Advice please- on Purchasing a DVDR

KEMPO33 · 05-02-2009, 12:40 PM

Hi all,

My partner has just bought me a combo dvdr/vcr with hdd but i already have a vcr and im a little dubious about these combo's.

now i have narrowed my search down to these dvdr/hdd
SONY RDRHXD890S DVD Hard Drive Recorder
and the
PANASONIC DMR-EX768EBK.
PANASONIC DMR-EX78EB-K
i think i prefer the panosonic but the sony has a usb port which would be great for saving stuff on mu comp.

any one have any advice

thanks

ramjet · 05-02-2009, 12:49 PM

the sony wont let you save pc stuff if its divx , only mp3 or jpegs or similar files , and it wont let you transfer from sony to pc using usb either

not sure about the panny for the same thing but expect similar problems with usb

they are very good recorders , but dont expect miracles

KEMPO33 · 05-02-2009, 12:51 PM

thanks ramjet. that sorted that out.
now

which would you say is the better make.

ramjet · 05-02-2009, 12:54 PM

I wouldnt , simple as that

the sony are made by pioneer if thats any help , and I use the sony models and have no experience with the pannys

any of them are excellent machines , sony , pioneer or panasonic are the top 3 in this field

keyap · 05-02-2009, 2:44 PM

The Pioneer 560 will let you move divx to the hdd from an external usb and can also be connected directly to a pc to transfer files (from the PC to the Pioneer).

**Gavtech** · 05-02-2009, 3:16 PM

To pull all these differences together regarding DivX handling:

The Sony's will play DivX from virtually all CD and DVD discs types, but not via USB... and will not allow the moving of DivX files to the hard drive.

The Panasonic EX768 Has no USB and does not support DiVX at all

The Panasonic EX78 has USB and will permit you to play DivX direct from USB.
DixX is also playable from CD's and DVD-R / RW ... but will not allow you to transfer DivX to the HDD.

The Pioneer range will allow transfer of DivX to the HDD from USB but they must be moved there to be playable. They cannot play direct from USB.
Most disc types are supported for DivX and are playable, and will allow transfer to the hard drive.

music · 07-03-2009, 4:51 PM

Further to the last very helpful post. Do any of these machines allow you to copy recorded material from the HD of the recorder to an external device - eg. external HD drive or usb stick.

If so, could you then copy it bacj to the HD of the dvd recorder at a later date or play the file direct from an external HD.

(Incidentally, I'm not sure what format a HDD recorder saves material in - is it MP4 or something like that?

That would be useful for archiving stuff!

**Gavtech** · 07-03-2009, 5:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by music

Further to the last very helpful post. Do any of these machines allow you to copy recorded material from the HD of the recorder to an external device - eg. external HD drive or usb stick.

No. It is almost universally restricted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by music

If so, could you then copy it back to the HD of the dvd recorder at a later date or play the file direct from an external HD.

You will find that it can be very difficult to guarantee getting a hard disc to work with any machine.
You are obviously looking for a flexibility that just does not exist in this area of the marketplace.
The reason is simple enough: The manufacturers do not want you doing this so they will not provide the facility.
Nearly all file transferring facilities are one way only.
What facilities that are provided are often problematic and restricted in many ways.

A further note on the Pioneers, which have perhaps the most flexibility... and for which you have to pay a Premium....We've had a few complaints that the transfer of DivX to the HDD - which HAS to be done to be watchable, is SO slow as to make the capability pointless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by music

(Incidentally, I'm not sure what format a HDD recorder saves material in - is it MP4 or something like that?

It is MPEG2 - for the simple reason that MPEG2 is the de facto video file standard for DVD - so everything that comes into these machines is converted to it in preparation for laying onto a DVD...[ apart from the discrete file handling types like DivX / Wav / Jpeg / MP3 ]

comnut · 08-03-2009, 12:26 PM

well all I can say is, that many people seem to get a DVDR and then seem to want to do PC things with it....

A bit like buying a mini, and then realizing you actually need a lotus!!

Even the Pioneer 560 has limitations... I would refer them to this - looks good under the TV, very upgradeable, will play ALL formats, and do everything a PC does...

dabs.com - Sony VAIO TP3Z/B C2D T8100 2GB 500G - All round entertainment centre in a unique design (VGXTP3Z/B.CEK)

**Gavtech** · 08-03-2009, 12:58 PM

comnut... Your repeated inappropriate promotion of this product in this section of the forum is virtually amounting to spam.

Please post with care.

comnut · 08-03-2009, 1:53 PM

All I am doing is trying to help those who need a solution...

**Gavtech** · 08-03-2009, 1:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comnut

All I am doing is trying to help those who need a solution...

All well and good... but perhaps it would be better to post it in the streamers section and post a link to it... or post a link to one of the previous occasions where you have posted these details.... to guide those to whom it may be a solution.