DirecTV HR21PRO 500 GB HD DVR PRO Receiver for Ka-Ku Band (HR21PRO) Review

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(More customer reviews)DIRECTV HR21PRO 500 GB HD DVR PRO Receiver for Ka-Ku Band (HR21PRO) I purchased my HR21 Pro from Amazon.com after seeing it advertised by DirecTv on the first two pages of Home Theater (September 2008).The problem I have with this product is that it is not what was advertised by DirecTv as the HR21 Pro.The photograph of the HR21 Pro in the advertisement clearly shows a 1080p indicator light on the front right panel of the DVR.The HR21 Pro I purchased from Amazon only goes up to 1080i... a big difference.I have read that 1080p signal from DirecTv is soon to be available.I guess this means that my new HR21 Pro is already obsolete.

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Product Description:
The HR21 Pro Series HD DVR delivers the ultimate home theater experience. With over 150 national channels of HD available by the end of 2008 on DIRECTV®, the HR21 Pro Series is your HD solution. It can record up to 100 hours of HD programming, twice the capability of the HR20 and HR21. This incredible HD DVR delivers an industry-unique feature with its optical HDMI output, offering maximum installation flexibibility. ? Standard-definition (SD) and high definition (HD) enabled? Simultaneous SD & HD output? 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i picture output? 2 satellite tuners? Record up to 400 hours of SD, or up to 100 hours of HD programming? 14-day Advanced Program Guide®? Pause and rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes? Series LinkTM feature? One touch record, auto record, manual record, and bookmarks? Search and record? Interactive TV enabled? Optical HDMI, Component, Composite output plus Ethernet (2), S-ATA, USB? Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound capable? RS 232 Control? Integrated RF Antenna; RF Remote included? Rack Mountable? Dual fans? On-Screen Caller ID? Anticipated delivery: NOW!!!!

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Eyetv 250 Plus Review

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(More customer reviews)The EyeTV 250 Plus is a great little gizmo.It basically turns your Mac into a Tivo, with the ability to record as many TV shows as you can fit on your hard drive(s).The editing feature is easy to use -- it takes only a couple of minutes to remove all the commercials from a one-hour TV show.

Even though it comes with a remote control, I use the computer interface exclusively, as it is faster and provides access to every feature (also, I noticed that the IR input on the EyeTV box was picking up signals from other remotes, so I ended up covering it with a small piece of tape).

Recorded shows can be exported in a variety of formats, or can be left in their native MPEG-2 format for burning to DVD without any intermediate transcoding.The EyeTV comes with Toast Basic, which I have found to be good enough for my needs.With Toast, I can burn multiple recordings to a single DVD, with a main menu similar to what you get on a commercial DVD.

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Product Description:
Digital TV Recorder for the Mac. Combines TV recording software with a digital and analog TV receiver and hardware encoder.

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VuNow VN1000HD High Definition Kit Includes Wireless Adaptor and HDMI Cable Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I will be returning this item.I do not recommend this at all.I understand how some may think that this is a great item because it's the first time they've been able to realize anything web-centric on their TV BUT... I feel that this item over promises and under delivers.

Without a keyboard the alpha- numeric selections are on a grid in alphabetical order.This becomes very cumbersome to scroll and select and gets old real quick.

Video format not supported in a premier Channel for trailers.Cinema now may play some movies but at the $3.99 per movie I was not going to check it out as I already have a netflix account.There is no excuse for incorrect format on a featured channel.This is even after the automatic firmware update, it still did not recognise.

90% of the channels are garbage or curiosities at best.The two that promised any substance are, Netflix and Hulu.However, Netflix and Hulu and 2 others are NOT accessible without a 3rd party plugin called PlayOn.On the off chance you discover how to use the 3rd party PlayOn (you have to install it on a PC within your LAN and, as if by magic, your PC is turned into a conduit media server).The search ability and breakdown of movies into genre is not only inadequate but from what we can tell doesn't provide the same programs as is available from the website and is limited in.

Oh... and about that search;horrible search functionality with no foreseeable way to sort your Video or YouTube results renders the search almost useless.You have to scroll thru 200+ results 4 selections at a time.It's just like the iPhone interface, only the iPhone gives you more information.

YouTube allows you to login with your credentials.Why?I don't know, because anything useful like my favorites is not accessible.So even if I favorite a movie on my PC, where the search and selection is useful, I would not be able to access it through this interface and would still need to navigate the overwhelming dump of results ofer 50 screens 4 items on each screen.

On general video searches, other than YouTube, any of the Videos we searched for were inaccessible or did not have the correct codec, despite it showing up in the search.In fact, on 2 occasions it locked up trying resolve one of these phantom videos and required a physical power cycle by unplugging it.

Video Quality was very good, it has more to do with the quality of the video than the device anyway.The WiFi works great and was an ease to install.It is compact and discrete with no more than 2 wires (power and HDMI) in WiFi mode.

So if you want to buy it for the novelty of it and be the first person on the block with a half-assed itv, get it.Otherwise I'd wait about 2 years until it becomes usefull.

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LG AN-WL100W Wireless Media Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the LG 60pk750 a few weeks ago and love it.I have it wall mounted in a location which is VERY difficult to run wires to.Until now, I have had it temporarily hardwired to my DVR with exposed cable until I found a better way.Enter the "LG AN-WL100W Wireless Media Kit".I was skeptical about wireless HD, but decided to give it a try after reading the small amount of online reviews.Really not much info available about this product, but did find useful info at Crutchfield and home theater magazine.I hope that this review informs people about this product better.

Functionality:
Before I mounted my TV back on the wall, I decided to test the results through the AN-WL100W (smart, huh).I was actually very surprised... the picture was really good.I watched Discovery HD for a while, flipping between hardwired and wireless and saw NO difference.At times I thought I saw picture degradation, but I would flip back to the hardwired and realized that the source was the problem (broadcast HD is hit or miss).Don't have my Bluray yet, so this is the best reference I had.Sound was never a problem, though I was just using the TVs tiny speakers- I can say that it sounded just like the hardwired.For this test, the head unit was about 4 feet away, directly behind the TV, behind a wall in my garage(drywall-studs-plywood-drywall).
Later, I mounted my TV with the wireless dongle connected and in place, and put the headunit where I planned to keep it, in a AV closet approximately 10 feet from the center of the TV, to the right front of the TV.This time I could not get sufficient signal strength to get picture.I could not believe it!The total distance from the headunit to the dongle was about 12 feet- line-of-sight obstacles were a regular interior wall (drywall,studs,drywall), and the TV itself (since the dongle is mounted on the back).The screen would show that it saw the headunit and was tryng to establish picture, but signal strength was too low.

Form:
The product itself is really nice looking- no question. However, I have a huge issue with the dongle size and installation.The dongle is TOO BIG.The AN-WL100W was custom designed for these LG TVs, yet they still managed to allow the dongle to be the tallest protrusion on the back of the set! WTH?!?This is a problem if you are wall-mounting (why else would you buy this product if you were using a stand on a cabinet?).Similarly, the HDMI and control cables which plug into the back of the TV are not designed with 90 angles, so they get all bent and crimped up against the wall too.With so much design going into the electronics of the AN-WL100W, it simply blows my mind that they didn't make wall-mounting a slam-dunk by making the dongle just a bit thinner and supplying cables with 90 bends!

