When is Thomson going to bring out an updated DHD4000?
Although I now use a Toppy, I think the DHD4000 was the best PVR I have ever used due to the ease of use and features. Even my technophobe girlfriend can operate all the features! I would gladly buy a new updated version if it becomes available.
The new Topup TV box seems to be a step back in IMO and not a true replacement.
Whats wrong with Thomson

I believe they did - that "TopUpTV Anytime" monstrosity. However, Thomson have apparently washed their hands of that particular machine: any problems, go to TopUpTV.

I too, would have liked to see an updated version, unfortunately Thomson seem to have lost interest in making pvr's.

Apparently Humax are getting all the rave reviews for their 9200 model, and the Freeview 'Playback' updates are rumoured to start in the near future.

I settled on the Thomson myself, after being bitten by that bloody Panasonic TU-CTH100, which never worked as it claimed. The Thomson wasn't perfect at first, but several software downloads have made it quite a nifty piece of kit: not 100% perfect, but extremely close. I think that proprietary 14-day EPG is possibly the weak point, as there seem to be glaring errors and slow insertion of new channel data.

When I need to update in the future, the Humax and any successor will be given serious consideration; but I'm still tempted to stand back and let others be guinea pigs: once bitten, twice shy.

...of your girlfriend?

Matt

That as well

Oh dear, I'm also an old DHD4000 user (Pace Twin before that) and am returning to UK after being abroad on work since last Aug. & was just about to buy Toppy PVR (Topfield 5800?). I am depressed that you feel the Toppy isn't as good as the old 'Thommo' as I thought the general consensus was that the Toppy was the best of a very bugged & mixed bunch!

I quite agree with you about how good the DHD4000 is (I still have mine to act as 2nd box). Sadly I am not a DIY bloke and wanted a much bigger HDD hence looking at the 250GB Toppy.

If you have a moment, please describe what is better about the Thomson over the Toppy? Many thanks indeed.

PS Such a shame that Thomson have lost all interest in PVR's!

It's really not difficult. But I guess you have to make up your mind exactly how little of a DIY bloke you are

Hi there, TrevorPH, I'm sure we've conversed some time ago (I think you helped me big time when I got my only YLD!). Trust me, Trevor when I tell you that you wouldn't want fly an aircraft that I'd built (not without a d*mn good chute!).

I know you are expert on the DHD4000. Do you have any thoughts on the Toppy (vs Humax 9200)?

I don't know anything about the Toppy or the Humax but I gather both are reasonable machines. I'm quite happy with my Thomson for now - it has a 100GB laptop drive in it and does everything I want.

If you're really not confident with your upgrading skills then maybe you could find a local 'Mom&Pop' computer shop in your area who could do the work for you. Offer to buy the disk for the upgrade from them and get them to do the install for you. Might cost you (half) an hour in labour charges but that would still be way less than half the price of a replacement machine. Max disk size is 128GB but 160's work (you just don't see the extra space).

But remember that those 128GB are computer gigabytes. They're worth 137GB in disk maker gigabytes, so a 160GB drive does give a worthwhile increase in capacity over a 120GB drive!

I really wish they'd standardize this.