[Munchkinn]

I asked in the Sony shop about combined Feeview and HDD boxes and they mentioned these two, the 710 being out in Sept and the 910 in Oct (2005). I have done a search and found absolutely nothing about them! Has anyone else had any luck finding out more? The shop wouldn’t let me take the book they had. The 910 had a bigger HDD and an HDMI socket which the 710 didn’t have. Any more info gratefully received!

[CJL]

Hopefully they won't make the same mistake as Panasonic of actually making ANY statement about new equipment before it's signed, sealed and delivered. The non-appearance of the Panasonic PVR has probably caused more negative feeling about Panasonic than anything else for years!

Cliff

[doverrog]

I've been waiting for this. I decided against the Sony 900/1000 because they only have an Analogue Tuner.
I've been taking an interest in the forthcoming Toshiba 34 which I beleive is too appear around April and is supposed to have a Digital Tuner.
However I have my doubts that the Toshiba would be as good a picture quality as the Sony machines.

[Munchkinn]

Just realised I should have mentioned before they have DVD recorders too. So they are both Freeview\HDD\DVDR units... (What most people probably want but they don't make yet... )

[AndyPRK]

We have to wait till September

[Munchkinn]

You will have to wait for the Sony's, but there are supposed to be other combined HHD/Freeview/DVDR's out before that. Toshiba is rumoured to be bringing one out in March, but I haven't seen any firm evidence of it yet...

[JBlink]

Just an observation:-

Many reports on this forum say that the Sony 900 has been withdrawn. It is still in the shops but that would be expected. In Comet the other day, instead of a place of prominance, it was tucked away in a corner suggesting it was obsolete (I forgot to check if its price was £xxx.98 rather than £xxx.99 which used to be the give away). If I was Sony I would not want to give a clear field to my opposition and would introduce the 910 much sooner than October.

[Jay23Sx]

Originally Posted by JBlink

Just an observation:-

Many reports on this forum say that the Sony 900 has been withdrawn. It is still in the shops but that would be expected. In Comet the other day, instead of a place of prominance, it was tucked away in a corner suggesting it was obsolete (I forgot to check if its price was £xxx.98 rather than £xxx.99 which used to be the give away). If I was Sony I would not want to give a clear field to my opposition and would introduce the 910 much sooner than October.

Most companies use .98 to indicate the product is on special, .99 if it is current or .97 to mark as discontinued.

You may have personal experience with Comet but from personal experience in other stores its .97 to look for

[Munchkinn]

I doubt very much that it means the HXD 710 or HXD 910 will come out any sooner though... It seems to me that most things come out later than planned, not sooner...

[JBlink]

Originally Posted by Jay23Sx

Most companies use .98 to indicate the product is on special, .99 if it is current or .97 to mark as discontinued.

You may have personal experience with Comet but from personal experience in other stores its .97 to look for

I recall 98 being an indicator that it was not current so we do not really disagree!

Thanks for the tip, I'll watch out

[russellelly]

In Comet there'll be a code at the bottom-right of the ticket, usually something like ZZBZ. This is the commision code (in that example £2). If, however it's DZZBZ that would be a discontinued line.

HTH

[Nirm]

Whilst the Panasonic thread has now been closed, I am not wishing to start it up again (I made several contributions too and have had it on order since November 2004), however I did state a while ago that Sony were about to launch - unfortunately only now in September (possibly earlier) , however I think I am willing to wait (I've got used to my VCR again!) and ditch the Panny as the Sony will be THE one to go for -

Here is the specification (subject to change, though on very good authority) -

- Freeview DVB-T Tuner (twin digital - not decided yet!!!)
- Built-in 160/250GB Hard Disk Drive
- Dual RW Compatible
- Compatible with +R Double-Layer disc (8.5GB disc; 2-4x speed discs compatible)
- Precision Cinema PAL Progressive with 12bit/108MHz Video DAC
- D-Matrix Noise Reduction System
- HQ+ High Bit Rate Recording Mode on HDD
- Dynamic Variable Bit rate Dubbing
- i.Link/ Firewire (DV) Input for Camcorder
- One-Touch DV Dubbing/ Programme Edit
- Pause of Live TV
- 64x (max) High Speed Dubbing (8x Drive)
- Intelligent Scene Chaptering & Visual Search (HDD & DVD-RW VR Mode)
- Fast Playback inc Sound (HDD)
- A/V Sync
- MP3 & JPEG Playback (CD-R/RW)
- 8H Mode (SEP Mode)
- Quick Response GUI
- 8-day EPG Timer Programming
- Optical/Coaxial Digital Audio Output

Cost could be an issue! Anywhere between £400-£500 for this premium product, but then again, it does have a Progressive PAL DVD recorder built in, a great sampling rate and i.Link too! Twin DVB tuner please!!!