Summary:

I was hoping that going wireless (and paying $300) would simplify my location situation.I also liked the fact that it had nice IR repeaters and integrated switching controlled by the TV.The signal quality was good at very short ranges, but was useless at about 12 feet with a reasonable obstruction.I don't know how practical this is, because I think most people shelling out $300 for this are buying it because they might have an obstruction or distance situation.I would have kept fiddling with it if it hadn't been for the wall-mounting issues mentioned earlier.This sealed the deal for me to return it.

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Product Description:
LG AN-WL100W Wireless Media Kit

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Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I run the Hauppage USB 950Q Tuner on a Windows Vista 32-bit system with a high end Nvidia 9800 640MB PCI-E video card, dual core Pentium 2.8ghz processors and a Creative Xi-Fi PCI soundcard, with 3GB's of system RAM.This is well above the minimum requirements.

My primary use involves plugging in the coaxial cable line directly to the USB Tuner, in order to record certains shows a couple of times a week.

I did some basic research and read the various reviews of what was out there.My video card takes up so much space, that I didn't want to fool with squeezing a PCI card inside the case, a USB card that I could even take on the road with my lap top easily, seemed perfect.

This version comes with (at this time) the latest Hauppage drivers on the CD. It's best to install the CD apps first before plugging the USB device in.If you don't, make sure to cancel the Windows prompt to find drivers on it's own.

I also had to install the WinTV application in order for Windows Media Center to recognize the signal.I prefer to use WMC because of it's very nice guide, genre summaries of "what's on" and the speed at which it operates.I still need to fool around a bit with the aspect ratio, as I have a widescreen 24" flat panel monitor.

After the 10 minutes or so it takes to scan all of the analog cable channels, I played the live TV and the picture was grainy, choppy, and kept stuttering out.It took me a while to figure out it was a bad signal from the cable line.Keep this in mind - if your picture is snowy, having blips or a white line running through it intermittently etc..., you probably need a Cable Signal Amplifier.I got a bi-directional cable TV amplifier from Radioshack for $34 and after plugging it in the right way, the signal and picture for analog channels was noticeably improved, and I am now reasonably happy with it.Make sure your fuzzy picture is not a result of this, if you have any splitters on your line, multiple TV's and an internet modem hooked up to your cable lines, an amplifier can work wonders.I haven't seen this obvious remedy mentioned in any other reviews, so wanted to make sure I put it in here.

I also tested the included atenna, and the local, free QAM or HD channels it picked up, looked fantastic, the analog channels were too choppy but clearer than the cable picture, I didn't spend much time with the antenna though.The problem is there are very few of these HD/QAM channels available, even here in a major city where I live, and they are just versions of the local network station (which I rarely watch).Literally 4-6 of these, if that.

If the day comes where everything is broadcast in HD, this card will make the picture rather remarkable, for obvious reasons being you don't have to convert an analog signal and the resolutions match hi-res PC monitors much more closely.

WinTV is very cumbersome and slow, I notice a slightly better picture with it at this point, versus WMC, but WMC's functionality make it the preferred application.

Unfortunately I cannot find a way to easily switch back and forth between the Antenna source and Analog Cable line, without having to re-scan everything - which takes 10+ minutes for WinTV, less for WMC.I don't think there is an easy way, even with another splitter.

So, buy a cable tv amplifier, (bi-directional if you use PPV or Indemand services etc..,) make sure you have a powerful video card (more important than your CPU - but they ultimately both work together) and at least 2GB of system RAM if you're on Vista ecspecially.

This should give you adequate results and feel this is probably one of the better, more affordable, PC TV with HD/QAM options out there, and should get better with time as broadcasts move to an all-digital signal.

Of course if you have a DVR or hi-def cable box, use the S-video connection if possible, and your HD channels and other digital channels will probaby look and play even better.

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Product Description:
The Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder will bring high-definition television directly to your PC. This handy device lets you watch your favorite TV shows through your computer, and record them digitally for future playback using high quality MPEG-2. More economical and versatile than a DVR, or digital video recorder, this PC Video Recorder, or PVR, gives you virtually unlimited options for saving and playing back your favorite TV broadcasts and clips.
The Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder offers:

Ability to watch television on your PC in a window or full screen.
Portable, small size for on-the-go television viewing on your laptop.
Compatibility with digital and analog signals.
Acceptance of video feeds from a camera or satellite box.

The small, pocketable size lets you easily take it everywhere. View larger. Play and Record Television Digitally
The WinTV-HVR-950 is a simple-to-use device that brings over-the-air high definition ATSC digital TV as well as analog cable TV directly to your PC desktop or laptop. With the additional included antenna, it can also receive analog TV broadcasts, and it can also accept video feeds directly from a camera or satellite box.
More versatile than a DVR, the WinTV-HVR-950 is a pocket-sized device that simply plugs into your PC's USB port. It features a built-in digital ATSC over-the-air TV receiver. If you live in one of the more than 200 cities in the United States that receives ATSC digital TV, you'll have immediate access to as many as 1500 digital TV stations. ATSC digital TV is the over-the-air HDTV standard for North America. ATSC broadcasts range in resolution from standard definition up to the high definition 1080i format. (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com.)
A portable digital TV antenna, which can be used to receive digital TV up to 10 miles from an ATSC transmitter, is included with the PVR . (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com) If you live in an area where you can't currently receive ATSC digital TV, the WinTV-HVR-950 can still be used to watch and record analog TV from cable TV or a TV antenna. (The WinTV-HVR-950 cannot receive digital cable TV or digital satellite TV.) With the included credit-card-sized remote control, navigating all these channels is easy.
Watch Clear QAM Digital TV
The WinTV-HVR-950 also has a built-in QAM tuner, allowing you to watch and record QAM programming. Clear QAM digital TV channels are digital cable channels which can be watched on a TV set without a cable TV set top box. are Many cable operators transmit the local high definition ATSC channels using clear QAM.. Some cable operators transmit additional non-premium TV programs using clear QAM. With the WinTV-HVR-950, you can watch these channels for free. Clear QAM channels range from standard definition to the highest 1080i definition.
Once the WinTV-HVR-950 is connected, you can begin to record your favorite shows in high-quality MPEG-2 directly to your hard disk using the Hauppauge SoftPVR MPEG-2 encoder. Television recordings will typically consume 5 GB of disk space per hour for ATSC high definition, while analog recordings will typically consume 1.5 GB of disk space per hour. You can also use the included WinTV-Scheduler to program your compute to record your favorite analog or digital TV shows for play back at any time.
Compatibility with Microsoft's Windows Media Center means that you can watch TV as well as your recordings with Windows Media Center. The included WinTV application also lets you watch your shows in a window or on full screen.


