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Just The Basics
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A DVR sits between your cable or satellite signal, and your TV. You can think of a DVR as being just like a VCR, though of course there are some differences. Here's a quick comparison of VCRs vs. DVRs.
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VCRs |
DVRs |
| To record video... |
You can program system to record or press record. |
Exactly the same, with more advanced options. |
| Video is stored on... |
A VCR tape. |
An internal hard drive (like a computer). |
| How many hours can you record? |
1 or 2 hours per tape. |
From 5 to over 100 hours. |
| You miss part of your favorite show because of a phone call... |
VCR does nothing |
DVR is constantly recording, just replay what you missed |
| The picture quality of the recorded video is... |
Good, depends upon the setting. The VCR tape will degrade with use |
Great, digital quality depends upon the setting. No quality degradation with use. |
| You want to record a show and bring to a friends house... |
You can take the VCR tape with you |
Not a feature of most DVRs (although DVD burners are becoming more common)
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Of course you do not have to get rid of your VCR just because you've bought a DVR. You could easily just put the DVR between your VCR and your TV, just in case you need to watch a tape.
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Your next question may be, "So where do DVD players fit into the mix?". Well, some DVRs are also DVD players, and some (like Tivo) are not, so lets examine the 2 types. The first type of DVR is a service based DVR like Tivo and Replay TV. These are the most popular DVRs. The biggest selling points of these DVRs are 1) their interface and 2) their subscription service. The interface (which is the software) is important, because that will determine how easy it is for you to use the DVR. This is where Tivo excels, and is a big reason why they are #1. The second selling point is the subscription service, which costs somewhere between $10 and $15 for a typical service. The subscription service is like having a TV Guide downloaded to your DVR each week. So, instead of having to program your DVR to record at a certain time, you can set it to record a certain show, or shows with a certain actor. With some DVRs you can even program them over the internet, so if your at work and need to record a program, you can. It should be noted that some cable companies are offering there own DVRs, which have the advantage of replacing your cable box, but the quality of these DVRs is questionable.
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The second type of DVR is a combination between a DVR and a DVD player. These units do not always come with a subscription service, but if you do not record that many shows during the week, than you might not need that service. The Panasonic DVR (cost around $250 to $350) above does not have a hard drive, but instead records video to DVD disks, making it very similar to a VCR. The only real difference between the Panasonic and a VCR is that you use DVD disks as opposed to VCR tapes, but it does not have any of the features of 'Tivo' type DVRs, like 'pausing' live TV. (You do not actually pause the live program, but because Tivo is constantly recording it feels as if you have total control over the program you are watching, whether its pausing, rewinding, or replaying.) The Toshiba DVD (cost around $400 to $450) above is actually a combination of a DVD player and Tivo. With this model you can get all of the benefits of the Tivo service, while also being able to play DVDs. For more information on residential DVRs, click here. Here's a list of DVR features, and which models have them.
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