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Old 13-06-2005, 01:01
TrevorPH
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Dixons too
Unsurprising since they are the same store by a different name
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Old 13-06-2005, 08:57
Ang
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Originally Posted by TrevorPH
Unsurprising since they are the same store by a different name
That's fine - just wanted to emphasize the price has gone down, as the chart still shows quite a bit higher.
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Old 16-06-2005, 20:37
emsee
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Originally Posted by MrCake
You might like to add this to your (excellent) table: ReelBox

An expensive but very well specified Linux based box. The Satellite version is finally out and it looks like the Terrestrial version will be available soon.
Thanks for the link.

It looks like an amazing machine! (unfortunately at a rather amazingly high price, though not as high as MS Media Centre units)

I'm planning to email RealBox with a few queries (as their website isn't too clear on some points) and then once they reply, I'll add it to the comparison.
I'll also add the MS Media Centre (which I'm sure will please those who have been requesting me to add it for months :P )

As the table is already rather large, I'll add these onto a separate page, linked to the main one.
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Old 20-06-2005, 21:45
jondg1
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I actually saw a pile of Fusion 200s in my local Currys (London) today. A bit expensive at £229, but that particular Currys also sells Thomson 4000 for £199 when most sell for it for £179, so 200s may be cheaper at other Currys. There was no display model so I can't give any more info.
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Old 20-06-2005, 22:01
marcdavis
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Originally Posted by jondg1
I actually saw a pile of Fusion 200s in my local Currys (London) today. A bit expensive at £229, but that particular Currys also sells Thomson 4000 for £199 when most sell for it for £179, so 200s may be cheaper at other Currys. There was no display model so I can't give any more info.
I'm following you around jondg1! While checking prices for Freeview PVR Pricewatch I saw this as showing as "in stock" on Currys web site - same price as above unfortunately but at least we now know Fusion have got their product out into the market.

The cheapest online price is £179.99 but that aint much good if they are not in stock yet. Could be worth finding out what their eta is, seeing as they have just appeared in Currys today
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Old 22-06-2005, 17:54
Grumpy-old-man
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Originally Posted by MrCake
You might like to add this to your (excellent) table: ReelBox

An expensive but very well specified Linux based box. The Satellite version is finally out and it looks like the Terrestrial version will be available soon.
Blimey, its nearly the holy grail, but why didnt they fit a DVD recorder as well?. It might justify the price then, well would do if you got the HDD included. Amazing connectivity though
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Old 03-07-2005, 13:16
jaffacake
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I noticed the Thomson DHD4000 is down to £149.95 in currys/dixons. Not may left in stock and temporarily out of stock on the website though. I wonder if the DHD8000 (80gb) is imminent???
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Old 03-07-2005, 15:10
Villarica
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Since the Panny has had an update, I thought it would be a good time to update (and correct?) the entry on the big table. I posted the following for comments on the Panny thread, but no-one bothered to comment

But I'm pretty confident this is accurate. I haven't put in any of the "pros and cons" bits, though this should be updated post-update as well. At the moment (1 week post-update) most people are noticing an improvement, though there are some niggles remaining. Most amazingly, it seems that even The Eagle has a Panny that works!!

Street price - £280 (Hughes) (currently "£300 - dixons")
Online price - £235 (unbeatable) (currently "£240")
retrospective compression - N (currently "?")
Record current prog + buffer - N (currently "?")
Can create folders - N
Volume ctrl (of SCART) - N (currently "Y?")
Remote controls other devices - Panasonic DVD AND some Panasonic TV (currently "Panasonic DVD only")
VCR SCART in (passthrough) - N (currently "?")
Serial - N (currently "Y")
current firmware - CTH100_0.47
Next firmware - prov. Aug 2005
reliability - 2 (was "2-4")
Remote reponsiveness - 2 (was "4")
remote sensitivity - 2 (currently "?")
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Old 03-07-2005, 15:20
rhubarbe
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Originally Posted by Grumpy-old-man
Blimey, its nearly the holy grail, but why didnt they fit a DVD recorder as well?. It might justify the price then, well would do if you got the HDD included. Amazing connectivity though
If you go and have a look at the Reelmedia web site, Grump, it gives a not very convincing reason for the omission, though it does imply that you can remove the DVD-ROM and replace it with a burner. This of course raises more questions than it answers
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Old 03-07-2005, 16:52
rhubarbe
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http://reel-multimedia.com/en/endkunde/faq_service.html
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Old 12-07-2005, 22:44
emsee
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I've just uploaded another update after being on holiday for a couple of weeks.