The WinTV application offers an elegant interface to watch TV in a window or full screen. View larger. More about PVR Technology
PVR stands for PC Video Recorder. The WinTV-HVR-950 is a PVR that allows you to play television through your computer and record the broadcasts digitally. PVR doesn't use standard videocassettes; instead, it uses your computer's hard disk to store the broadcasts.
Once you record a television show to your PC's hard drive, you can burn a CD or DVD that will allow you to play the show back on another computer or on your television. With video editing software (not included with the WinTV-HVR-950), you can even edit the shows. This is a great feature if you want to save clips from movies or sitcoms, or keep your favorite player's grand slam or TD kick-off return for posterity.
And just like a typical VCR, the WinTV-HVR-950 offers you several recording options, depending on your play back needs. If you want the highest quality recording for playback through your HDTV, all you need is enough hard drive space to support high-quality recording. By using the lowest recording option, you can use your WinTV-HVR-950, along with an inexpensive video camera, as a low-cost on-site video surveillance system. In fact, the possibilities of how you can take advantage of the WinTV-HVR-950 are endless.
What's in the Box
WinTV-HVR-950 USB 2.0 TV stick with cable TV or ATSC antenna connection; USB extension cable; portable antenna; software on CD-ROM; remote control; and quick installation guide.

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Mygica HDTV Thriller ATSC, QAM, NTSC, FM, HDTV PCI card for Desktop PC - PCI HD TV Tuner Card with Remote - Supports up to 1920 x 1080i Resolution Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Installed the Geniatech PCI tv tuner card into a system with Windows XP SP3 OS, core 2 duo 3 GHz CPU, and 2 GB RAM. A video card supporting Microsoft DirectX 9.0c is required. After turning on the computer, the OS recognized the new hardware, and requested CD with drivers. During driver installation, the OS warns that the software has not passed Windows Logo testing; click on "Continue Anyway" and the drivers are installed. The "Software Install" screen appears. After installation of the DirectX software, it was necessary to reboot. After the system rebooted, and Windows XP was restarting, the system hung up, showing a blank screen. Rebooted a few times with the same result. As a remedy, rebooted into "Safe Mode" by pressing and holding "F8" key during boot-up. This solved the problem. Next, installed the media center software, ArcSoft TotalMedia, included in the installation CD. The package includes a remote control requiring two AAA batteries not included in the package. It is necessary to plug-in the remote control cable with infrared sensor at the other end of the cable to allow line-of-sight remote control. Next, the remote control would not work; after testing the batteries to make sure they were good, turned to the installation CD to locate the infrared sensor driver, and installed it by clicking on the setup icon. An indoor digital antenna was attached to the tv tuner card BNC input and with the TotalMedia software, scanned the available channels, it worked, but an outdoor antenna would pick up more channels. Next, attached an "analog Cable" to test the QAM tuner; after a channel scan, got considerably more channels. The ArcSoft TotalMedia software works great, it allows recording to the current user's My Documents/My Videos folder. It is not possible to record one channel and view another channel at the same time. Video recordings are "software" encoded to mpeg; ergo a Pentium 4 2.4 GHz CPU or higher is required. The package includes an FM antenna, and the software includes a "Radio" FM digital tuner, which allows for listening and recording from the tv tuner card. The installation is not for a novice; but in my system the tv tuner card with ancillary software, works great.

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Product Description:
X8350A is the ultimate PC TV tuner which supports both digital cable (Clear QAM) and free-to-air HDTV with the built-in dual tuners. You can enjoy the crystal clear HDTV with resolution up to 1920 × 1080i. With its bundled player software Total Media by Arcsoft, your viewing experience is like a breeze. The player software also offers personal video recorder, picture viewer, music and DVD player capabilities. A fully functioning remote control is also included.

Highlights:
* Support both digital cable and OTA HDTV
* Let your LCD monitor do its second duty by displaying crystal clear HD pictures for you.
* The bundled software and the card also act as a PVR; you can record your favorite shows for later viewing.
* Listen to FM radio.
* Support video capturing for external video signals.
* Bottom-line, a big return for a little investment

Features:
* Watch digital cable HDTV on PC (QAM)
* Supports HDTV for ATSC over antenna(US/Canada/Mexico format)
* Supports up to 1920x1080i(HDTV)
* Supports NTSC/FM Radio
* Very easy to use interface (Arcsoft's Total Media)
* Support Electronic Program Guide(EPG)
* Fully functioning remote control
* Scheduled recording of your favorite show for later viewing
* Support still image capture in BMP or JPEG format
* Support multiple inputs (RCA and S-Video) for capturing external videos in DVD format (MPEG)

Specifications:
* Interface: PCI
* Digital TV Tuner: 75 Ohm (UHF/VHF) TV Antenna
* Video: -S-Video Input: 4-pin Mini-Din -- Composite input: RCA jack
* TV system Frequency: -54MHz-806MHz
* IR:Infrared Remote Control
* Dimension: 15×8 cm

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Vulkano Pro 010410VP All-In-One Media Placeshifter Includes 500 GB eSATA Hard Disk, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So far I've only tested this as a remote streaming device and have not experimented much with the DVR. I will update as soon as I've done more.

Streaming quality is the best out there. I've been through the original Slingbox, the Slingbox Solo, the Pro-HD and the various HAVA boxes, and this thing is simply outstanding. I've tested in-house streaming and remote streaming to my laptop on WiFi and 3G and my smartphone on 3G. In all cases, the video quality is almost as good as watching a locally stored video file.

The price appears to be high, but when you compare it with the $261 for a Slingbox PRO-HD, it is a bargain. The Sling lacks DVR, local TV watching, internal storage, placeshifting and more. Sling also charges $30 for their mobile clients, while the Vulkano mobile players are free.

There are a few bugs in the setup process, but this thing is just out, so I'll cut them some slack to get those sorted out.

If you do not need a lot of DVR storage, stick with the cheaper version of this box.

PROS:

Can use as a full (single tuner) DVR
Can control for live TV and DVR on a mobile device
Free mobile players
Amazing streaming quality

CONS:

No internal tuner
Single DVR channel only
Does not appear to support network storage
Requires EXT3 formatted harddrive for video storage, with no "format drive" option to enable use of your own drives

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Product Description:
Vulkano Pro is a sleek and stylish consumer device that connects to your TV set-top box or any video source that enables a complete TV and Internet media experience on smartphones, iPads, PCs, Macs and your big screen TV. Vulkano allows you to experience live or recorded TV, videos, photos and music on whichever screen you prefer, when you want it. Imagine having TiVo, Slingbox, Roku and mobile video recording functionality all in a single box, for a fraction of the price. Vulkano Pro includes a 500GB external hard disk which allows hundreds of hours or TV recordings.

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Roku HD-XR Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First let me say I own a Roku and LOVE it!NetFlix and Roku are a marriage made in heaven as far as I'm concerned, and they are saving me tons of money and treks to the video store. The picture, ease of use, wireless capabilities, quality of video content... everything is great!

But as a consumer it's important to understand the differences between the 3 Roku offerings so you can make an informed decision on your purchase. It does seem odd that Roku has simply not put out one device at one price for everyone with all the bells and whistles, but for now, you have to choose one... based upon your needs and budget.