A budget(!), possibly non-DVD version but with 80GB HDD and Freeview DVB-T tuner, the HX510, is being considered too, and could be launched earlier (possibly May!) - wow

Roll on 2005!!! DVRs are really here and to stay!

[CJL]

8 day EPG ? How they going to do that then? Either magic an extra days worth out of the Freeview 7 day guide or cut down the 4TV 14 day guide?

Cliff

[Ang]

Originally Posted by CJL

8 day EPG ? How they going to do that then? Either magic an extra days worth out of the Freeview 7 day guide or cut down the 4TV 14 day guide?

Cliff

I thought the Freeview one was going to go 8 days but it seems it hasn't...

[DRAMBO]

Babelfish sony

Originally Posted by Nirm

Whilst the Panasonic thread has now been closed, I am not wishing to start it up again (I made several contributions too and have had it on order since November 2004), however I did state a while ago that Sony were about to launch - unfortunately only now in September (possibly earlier) , however I think I am willing to wait (I've got used to my VCR again!) and ditch the Panny as the Sony will be THE one to go for -

Here is the specification (subject to change, though on very good authority) -

- Freeview DVB-T Tuner (twin digital - not decided yet!!!)
- Built-in 160/250GB Hard Disk Drive
- Dual RW Compatible
- Compatible with +R Double-Layer disc (8.5GB disc; 2-4x speed discs compatible)
- Precision Cinema PAL Progressive with 12bit/108MHz Video DAC
- D-Matrix Noise Reduction System
- HQ+ High Bit Rate Recording Mode on HDD
- Dynamic Variable Bit rate Dubbing
- i.Link/ Firewire (DV) Input for Camcorder
- One-Touch DV Dubbing/ Programme Edit
- Pause of Live TV
- 64x (max) High Speed Dubbing (8x Drive)
- Intelligent Scene Chaptering & Visual Search (HDD & DVD-RW VR Mode)
- Fast Playback inc Sound (HDD)
- A/V Sync
- MP3 & JPEG Playback (CD-R/RW)
- 8H Mode (SEP Mode)
- Quick Response GUI
- 8-day EPG Timer Programming
- Optical/Coaxial Digital Audio Output

Cost could be an issue! Anywhere between £400-£500 for this premium product, but then again, it does have a Progressive PAL DVD recorder built in, a great sampling rate and i.Link too! Twin DVB tuner please!!!

A budget(!), possibly non-DVD version but with 80GB HDD and Freeview DVB-T tuner, the HX510, is being considered too, and could be launched earlier (possibly May!) - wow

Roll on 2005!!! DVRs are really here and to stay!

On-line reports from Sony of Germany & Sony of Austria suggest tha the RDR-HX710 & RDR-HX910 which will be available in Europe in May, will not have a DVB tuner & EPG programme guide.

The models are euro priced €699 (£499) and €899 (£599) respectively.

More details are available from

Sony Austria

The web page can be translated from German to English at

Babelfish

[Munchkinn]

Originally Posted by DRAMBO

Babelfish sony

On-line reports from Sony of Germany & Sony of Austria suggest tha the RDR-HX710 & RDR-HX910 which will be available in Europe in May, will not have a DVB tuner & EPG programme guide.

The models are euro priced €699 (£499) and €899 (£599) respectively.

More details are available from

Sony Austria

The web page can be translated from German to English at

Babelfish

You had me worried for a bit there, but they are not the same model numbers... there is no D in them i.e. HXD

[DRAMBO]

Originally Posted by Munchkinn

You had me worried for a bit there, but they are not the same model numbers... there is no D in them i.e. HXD

I don't think Sony will modify those models specially for UK. They may offer a GX510 with a DVB tuner in UK , Germany & any other European countries where terestial digital television is available but that's it. It will increase the price by possibly £100 just to make a special model for the UK, but the UK DVD recorder market is just too competitive for that.