I actually arrived back over a week ago but it's taken me a week to catch up with general stuff, look how many posts you lot have made on the various PVR forums , faint, get back up attempt to read them all, give up, skim though the later posts, and finally update the table.


http://www.emsee.co.uk/pvr/


If there's anything I've missed or you spot any errors then, as always, let me know.

I will also add the Reelbox PVR 1100 & Mediacentre soon.
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Old 13-07-2005, 00:20
rhubarbe
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TVM, and congrats on your purchase of a PVR

TAP TAP
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Old 19-07-2005, 10:33
tin
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@emsee - Just an update regarding the Sagem - after quite a bit of testing the subtitles problem doesn't exist. There's a delay on live programming as any subtitling system (some poor geeza typing as fast as they can) but on recorded programs they are spot on. there's a problem with the colouring but not with the synchronisation.

HOWEVER we're slowly but surely uncovering a hell of a lot of other bugs, which I might get time to compile for you.....
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Old 19-07-2005, 12:21
russellelly
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More of an idea that an update emsee, why not become an affiliate for some of the sites you link to, like Unbeatable? That way you could make a few quid out of the table for all your troubles.

It'd mean no 'messy' adverts, and I'm sure people who found your table useful would be happy to click on your link to purchase.
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Old 19-07-2005, 13:11
emsee
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Originally Posted by tin
@emsee - Just an update regarding the Sagem - after quite a bit of testing the subtitles problem doesn't exist. There's a delay on live programming as any subtitling system (some poor geeza typing as fast as they can) but on recorded programs they are spot on. there's a problem with the colouring but not with the synchronisation.

HOWEVER we're slowly but surely uncovering a hell of a lot of other bugs, which I might get time to compile for you.....
Thanks for the info on the subtitles - I'll try to update the table in the next few days.

Any help you can give with regards to bugs would be greatly appreciated
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Old 19-07-2005, 13:19
emsee
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Originally Posted by russellelly
More of an idea that an update emsee, why not become an affiliate for some of the sites you link to, like Unbeatable? That way you could make a few quid out of the table for all your troubles.

It'd mean no 'messy' adverts, and I'm sure people who found your table useful would be happy to click on your link to purchase.
Interesting idea Russell - I'm not quite sure how the affiliate thing works but I'll certianly look into the idea.

I was going to look into adding a Google Ad bar but that, as you say, would be a bit messy so the affiliate route may well be the ideal solution.
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Old 20-07-2005, 13:29
ghostdog
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ok, the noise issue is a biggie for me

for those of you that know where would you put an xbox on the noise scale (1-5). For me the level of noise that comes from that is unaccetable for it to be on most of the time. At the moment I'm most interested in an FVRT200
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Old 22-07-2005, 12:51
Namcop
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I think you have got the price wrong on your comparison site on the DHD4000. Unbeatable are selling it for 154.98
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Old 29-07-2005, 16:48
Adamandeve
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Brilliant comparison chart---dumb question...how do i print it out in full--keep losing right hand half!
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Old 29-07-2005, 19:03
emsee
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Originally Posted by Adamandeve
Brilliant comparison chart---dumb question...how do i print it out in full--keep losing right hand half!
Hi Adamandeve,

The easiest way is to go into printer properties and set the pages to print in landscape mode.
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Old 29-07-2005, 21:35
ecp98rjs
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In the new Argos catalogue out tomorrow there is another Sagem twin PVR. Its on p883 of the extra catalogue. Details:

model PVR7280T
80Gb HDD and records 40 hours
2 x scart
7 day epg
topup tv compatible
cost £179.99

I couldn't fine any info elsewhere - a google search for the model number returns no matches.