THE DIFFERENCES IN ROKU PLAYERS:
Roku HD Player is capable of wired or wireless hook-up, but not at the fastest speed available from a 'N' wireless network. HD content streams to this device flawlessly (if the content is available and your home network is sending a proper signal), despite not being 'N' network ready.

That being said, Roku came out with Roku HD-XR Player which WILL stream the fastest 'N' network standard, provided the rest of your home network is also working with the same standard.That being said, this device is not at all necessary if you don't have all the devices on your home network using the 'N' standard, because the speed will only go as fast as the device with the slowest connection which is probably the 'B or G' standard.

The third device is available on Roku's website. Roku SD, which streams in standard definition, will not stream HD content, isn't capable of surround sound audio like the other two and does not have a HDMI connection. It only supports the red/yellow/white (composite video and audio) connections, but it will connect wirelessly or can be hardwired to the internet, working on a 'B or G' network. The Roku SD is about twenty bucks less than the Roku HD and , so again, consider your needs before buying. **Anyone with a standard def TV and who doesn't plan to upgrade to an HDTV with HDMI ports any time soon, would probably want this version.

The Roku HD-XR Player is a jump up from the HD model in wireless capabilities. All the Roku offerings will give you years of enjoyment by boosting your NetFlix subscription, streaming Amazon On Demand media and boosting your viewing library. What the HD-XR has that the others don't: 'N' network capabilities and 1 USB port for firmware upgrades and possibly, other media hook-ups via USB, but at this time Roku doesn't even bring up the USB on their website so I tend to wonder about this being a selling point. Is it worth the extra cost?Only you know the answer to that question.

MY CONCLUSION:
The quality of the streaming video on my 'G' network is perfect; standard and HD content, via my Roku HD, but since I don't have a 'N' network, nor do I expect I will in the near future, I saved myself a bit of money and didn't buy this one.

The only reason I give this product 4 versus 5 stars is because of the price bump for the ability to use an 'N' wireless network when frankly I believe it should be considered a standard feature, not an extra. The USB port, whatever it's used for, should also be standard on all models. Again, it would be wonderful to have one Roku with all the potential connections and wireless ability, and perhaps in the future there will be, but for now you need to consider these three: Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR.

To may your own informed choice, evaluate your needs and buy accordingly. While the Roku products are not media storage devices or DVR's, they can give you a tremendous boost in your enjoyment of NetFlix and expand your viewing library.


ROKU HD-XR PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS (per the Roku website):
*Note the USB port isn't even listed as a feature.

Networking
Wi-Fi (802.11N/B/G "dual-band") with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support
10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)
Video Outputs
Composite video (480i)
S-Video (480i)
Component video (Y/Pb/Pr - 720p/480p)
HDMI (720p/480p)
Video Modes
16:9 High Definition (HD)
16:9 anamorphic
4:3 standard
Audio Output
Stereo (L/R RCA)
Digital Optical (Toslink - Stereo/Surround)
Digital over HDMI (Stereo/Surround)
Remote Control
NEC protocol, supported by various universal remotes
Power Input
5V, 2.5A provided by included AC adapter
Power Consumption
6 watts peak, 4 watts in standby
Size
5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)
Weight
11 oz (300 grams)

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Product Description:
Now featuring extended-range wireless, Roku is the easiest way to stream instant movies and shows directly to your TV - over 50,000 and counting, from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and more. The top-of-the-line HD-XR model uses the latest wireless standard (Wi-Fi "N") to deliver the best quality video virtually anywhere in your home. It's so easy and powerful; no wonder Roku is Netflix members' top rated streaming player.

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Miglia Digital TV Recorder for Mac Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're anything like me, you spend a lot of your time with your Mac, Browsing the web, listening to itunes, making the occasional iMovie. The only thing other than work and friends that competes for my time is the occasional TV show. That is where the folks at Miglia come in. They know you love your mac and they know you're busy and don't always have time in your schedule to sit down and watch a full hour of "LOST." They even know that you get up during the commercials to send a quick email, but that invariably something will happen that keeps you from getting back to the show and you miss the next segment. They know all this... and they've done something about it.

The TVMini HD is a cute little peripheral about as big as a mouse (optical not animal). The design appears to draw from the iPod, as the majority of it's smooth rounded case resembles stainless steel (iPod mini) and the front and back are adorned with shiny white plastic (Classic iPod good-ness). The TVMini HD(tm) is a compliment to any desktop and looks especially nice next to my 20" iMac. The front of the unit contains three blue LED's which at a glance can tell you if it's on, how good your signal strength is, and when a show is being recorded.

The rear of the unit has but two connections, USB-2 and a coaxial cable terminal. The fact that the unit is powered via USB means there is no power-brick to worry about and keeps potentially messy cables to a minimum.

The TVMini HD has the capability to decode, pause and record ATSC/Clear QAM broadcasts. It will let you watch unencrypted digital TV content, but is not compatible with paid digital cable or satellite services. Many cable TV providers broadcast free-to-air digital channels on their networks. TVMini HD(tm) supports resolutions of up to 1080i (1920x1080) and transfers the digital video stream to your Mac without modifying it in anyway keeping the original quality.

I am cheap, I don't pay for digital cable so I haven't been able to use the TVMini HD in the latter capacity. However I do have a nice ATSC antenna in my attic and when I plugged the TVMini HD into it, I was able to pick up 26 channels 6 of which are HD. The TVMini HD ATSC video fills the majority of my 20" monitor and gives a much better picture than Standard Definition TV.

1920x1080 signals are crisp and will fill many Mac screens - leaving just over 2" on the bottom of my iMac. You can view the broadcasts at "Half size" and "Small size but they look too good at the normal size, not to make this your default. If you have a 20" monitor and a Dual G4, G5, or a CoreDuo processor you will find that the Miglia TVMini HD provides a wonderful TV viewing experience on your Mac.

The included Elegato EyeTV software is intuitive, good looking, and just plain works great.The program guide is what I was most interested in and it works well, at first I had a hiccup getting the actual program information to show up so that I could schedule a recording, but once it started working, it was flawless. Once you have a show recorded, the EyeTV software continues to be useful, allowing you to edit out commercials (saving space on your HDD!) and includes one button support for burning the content to DVD, and/or conversion to the iPod's video format (it will also automatically import the file into iTunes for easy synching or playback via Front Row).

Out of the box you have everything you need to watch HDTV on your mac. The small antenna they provide will get you by in a pinch (I was able to pick up 7 channels, 3 being HD).The included remote control is nice and works well, but it would be nice if you could access EyeTV's new full screen menu (which functions much like Apple's Front Row) using only the remote. The included "protective carrying case" is a nice touch, keeping it looking good on your travels and your friends drooling.

For people who don't want to spend a fortune to get the benefit of HDTV Miglia's TVMini HD is perfect. You get HDTV (as well as SD) decoding, PVR capability, and program guide data from a small portable device. Plus the small size and attractive appearance compliment your desktop.

