared to what you could build yourself, however, these should work out of the box and if they don't you at least have a support channel, for me though the price difference is too much.
rhubarbe
11-12-2007, 1:53 PM
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5999989&postcount=12
ScouserInEM
11-12-2007, 10:24 PM
Thanks guys. I was seeking the Holy Grail. That said, there was the Evesham iPlayer which seems to be a bit near the mark but lacking 2 tuners and a DVD burner, oh and the HDD is too small in capacity, and there was this one http://www.trustedreviews.com/multimedia/review/2007/10/18/Helios-X5000-Network-Media-Player/p4 which looks good and ticks many of my boxes but seems beset by problems. When will manufacturers realise what we want? It can't be that difficult.

I don't know if I can have a media centre pc in my front room though... can anyone suggest a quiet one?
rhubarbe
11-12-2007, 10:37 PM
They can't make a perfect HTPC. I can't make one. I doubt you'd be able to make one. Even if you can get the hardware right the software just isn't ther yet. Dedicated CE devices are purpose designed and you'd be better off with a few of these and forget the HTPC.