The future rather depends on what YouView delivers.

Generally speaking a pvr is a digital recording device that simply takes the digital data it is demuxing from a multiplex and copies it directly to a hard disc drive. Because it's a bit for bit copy of the original data, replay is identical to the original transmission. A DVD recorder is not a pvr in the normally accepted definition because it does not record the raw data as they have the capability to recode the data on the fly (they have a analogue to digital converter and a real time mpeg compressor). Pvr's do not need these.

The first one I ever had was a single tuner Humax 8000T which still works today.

I wouldn't dare say it wasn't the best one - but if it is, it's certainly not because "it also connects to the Internet for BBC Iplayer and soon for the ITV Player" - all the Freesat HD PVRs people are suggesting here do iPlayer. This version of iPlayer is a Freesat "thing", not a Humax "thing". Some people would say it's a slow and clunky "thing" too, though maybe the speed varies between boxes.

Cheers,
David.

I understood that the P stood for 'Personal'..i.e connected with a Human..
whereas it means connected to equipment..
Confusion reigns in most Showrooms.. as I for decades now have recorded much .. other than that from a transmitted wireless system..
My replacement for the slowly failing Panny HDD/DVD recorder is sadly another DVD recorder.. I have never wanted the DVD half in the first place..let alone now..
I just want a hard drive recorder and fine if it records Freeview or Sat too..but i guess there is as they say 'No demand' ...whilst they can add another DVD recorder...never used the one on the Home Cinema yet

It does mean personal but it's normally simply used to describe the principle it works on. A vcr records on a tape that's just as personal as a pvr. Normally vcr's being an analogue recording device copies aren't as good as the original source.

Can you elaborate on how Grundig didn't follow the spec? Is it something that could be fixed with an update?

Companies like Dabs thrive on the add-on market for PCs and iPods etc.

'THRIVE'...QUE????

DABS profits fell FOUR MILLION pounds last year to less than ONE Million.. I rest my case

Some refused to work with DVB-S2 when CH4-HD came along. Others failed to allow recording of the BBC HD channels because the BBC had the temerity to switch to DVB-S2 .

Well that's the opinion of a certain former owner.

My theory is that you should look at the new Linux boxes such as the VU+ Duo and the Clarke-Tech/Xtrend ET9000.

These receivers don't have the Freesat /Non Freesat split, they get EPG data from the internet, and they have better home network integration. You can even have a mixture of dish types. e.g. one motorised and one fixed.