I recommend this product to anyone who loves TV.The TVMini HD is especially nice for those of us in the military, since we're often loo

Click Here to see more reviews about: Miglia Digital TV Recorder for Mac

Product Description:
Miglia TVMini HD - TVMini HD consists of a small external decoder, portable antenna, and remote control. Together, they allow you to watch and record live digital TV on your Mac. With good enough reception, you can enjoy HDTV resolutions up to 1080i (1920x1080). You can even pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV, or if you can't stay and watch, easily record your shows to your hard drive or burn them to DVD.Pause, rewind, and skip forward Live TV Export recorded TV shows to Apple iPod and Sony PSP Compatible with ATSC/Clear QAM broadcasts Not Compatible with paid digital cable or satellite services

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TiVo TCD658000 HD XL Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're too lazy to do more research aside from looking at this page, then you may be a bit surprised when you open the box. Here's what you need to know:

1) This TiVo requires a CableCard. It does NOT work with your cable box. It in fact replaces your cable box, so things like On Demand won't work anymore. Cable TV companies are required by the FCC to give you a CableCard on request, but they will likely charge fees for installation and for using the CableCard. It also (at least for me) can be a giant pain to get to a representative who can actually help you. I wasted hours trying to deal with my cable company. Also, try to get them to let you install it yourself, as it's really, really easy and shouldn't cost you twenty bucks to have someone else slide a card into a slot. Seriously, your blind, senile great-grandmother could do this.
2) The TiVo DOES have an Ethernet jack on the back along with the telephone jack. If you can use a wired network connection, then you don't need to shell out extra for the wireless adapter. I'm now returning mine to Amazon for a refund.
3) Lifetime service (totally worth it in my opinion) now costs $399 up from $299, but you can get it for only $299 with a multi-service discount if you already have another TiVo. Even better, you can resell your TiVo in the future with the lifetime service and transfer the service to the new owner. You can't do that with a monthly or yearly plan!
4) The remote is awful compared to the old remotes. Plus, they switched around the buttons! It also now uses 4 AAAs rather than 2 AAs. However, old remotes should work with this TiVo, too. (I haven't bothered trying.)

Nonetheless, don't let this scare you off. The TiVo HD XL is a really solid product, and TiVo is definitely still the king of DVRs. The XL is a bit pricey, but if you do the math, you'll realize this is actually the best way to go. You really won't save money or time by rolling your own or by buying the cheaper one and attaching an external hard drive.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TiVo TCD658000 HD XL Digital Video Recorder

Product Description:
TiVo HD XL - You're ultimate HD cable experience.Discover a whole new universe of entertainment - in crystal-clear THX sound and picture-optimized for digital cable.It's all the digital entertainment you want, whenever you want it!With the Emmy Award-Winning TiVo service, plus movies, music, and videos from the internet, TiVo HD XL makes the most of broadcast and broadband.

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Sony DHG-HDD250 30-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (250 GB) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)[This review is based on experiences with the DHG-HDD250; the DHG-HDD500 is identical, except that it is $150-$200 more expensive and has two 250GB hard disks instead of just one.]

If you're anything like me, you're likely looking at this Sony unit because TiVo doesn't make DVR that can receive high-definition (HD) broadcasts. (And the fact that TiVo has been dragging its feet on HD is one of many reasons that the company is not long for this world.)I bought the Sony DHG-HDD250 to replace my old TiVo box, and although there a few small things I gave up in the process, I'm mostly happy with my new Sony.

First and foremost: QUALITY. Watching live TV on the Sony unit is *almost* as good as watching TV with my TV's built-in ATSC tuner. The colors are slightly less-vibrant and there are a few more compression artifacts, but this is to be expected, and not terribly noticeable. Recordings are first-rate, and infinitely better than any low-def DVR, VCR, or even DVD recorder. And with the HDMI output, you can have a pure digital connection from the DVR to your TV. Probably the only quality issue is the confusing "Format" button on the remote, which allows you to stretch or shrink the video to display correctly on a 16:9 widescreen TV.It works, but it responds very slowly, is inconsistent, incomplete, and hard to figure out. Why they didn't include a simple "zoom" feature (like every TV on the planet) is beyond me.

THE INTERFACE.The menu system is not complicated, although not as friendly and cheerful as TiVo (it's faster and sharper-looking than TiVo, though). The Sony unit is much, much more configurable than any TiVo, and that configurability comes at a bit of a cost. Be prepared to read the manual to figure out how to record programs and set up the channel list, for instance. Thereafter, many things (like recording shows) are actually easier to accomplish (albeit more difficult to learn) than on a TiVo. Example: in the Guide, press and hold the Record button for one second to record a show.Press Record again to record it repeatedly (same time, same channel).That's it - no wading through multiple screens, like on TiVo, to set up a simple recording.

THE GUIDE.The Sony uses the free TV Guide on-screen system (what used to be called GemStar, I believe) to get program data (off the air!) and display TV listings on the screen. This means you don't have to extend a phone cord or network cable to your DVR; just plug it in to your wall outlet, attach your antenna or plug in your cable card, and leave the unit powered off overnight. Each night, the DVR gets program data for the current day and the same day next week, which means it'll take six days after you take it out of the box before the listings will be fully populated. (Tip: listings come from an analog station in your area, so make sure not to exclude your analog stations from the listings until you find out which one is broadcasting!)

The guide not bad, but not great, either. It's pretty easy to use, but suffers from a few really idiotic design decisions. For instance, there's no direct way (on-screen) to show the listings for a different day (e.g., Tomorrow, next Wednesday, etc.), except for holding the "right" arrow button on the remote to cycle slowly through each hour of listings until you eventually end up on the correct day.The only shortcut is to press some numbers on the remote (e.g., 2 and then 4) and then select "hours ahead" from the menu that appears to jump 24 hours into the future.In other words, there's no "Tomorrow" or "Yesterday" buttons on the remote or on the screen.And there are many little annoyances like this, although it works okay once you get used to it.

But the DHG's guide also has some really nice features, such as the grid (which TiVo never could manage to include on their units), and even a keyword search; you can even save your searches!You can also get alphabetical listings to find the show(s) you want, and you can even filter the list to show only HD content, only movies, only comedies, etc. Also, recordings can be grouped by show, so you don't have to wade through a long list of recordings to find the recorded show you want to watch.

SEASON PASS.One of TiVo's best (and simplest) features was the Season Pass; I could tell it to record West Wing, and no matter what time and on what channel it appeared, TiVo would record it.Alas, the Sony unit DOES NOT HAVE A SEASON PASS feature; I don't know why the folks at TV Guide couldn't get this simple feature to work. You can have the DHG record multiple episodes of a show, but ONLY if they're broadcast at exactly the same time and on the same channel.If West Wing is an hour later one week, or if it's syndicated on another station, the DHG will miss it unless you manually ask it to record those episodes, too.

There are some other TiVo features absent from the DHG that I don't miss at all, such as "Recommendations" (a feature that fills up your hard disk with junk you don't want), and the "Thumbs Up" and "Thumbs Down" buttons that are supposed to influence the aforementioned recommendations (almost as effectively as TiVo's marketing partners).