Rob
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Old 30-07-2005, 11:21
emsee
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Originally Posted by ecp98rjs
In the new Argos catalogue out tomorrow there is another Sagem twin PVR. Its on p883 of the extra catalogue. Details:

model PVR7280T
80Gb HDD and records 40 hours
2 x scart
7 day epg
topup tv compatible
cost £179.99

I couldn't fine any info elsewhere - a google search for the model number returns no matches.

Rob
Thanks for finding that

It's on their website now.
Looks like a Top-Up TV compatible version of the 6240/6280.

From the photo, it looks like it might have a photo card reader as well.

It doesn't say whether it can record two channels at oncde though.
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Old 01-08-2005, 09:12
Ang
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Impressive ever-growing chart... I do wonder about some of the major/minor annoyances section... for example, FVRT100 confusing user interface, affecting all owners? I don't find it confusing at all. A lot of people are using this chart to decide which PVR to buy for the first time, and if they see that, they might run a mile! Is the Fusion really more confusing than Thomson or Inverto? I don't think any of them are confusing, they do have their differences, but why is Fusion being rated as confusing to all owners?
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Old 01-08-2005, 23:21
emsee
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Originally Posted by Ang
Impressive ever-growing chart... I do wonder about some of the major/minor annoyances section... for example, FVRT100 confusing user interface, affecting all owners? I don't find it confusing at all. A lot of people are using this chart to decide which PVR to buy for the first time, and if they see that, they might run a mile! Is the Fusion really more confusing than Thomson or Inverto? I don't think any of them are confusing, they do have their differences, but why is Fusion being rated as confusing to all owners?
Thanks - I've been meaning to review the subjective comments for all the PVR's as some of them have become a but out of date.
I may remove comments like the one you point out as (as you point out), these are a bit too subjective and one person's poor UI is another persons perfect UI.

As always, any help anyone can give on any of the models in the table would be appreciated
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Old 02-08-2005, 10:44
CJL
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Originally Posted by emsee
As always, any help anyone can give on any of the models in the table would be appreciated
emsee,

OK, I'll "bite" as an FVRT100 user. For that the current (subjective) negative points are listed as:

* Noisy/droning fan

- Occasionally looses library
(Only if compression used??)

- Occasional lock-ups
(Only if compression used??)

* Confusing user interface

- Slow response to remote

- Scheduled recordings fail if unit left on "recording" page

* Have to press cancel many times to get back to tv

* Poor quality remote

- Difficult to read text on backgrounds/"gaudy" colour scheme

* Cannot directly enter start/end times for manual timers, (have to hold button down to advance time)??

* Plays current title in endless loop

* Can't turn off timeshifting (produces extra noise when timeshifting)

* No timer padding

* No repeat recordings

* No PIP
On the whole that probably sums it up quite well (if one is being particularly picky) but of those:

"confusing user interface" - simply cannot agree with that. It may be true to say "manual doesn't explain things very clearly" but the actual UI is fairly well structured and thought out.

"slow response to remote" - that's just wrong. If there is a problem with the remote it is that the buttons are very cheap and nasty (they even squeak!) and it can be the case that you have to press twice to get it to register (it's also found by some, including me, to be very directional which exacerbates the problem). However when the boix registers a command from the remote (the LED flashes on the box) then response within the software is always virtually instantnaeous. So "slow response" is just plain wrong.

"Have to press cancel many times to get back to tv" AFAIK getting back to the channel you were watching is never more than two button presses away ([guide] then [ok]). You can navigate backwards with [cancel] but if your deeply nested in menus it may take more than two button presses. The statement seems to imply it's difficult to get back to TV - but it isn't.

"Cannot directly enter start/end times for manual timers, (have to hold button down to advance time)??" - I don't, personally, see this as a problem. In fact I like the way you set manual recordings (a rare event as you almost always use the EPG anyway). You get to set the hh:mm for the start but then use up/down to set the duration and as it's increasing there's a constantly updated "end time" (which can be increased very rapidly). This one is down to presonal preference but personally I prefer the way it is rather than setting end hh:mm

"No timer padding" - if it's going to say anything about that it's fairly important to say "no AUTOMATIC timer padding". You can pad manually - I ALWAYS do!

Cliff
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