[Munchkinn]

Originally Posted by DRAMBO

I don't think Sony will modify those models specially for UK. They may offer a GX510 with a DVB tuner in UK , Germany & any other European countries where terestial digital television is available but that's it. It will increase the price by possibly £100 just to make a special model for the UK, but the UK DVD recorder market is just too competitive for that.

I'm not sure what you are saying there, but all I know is my local Sony shop has two new models in their official Sony UK book as I stated in the original post, that are due in Sept and Oct, both of which have digital tuners. I haven't seen anything to say otherwise since, and wouldn't rely on what is published on a foreign Sony web site, as those model may never come to the UK, and are not the same model numbers anyway? Having said that, I stand to be corrected!

[DRAMBO]

Originally Posted by Nirm

, however I think I am willing to wait (I've got used to my VCR again!) and ditch the Panny as the Sony will be THE one to go for ...

I wouldn't be so sure: the Panasonic DMR-EH50 will be hard to beat when it's available in April/May. Why?

1. It will be £100 cheaper than the HX710

2. It has EPG programme guide that's displayed approximately 1 second after pressing the EPG button from the power off state.

3. Super quick 1 second start to record & playback

4. 4 hour DVD quality reordings (LP mode) vs 2 hours for the Sony

5. 80GB hard drive vs 160GB for the Sony but can record 68 hours DVD quality recordings on the hard drive (same as the HX710) due to the Panny's superior LP mode.

6. The Sony can record on expensive DVD+R dual layer which has a 3.5 hr DVD quality, the panny does not record on Dual layer discs. However, the EH50 can record on the cheap DVD+R disc in the LP mode for 4 hours at DVD quality.

7. The panny playsback all current DVD formats unlike the Sony.

[DRAMBO]

Originally Posted by Munchkinn

I'm not sure what you are saying there, but all I know is my local Sony shop has two new models in their official Sony UK book as I stated in the original post, that are due in Sept and Oct, both of which have digital tuners. I haven't seen anything to say otherwise since, and wouldn't rely on what is published on a foreign Sony web site, as those model may never come to the UK, and are not the same model numbers anyway? Having said that, I stand to be corrected!

I have checked those European Websites & compared the DVD Recorders listed with those on Sony's UK website - the only difference is the GX500 is offered in UK but not in Europe. Perhaps Sony will release the GX510 (or 410) in UK. I expect this to be the GX210 with the Analogue Tuner changed to a DVB tuner. Many UK retailers (e.g. avland.co.uk) have confirmed that GX210 will replace GX300 in March/April just like in Europe with an RRP of €350 (250).

[sdc395]

Originally Posted by DRAMBO

I wouldn't be so sure: the Panasonic DMR-EH50 will be hard to beat when it's available in April/May. Why?

...

But it has no digital tuner. For me, that's a deal breaker.

[Munchkinn]

I'm still not sure what DRAMO is trying to say? Sony have the RDR HXD-710 and RDR HXD-910 coming out in Sept and Oct, both with digital tuners still... I don't see what any of the other stuff mentioned has to do with it?

[sheridan2000]

Originally Posted by DRAMBO

I wouldn't be so sure: the Panasonic DMR-EH50 will be hard to beat when it's available in April/May. Why?

1. It will be £100 cheaper than the HX710

2. It has EPG programme guide that's displayed approximately 1 second after pressing the EPG button from the power off state.

3. Super quick 1 second start to record & playback

4. 4 hour DVD quality reordings (LP mode) vs 2 hours for the Sony

5. 80GB hard drive vs 160GB for the Sony but can record 68 hours DVD quality recordings on the hard drive (same as the HX710) due to the Panny's superior LP mode.

6. The Sony can record on expensive DVD+R dual layer which has a 3.5 hr DVD quality, the panny does not record on Dual layer discs. However, the EH50 can record on the cheap DVD+R disc in the LP mode for 4 hours at DVD quality.

7. The panny playsback all current DVD formats unlike the Sony.

wherer did you find out that the panny will be £100 cheaper??

[sdc395]

Originally Posted by Munchkinn

I'm still not sure what DRAMO is trying to say?

You're not alone.

[Munchkinn]

Both units are now listed on Avland's web site here:
http://www.avland.co.uk/sony/rdrhxd910/rdrhxd910.htm and here: http://www.avland.co.uk/sony/rdrhxd710/rdrhxd710.htm and the prices (at the moment) are £700 and £500 respectively... The details state they have a Freeview tuner, but the pictures are of the models without the D in the HXD part of the model number. Make of that what you will!