OVERALL.The DHG-HDDxxx is the only DVR on the market that doesn't require an expensive digital cable subscription or satellite dish; since I get all my HD broadcasts for free with a $20 rooftop antenna, this was a must.It's also quite a nice unit; well made, attractive, and it works well.If you want an HD DVR, you'll probably be very happy with the Sony DHG-HDDxxx once you get used to it's quirks.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony DHG-HDD250 30-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (250 GB)

Product Description:
Tired of viewing your high-definition programming at standard-definition resolution just so you can watch it at a time of your choosing? Kiss your VCR and your other DVR goodbye and say hello to Sony's DHG-HDD250, a digital video recorder that's fully high-definition capable in its reception, storage, and playback. It features built-in NTSC and ATSC (DTV) tuners, so even if your television is merely "HD-ready," the DHG-HDD250 will pull HDTV content right off the airwaves, with no monthly fees. You can use the recorder to pause, replay, and rewind live HDTV programming, too.
Even if you haven't invested in a high-def set, you can use the DHG-HDD250's 250 GB hard drive to store up to 200 hours--more than a solid week--of standard-definition (SD) programming for instant viewing on your analog TV. The device stores at least 30 hours of maximum-bit-rate high-definition content.
And, when paired with a CableCARD digital decoder and a digital cable subscription, the DHG-HDD250 is your gateway to encrypted high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) digital cable services. A Memory Stick PRO media slot makes it easy to enjoy playback of your digital photos and MP3 music files.
The recorder comes with the TV Guide On Screen interactive program guide for easy program searching and automatic scheduled recording (where available). The guide displays shows and channel lineups that are customized to your location, delivering a week's worth of rolling listings via TV broadcasts.Whether your display has a standard 4:3 dimension or a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, the DHG-HDD250 offers multiple display formats and flexible aspect-ratio settings for personalized reproduction of all broadcast formats on a wide variety of TVs.
Connections include a choice between a direct-digital HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or component-video (Y Pb Pr) high-definition outputs; several standard-definition analog outputs for connection to VCRs or analog TVs; a USB port, and a Control S port for connection and operation with other Sony equipment.
HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link the recorder with a compatible high-definition TV or monitor. HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable (supplied). It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
What's in the Box
DVR, a multiple-device universal Remote Commander remote control, remote batteries, a component-video cable, an HDMI video cable, an HDMI-to-DVI adapter, an audio/video cable, an S-video cable, a Control S cable, a G-Link (IR blaster), and a user's manual.

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RCA DVR10 High-Definition Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Issues with this product when used with a Mistubishi TV and OTA reception.
1.Stops recording
2.Misses recordings
3.Thinks there is a connection to TV when there is not one
4.Date time stamp incorrect for recordings
It is frustrating to use, because it does not work properly often. Then there are times it works as it should.
Technical issues aside, if you looking for TIVO or ReplayTV functionality, this is not for you. This is simple functionality similiar to a VCR, just no tapes and a hard drive instead. And there is limited capacity for HDTV only 9 hours.
I am waiting for a replacement unit from RCA to see if the technical issues are limited to my unit or if there is a general unreliability problem with this product.
If this product worked, it would be a stop gap until other products are on the market at a reasonable price.

Click Here to see more reviews about: RCA DVR10 High-Definition Digital Video Recorder

Product Description:
The RCA DVR10 high-definition hard-disk video recorder offers the capability of recording and storing your favorite TV programs--even at full high-definition (HDTV) resolution. This 80 GB digital video recorder holds up to 9 hours of HD programming and up to 40 hours of standard-definition programming when connected to a copy-protected IEEE 1394 digital TV (including RCA Scenium sets) or set-top box. Using the built-in timer capabilities of a connected television or set-top box, the DVR10 can be triggered to record programs up to 24 hours in advance, programmed to "tape" a program daily, or set to instantly record a program in progress.
Key features include pause, fast forward, reverse, slow motion (both forward and reverse), and single-frame advance. The DVR10 also offers a variety of skip and search functions based on the IEEE 1394 commands from the controlling device. Unlike a traditional VCR, with which you have to wait for a program to finish recording before you start watching it, the DVR10 lets you pause, rewind, and play back a program as it is being recorded. Press the left arrow for an instant replay of the last 7 seconds or the right arrow to jump ahead 30 seconds.
The back of the DVR10 has two 6-pin DTVLink (IEEE 1394) ports and an AC power-cord connector. Devices using the IEEE 1394 interface can be connected to either port. Devices certified as DTVLink use the same IEEE 1394 interface but also include advanced copy protection schemes to send and receive encrypted or copy-protected content. The IEEE 1394 interface also lets you control the DVR10's record and playback functions right from the remote control for your television.
What's in the Box
DVR10 recorder, an AC power cord, an IEEE 1394 cable, a remote control, remote batteries, and a user's manual.

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Hauppauge 1340 MediaMVP-HD Digital Media Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had a Hauppage HD PVR for about a year now, and I've been recording my HD TV programs (I have a library of TrueBlood, Lost and Heroes) from my Fios box and burning them onto a CD for playback on my Blu-ray player in my living room. But I've wanted to just simply play the recordings back to my HD TV in the living room instead of going through the "record/burn" steps.
So I picked up one of the MediaMVP-HD's. It basically did just what I wanted.
I hooked up the MVP up to my HD TV set in the living room (I used HDMI to connect to my Samsung "B" series LCD TV). I have an ethernet connection in my living room, so the connection for me was pretty simple. I then scanned my network and found both my PC where the HD PVR is connected and also my laptop computer. In about 5 minutes I was able to play the HD PVR recordings from my PC to the HD TV set.
I like the fast skip buttons (you hit 0 to 9 on the remote control to go to different spots in your recording) and I like being able to adjust the volume from the MVP remote control.
The video quality on my Samsung is incredible, I guess due to the HD PVR recordings but also (I assume) to the HDMI output on the MVP.
Wireless would be nice to have on the MVP, though I didn't need this on my TV set in the living room. I have another HD TV in the bedroom which does not have an ethernet cable, so I'd need wireless there.
Also, I liked the front panel USB port on the MVP, where I've been plugging in my digital pictures which I keep stored on my thumb drive.
In my opinion, if you have an HD PVR, you need to get a MVP so you can avoid burning blu-ray disks when you want to play your HD PVR recordings onto your HD TV set.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge 1340 MediaMVP-HD Digital Media Player

Product Description:
The Hauppauge MediaMVP-HD makes it easy to enjoy your favorite digital videos, music, and photos, at up to 1080p resolution, on your HDTV. The MediaMVP-HD plays digital content from a Windows PC or a USB drive. When connected to a PC, the MediaMVP-HD uses your existing local area network (wired) connection to play videos, music, and display digital pictures on your HDTV.In both cases, you can enjoy digital video recordings, photo slideshows, plus your MP3 music collection--all through the high-definition picture and superior sound of your home television. And for the ultimate, customized home media system network,you can connect up to 12 MediaMVP-HDs, each to a separate TV set, giving you practically unlimited play and record options.
MediaMVP-HD
Digital Media Player
At a Glance:

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ATSC NTSC Hybrid HDTV PCI TV Tuner /Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ordered this on March 20th, arrived the following Monday (23rd) with expedited shipping.The product works very nicely with Windows 7 x64 beta.

