Topfield TF5800PVR front panelSometimes we get a convergence of technologies and something comes along as a result which does a familiar job in a vastly better way than what has gone before.

The humble tape VCR has improved very little over the past 30 years; its replacement is long overdue. Digital (Personal) Video Recorders – still commonly referred to as PVRs – record video digitally on to a hard disk and offer a whole host of benefits over the mechanical tape-based analogue VHS machines that went before them.

DVD players are actually responsible for the demise of the VCR, but the recordable DVD formats offer only limited advantages for recording.

DVRs have been around for a few years now and the market is maturing. The two front-running Freeview PVRs are still the Topfield TF5800PVR and Humax PVR-9200T. You also have the choice of Sky+ for satellite subscribers and Virgin Media V+ for UK cable users.

So why are these machines so much better than their predecessors? Here are some benefits:

  • Record two channels simultaneously while watching a third or a previously recorded programme
  • You can record everything of interest to you and watch it at a time of your choosing
  • Pause or ‘rewind’ live TV
  • On-screen programme guide with one-button press to set a recording timer
  • No tapes to find, machine stores all of your recordings internally
  • No degradation of stored and frequently played recordings
  • Instant play/resume of your recordings, no tape winding delays
  • If the tuner/decoder is built in to the unit, you get maximum quality digital recording
  • Most PVRs can store/play photos and MP3 files
  • Receive DAB Digital Radio stations which can also be recorded

Any disadvantages? Apart from cost – good PVRs still cost about £200 in the UK – the only down side is that if you are not reasonably disciplined, it is easy to fill up the hard drive, even with the 100-200 hour recorders. Overall, it’s still a win-win situation.

What to look for in a hard disk video recorder

Make sure the tuners/decoders are integrated. This makes a huge difference to overall ease of use, simultaneous record capability, recording quality, flexibility, etc. Recording with separate hard disk recorder and video source is clumsy even with some of the kludges that manufacturers have come up with to get around the limitations.

With Freeview PVRs, make sure the unit has two built-in tuners, the hard disk is at least 160Gb, and it does have a dual record and watch capability; you will be surprised how often this is useful.

If you have an HD TV set, look for the ability to ‘upscale’ and output via HDMI. The analogue SCART connections on most Freeview boxes is poor 1970’s technology and won’t give you the best result with HD viewing equipment.

When we talk about usability, we are usually referring to information architecture, navigation structure , interface details, and so on. Mature PVRs show that consumer electronics products can make a step-change in utility and overall usefulness.

Of course, when scrutinised in more detail, the PVRs I have looked at could still be more usable, but that’s another story…