Philips HDR612 TiVo 60 Hour Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I started out about a year or so ago with a 14 hour Tivo unit and LOVED it.The problem was they lie about capacity... sort of.14 hours or in the case of the 30 hour unit are really more like 6 hours and 11 hours with the recorder set to record at BEST quality...anything lower and the picture looks bad. I then paid Tivo to send me a new unit that had been upgraded to 3 hours.... Then that was still not enough time with the system set at best quality.
I finally found out I could upgrade the thing myself... so my recomendation is to get the cheapest on that you can and upgrade it.This VOIDS you tivo warrenty but hey we all like to live on the edge right :)
I now have a 117 hour Tivo because the company I used to upgrade my Tivo (http://www.digitalrecorder.tv/) added an 80GB disk and now instead of having to delete my recordings early or being more picky about what I record I can go nuts and record anything and everything.I even saw on one website (http://pvrhack.sonnik.com/tivo/tivoking.htm) a guy who has a 151+ hour Tivo.
Another good website for Tivo upgrade information is http://www.9thtee.com/tivoupgrades.htm.They have parts for sale and directions on how to upgrade your Tivo (The easiest is a 14 hour unit since you just add a "blessed" drive)
happy Tivoing and hack away!
PS If you can't tell I love this thing!

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Product Description:
With up to 60 hours of program recording capacity, the Philips HDR612 offers the most hard disk space currently available in a personal video recorder.
Unlike analog VCRs, Philips's HDR612 personal TV recorder uses TiVo technology to store compressed audio-video data to a computer hard disk. When you're ready to watch a preselected program, the HDR612 retrieves it upon command from a list of shows you've recorded. Among the most revolutionary aspects of the Philips/TiVo server is the ability to pause live broadcasts and either resume a program where you left off or return to real time. For example, while watching live sporting events, you can replay the last eight seconds of the action. You can then return to the live broadcast at any time. Using the palm-size remote, you can rewind and fast-forward pretaped programs and skip through recorded commercials if you choose.
Philips supplies all the necessary cables for setting up the HDR612, including a 50-foot phone line and splitter. You don't need a separate phone line; simply connect the splitter to the wall, connect your phone and receiver cable to the splitter, and you're in business. The phone line is vital for downloading TV listings, recording shows, and receiving TiVo's Suggestions feature and TiVolution Magazine, which offer guidance and recommendations on the best programs to watch. After the initial download, the receiver spends about five minutes updating your programming data each night.
The HDR612 has lots of great features that make it easier for this personal TV server to record programs as it learns your preferences. For example, the Suggestions feature actually offers input on shows you might enjoy based on your previous selections.
TiVo's onscreen setup guide includes easy step-by-step instructions. TiVo charges $12.95 a month for weekly listings, TiVolution Magazine, and the Suggestions feature, or you can pay a one-time service charge of $299.
Once you've selected a program to record, you have four choices of picture quality: basic, medium, high, or best. The higher settings take up more storage space, which translates into fewer hours of available record time.

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