I'm a bit more familiar with Windows Media Center so I generally use it instead of what software was included.The included software works fine too, no hiccups at all with the Windows beta.

I purchased this to replace my analog only tuner card that came included with my HP Media Center PC.I'm glad I did.

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Product Description:
X8000A uses the latest TV decoding chip from Silicon Valley. It supports both free-to-air HDTV and traditional NTSC TV signal decoding with the built-in dual tuners. You will enjoy crystal clear HDTV with resolution up to 1920 × 1080i. With its professional grade playing software TotalMedia by Arcsoft, your viewing experience is like a breeze. Combined with the card, TotalMedia also functions as a personal/digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), picture viewer, music and DVD player, and more. A fully functioning remote control is also supported. Detailed Feature List * Supports HDTV for ATSC (US/Canada/Mexico format), Analog TV for NTSC * Watch free Digital HDTV on PC * Supports up to 1920x1080i(HDTV) resolution * Very easy to use graphics interface * Supports Electronic Program Guide(EPG) * Fully functioning remote control * Schedule recording of your favorite show for later viewing * Time Shifting * Captures home and other videos and burning them into DVD/SVCD/VCD, supports TV, AV, and S video inputSpecifications*Interface: PCI *Digital TV Tuner: 75 Ohm (UHF/VHF) TV Antenna *Analog TV Tuner.75 Ohm (UHF/VHF) TV Antenna*Video: -S-Video Input: 4-pin Mini-Din -Composite input: RCA jack* TV system*Frequency: -55.25MHz-855.25MHz(NTSC)*69 terrestrial digital channels (ATSC)*IR: Infrared Remote ControlSystem Requirements *Intel P4, Celeron, AMD Atholon or compatible, operating at 2.4GHz or greater *256MB of system memory or above*Available PCI slot for GENIATECH HDTV Thriller X8000A card*Graphics card with 128MB or greater of frame buffer and with Microsoft DirectX 9.0 support*Installation software requires CD-ROM drive *Sound card and speakers. *Antenna (indoor type is sufficient in most cases) Package Contents *Geniatech X8000A PCI HDTV tuner card *Infrared Remote Control*Mini RF to F connector converter*Multifunction cable*Quick Installation Guide*Software CD Warranty:*One year standard manufacturer warranty.

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Sony DHG-HDD500 60-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (500 GB) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)[This review is based on experiences with the DHG-HDD250; the DHG-HDD500 is identical, except that it is $150-$200 more expensive and has two 250GB hard disks instead of just one.]

If you're anything like me, you're likely looking at this Sony unit because TiVo doesn't make DVR that can receive high-definition (HD) broadcasts. (And the fact that TiVo has been dragging its feet on HD is one of many reasons that the company is not long for this world.)I bought the Sony DHG-HDD250 to replace my old TiVo box, and although there a few small things I gave up in the process, I'm mostly happy with my new Sony.

First and foremost: QUALITY. Watching live TV on the Sony unit is *almost* as good as watching TV with my TV's built-in ATSC tuner. The colors are slightly less-vibrant and there are a few more compression artifacts, but this is to be expected, and not terribly noticeable. Recordings are first-rate, and infinitely better than any low-def DVR, VCR, or even DVD recorder. And with the HDMI output, you can have a pure digital connection from the DVR to your TV. Probably the only quality issue is the confusing "Format" button on the remote, which allows you to stretch or shrink the video to display correctly on a 16:9 widescreen TV.It works, but it responds very slowly, is inconsistent, incomplete, and hard to figure out. Why they didn't include a simple "zoom" feature (like every TV on the planet) is beyond me.

THE INTERFACE.The menu system is not complicated, although not as friendly and cheerful as TiVo (it's faster and sharper-looking than TiVo, though). The Sony unit is much, much more configurable than any TiVo, and that configurability comes at a bit of a cost. Be prepared to read the manual to figure out how to record programs and set up the channel list, for instance. Thereafter, many things (like recording shows) are actually easier to accomplish (albeit more difficult to learn) than on a TiVo. Example: in the Guide, press and hold the Record button for one second to record a show.Press Record again to record it repeatedly (same time, same channel).That's it - no wading through multiple screens, like on TiVo, to set up a simple recording.

THE GUIDE.The Sony uses the free TV Guide on-screen system (what used to be called GemStar, I believe) to get program data (off the air!) and display TV listings on the screen. This means you don't have to extend a phone cord or network cable to your DVR; just plug it in to your wall outlet, attach your antenna or plug in your cable card, and leave the unit powered off overnight. Each night, the DVR gets program data for the current day and the same day next week, which means it'll take six days after you take it out of the box before the listings will be fully populated. (Tip: listings come from an analog station in your area, so make sure not to exclude your analog stations from the listings until you find out which one is broadcasting!)

The guide not bad, but not great, either. It's pretty easy to use, but suffers from a few really idiotic design decisions. For instance, there's no direct way (on-screen) to show the listings for a different day (e.g., Tomorrow, next Wednesday, etc.), except for holding the "right" arrow button on the remote to cycle slowly through each hour of listings until you eventually end up on the correct day.The only shortcut is to press some numbers on the remote (e.g., 2 and then 4) and then select "hours ahead" from the menu that appears to jump 24 hours into the future.In other words, there's no "Tomorrow" or "Yesterday" buttons on the remote or on the screen.And there are many little annoyances like this, although it works okay once you get used to it.

But the DHG's guide also has some really nice features, such as the grid (which TiVo never could manage to include on their units), and even a keyword search; you can even save your searches!You can also get alphabetical listings to find the show(s) you want, and you can even filter the list to show only HD content, only movies, only comedies, etc. Also, recordings can be grouped by show, so you don't have to wade through a long list of recordings to find the recorded show you want to watch.

SEASON PASS.One of TiVo's best (and simplest) features was the Season Pass; I could tell it to record West Wing, and no matter what time and on what channel it appeared, TiVo would record it.Alas, the Sony unit DOES NOT HAVE A SEASON PASS feature; I don't know why the folks at TV Guide couldn't get this simple feature to work. You can have the DHG record multiple episodes of a show, but ONLY if they're broadcast at exactly the same time and on the same channel.If West Wing is an hour later one week, or if it's syndicated on another station, the DHG will miss it unless you manually ask it to record those episodes, too.

There are some other TiVo features absent from the DHG that I don't miss at all, such as "Recommendations" (a feature that fills up your hard disk with junk you don't want), and the "Thumbs Up" and "Thumbs Down" buttons that are supposed to influence the aforementioned recommendations (almost as effectively as TiVo's marketing partners).

