The Basics: Digital Video Recorders
A digital video recorder (DVR) is an interactive home-entertainment device that digitally records TV content to an internal hard drive. These units are also referred to as personal video recorders (PVRs) and hard-drive recorders, although DVR is far and away the most common name. In addition to recording your favorite TV shows for later viewing, DVRs "time-shift" or manipulate programming by allowing you to pause live TV, instantly replay scenes just watched and fast-forward through annoying commercials.
Since TiVo launched the first DVR in 1999, digital video recorders have changed the way we watch TV. A DVR allows you to watch TV on your own schedule, rather than on the schedule of the TV networks. As easy to use as a VCR, a DVR employs an electronic program guide (EPG, essentially onscreen TV listings) to facilitate recording scheduling. You can also instruct the unit to record every episode of your favorite TV show, and more advanced models can seek out and record any program about your favorite sport or featuring your favorite actor. Based on the selections you make, your DVR may even suggest related programs to record.
But the biggest selling point is the DVR's time-shift function. An internal memory buffer lets you pause live TV and instantly go back to catch a line of missed dialogue or a great play, and you can fast-forward through uninteresting programming and commercials in recorded or buffered content.
A basic DVR can record at least 40 hours of programming, while the high-capacity models can hold 200 hours or more. Keep in mind, the larger the hard-drive capacity, the more the unit will cost. An EPG service such as TiVo or ReplayTV comes with most DVRs. While some digital video recorders offer a free basic programming guide, to obtain advanced features you'll need to pay either a monthly subscription charge, usually of $12.95, or several hundred dollars for a lifetime subscription.
Satellite service providers DISH Network and DirecTV, along with many cable providers, now offer generic digital video recorders for a monthly fee. These DVRs are usually combined with the cable box or satellite receiver, providing an all-in-one package that offers greater convenience and saves space. This also spares you from having to incorporate and configure yet another device in your home theater set-up. More advanced DVRs add a DVD recorder, which is ideal for transferring your recordings to disc for long-term storage or for sharing with friends and family. At the extreme end of the spectrum are models that combine a DVR, DVD recorder, and VCR, placing all your TV recording options in a single unit.
The latest developments include HD-ready DVRs that, when connected to an HDTV, enable you to record, store and play back true high-definition video. With the advent of Blu-ray and HD DVD high-definition disc recorders, combination DVR/HD disc recorders are sure to appear. Some DVRs can stream digital music and photos from your computer, while others can share recorded footage between different units in a home. Advanced models even allow you to remotely contact your networked DVR and program recordings from any computer with internet access. Some TiVo models can also stream saved video to your computer for archiving on your computer's hard drive, and you can later view the content or burn it to DVD.
How to Shop
If you've decided to get a DVR, don't let yourself be overwhelmed by the numerous options available. Here are five simple questions that should help you find the perfect DVR for you.
1. Do you get your TV from a cable or satellite provider?
Consider the kind of DVR service you need. TiVo and ReplayTV are the most widely known, but a DVR integrated with a satellite or cable television service can provide similar functionality at a discounted price. A DVR from your programming provider is often significantly less expensive, and possibly even free, and by combining the DVR with the cable or satellite set-top box, operation is almost guaranteed to be seamless. However, for advanced features like the ability to burn program recordings to disc or to share recordings between different DVRs in your house, you will need to opt for a more advanced digital video recorder than cable and satellite providers usually offer.
2. Do you own an HDTV or plan to buy one in the near future?
A second consideration when selecting a DVR is whether you want to record high-definition programming. If you have a digital or HD-ready TV or plan to get one in the near future, you may want to invest the extra money and opt for an HD DVR. An HD DVR offers the same convenience and easy-to-use features as a standard DVR, but it lets you capture your favorite programs in the improved resolution of HD. The downside is the price. Currently, HD DVRs sell for several times the price of standard-definition DVRs, although the prices should fall over the next couple of years. Also, you should consider long-term compatibility, as some current HD DVRs will be unable to record any future HDTV satellite broadcasts that use MPEG4 encoding.
3. How much TV do you record on a regular basis?
HD models aside, DVR prices chiefly depend on how many hours a unit can record, so think carefully about your current and potential TV recording habits. If you are on a limited budget and just want a DVR to conveniently record TV shows while you're out, a basic model with enough hard-drive capacity to store 40 to 80 hours of programming should suffice. The next tier of DVRs record more than 120 hours of programming, while the largest-capacity units record 200 or more hours. The TiVo TCD649180 Series2, for example, stores up to 180 hours of programming and retails for about $100 more than the TiVo TCD649080 Series2, which is ostensibly the same machine but with room to store only 80 hours.
4. Do you want to watch recorded shows on a laptop or iPod?
Take a trip on a train or spend any time at an airport waiting for a flight and you'll see dozens of travelers watching downloaded content on laptops or portable audio/video players like iPods. Some DVRs feature Ethernet and USB connections that enable you to transfer recorded shows to your portable device and watch them on the go. On TiVo's Series2 models, this function is called TiVoToGo. If you're a road warrior or just want to be able to watch your favorite TV shows wherever, whenever, choose a DVR with plenty of connectivity options.
5. What is your budget?
There is a broad range of prices for DVRs. At the budget end are the generic models offered by cable and satellite providers. Instead of purchasing the DVR up front, most service providers rent the DVR to you for a monthly fee. While these units are easy on the budget, they tend to offer only basic features. If you have deeper pockets, you can expand your shopping plan to encompass DVRs with functions such as advanced searches, download capabilities like TiVoToGo and even DVD burning. Once you know the upper limit of your budget, examine the DVRs in that price range and settle on the unit that best fits your needs.