OVERALL.The DHG-HDDxxx is the only DVR on the market that doesn't require an expensive digital cable subscription or satellite dish; since I get all my HD broadcasts for free with a $20 rooftop antenna, this was a must.It's also quite a nice unit; well made, attractive, and it works well.If you want an HD DVR, you'll probably be very happy with the Sony DHG-HDDxxx once you get used to it's quirks.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony DHG-HDD500 60-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (500 GB)

Product Description:
High Definition tuner and Digital video recorder with no recording subscription fees and no equipment rental Analog cable and over-the-air reception Memory Stick PRO media slot for playback of photos and music Flexible format outputs and Aspect Ratio settings Free TV Guide On Screen Interactive Programming Guide Real Time Control Functions - Several functions provide an easy and fun way to pause, rewind, and record live high-definition (HD) TV. Dolby Digital 5.1 channel audio decoding with Digital optical audio output Auto SAP Four device Universal remote control V Chip Parental Control Configurable Favorite Channels list Display window for Display of channel number / name, time, recorded program name and Memory Stick(R) file name Multiple Display formats for best quality video reproduction with diverse Display types and broadcast content Flexible Aspect Ratio settings for a variety of monitor types and broadcast content Simultaneous video output from high-definition and standard-definition jacks Easy scheduled recording to VCRs for convenient archiving Unencrypted Digital cable (Clear QAM) Digital over-the-air Analog over-the-air Analog cable Pause, rewind, fast forward and record live high-definition TV 12 fast forward, rewind and slow speed settings Available Speeds - Fast Forward - 3x, 9x, 30x, 90x Rewind - 3x, 9x, 30x, 90x Slow Motion Speeds - 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8 Record at least 60 hours high-definition video Record up to 400 hours standard-definition video Up to 30, 60 or 90 minute live TV pause time Record live TV while watching another previously recorded show Adjustable Replay and Advance functions User selectable Chapter Marks with thumbnails 2 Composite Video Output 2 S-Video Output HDMI Output Cable Input Antenna Input HDMI or Component (YPBPR) Output USB Port Weight - 12.57 pounds (5.7 K

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Roku HD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this in January, 2009 to add some additional value to my Netflix subscription.It has far surpassed my expectations, and has proven to be one of the best $100 I have spent in a long time.This is true especially in a down economy.

Here are the pluses, and the minuses, I have seen in the product after 2 months of daily use

Pluses:
1) Huge money saver: Having this box has allowed me to drop from 3 disks unlimited to 1 disk unlimited as well as drop cable entirely. The addition of Amazon on Demand is an even bigger value in that newly released movies will also be in abundant supply.
2) Ease of Set-up and use: I am a die hard apple fan because of their ease of use, and the set-up process was the easiest I have ever experienced.In less than 4 minutes I was watching a Netflix stream on my Sony HD TV. Also, the user interface is as straightforward as possible.A lot of thought went into it, and it shows.Bravo for one of the simplest interfaces I have ever utilized.
3) Clarity of picture: Unsrupassed and almost full HD.Often forget we are streaming over the internet.
4) It just works as advertised!
5) Customer Service:Video was skipping and contacted the customer service.You would never believe that a real live person answered the phone within 5 minutes on a Sunday night.Turns out it was a nework problem (see below).Amazing customer service!

Minuses:
1) The quality of your picture is tied to your internet speed.This has only been an issue once.My Charter Cable modem service averages above 4 meg downstream, but every once in a while the network performance drops.A call to charter fixed it.This is in no way an issue with the device, just something to be aware of.Check with your service provider on your speed before buying.
2) Direct Ethernet connection recommended for best picture: This is a limitation of my wireless network, but you may also have a similar set-up.My laptop has a G wireless card, and when it gets online the whole network slows down, and wireless video quality suffered.Solved it by using a direct ethernet connection, and recommend for everyone who is able to.Much more stable and very limited intereference.

That is my review to date.If you have Netflix and want to get Amazon on Demand there are few things that will be a pleasure to use and that will provide as much bang for your limited dollars.Thank you Roku, Netflix, and Amazon for such a wonderful product.

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Product Description:
With Wi-Fi and High Definition playback capability built-in, Roku HD Player is the easiest way to stream top-quality instant movies and shows directly to your TV - over 50,000 and counting, from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and more. The best-selling HD Player has everything you need to start enjoying endless entertainment from the comfort of your couch. No wonder it's Netflix members' top rated streaming player.

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TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)When we purchased an HDTV earlier this year, we resigned ourselves to using the DVR provided by Comcast, our cable company. We knew we needed DVR functionality, and we weren't content to watch only standard definition TV on our new set. So we bit the bullet and replaced our TiVo Series 2 with the Comcast-supplied DVR. I'm not going to review the Comcast DVR in depth here, but it's safe to say that I'm overjoyed to be able to go back to a TiVo device for our main TV.

I've been using the TiVo Series 3 for only about three days, so these are initial impressions. Overall, it's a huge improvement over the cable company DVR. It has the same awesome TiVo interface we knew and loved from our previous TiVos, but it's been spruced up a bit for HD. It looks nice. The picture quality is excellent, and the TiVo Series 3 has a great variety of options for what video modes it sends to the TV.

I had absolutely no trouble getting the two Cable Cards working. I plugged them both in to the box at the appropriate point in Guided Setup, called Comcast to have them activated, and then finished Guided Setup. They've worked perfectly from the beginning, tuning both SD and HD channels, both premium and non-premium.

I stole the TiVo wireless adapter from my Series 2 for the Series 3, and it worked seamlessly. I plugged it in before guided setup, and the TiVo used it for its connection from the beginning.

The only real problem I've experienced is that I've had a few very short audio dropouts. These last for less than a second, and seem to be related to load or resource constraints on the TiVo. For example, on the day I experienced this, I could clearly trigger it by scrolling around in the program guide. Making the box work harder had an obvious correlation to the audio dropouts. However, when I wasn't using the guide, the dropouts were very infrequent, and I haven't experienced them since that day. I don't find this to be a severe bug, but it's obviously something I'd like to see fixed. As it is, it's far less frequent and much less disruptive than the problems I had with my Comcast DVR.

At the time of this writing, a few features have not yet been enabled on the Series 3. This may or may not be a big deal to you:

1. TiVo To Go (transfer shows to and from your computer). I never used this on my Series 2, so its absence doesn't concern me at all.
2. Multi-room Viewing (transfer shows between TiVo boxes over the network). I'd like to have this, but it's not crucial for me.
3. Storage expansion via the ESATA port (attach an external SATA hard drive). For me, this is another "nice to have" feature, and certainly not a showstopper.

TiVo claims that these features will be added in a future release. At this time, it sounds like the ESATA port is less in doubt than the other two features. However, if any of these features is a dealbreaker for you, it would probably be wise to wait until it's actually shipped before you buy a Series 3. There's no guarantee as to when, or even if, these will actually happen. I'm personally ok with that, but you'll have to make your own decision.

I'm extremely happy with the TiVo Series 3. Yes, it's expensive. But to me, it was well worth the cost to get rid of the cable company DVR. To put it in perspective, it costs a lot less than most HDTVs, and in my mind the improvement it brings to the television wathching experience is on par with what HDTV brings.

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Product Description:
Introducing the TiVo Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder. Across the board, the best high-definition experience for digital cable. The acclaimed TiVo service weds beauty and broadband for the ultimate home theater experience.

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