Page 1 of DVD recorders.....record off a Sky+ or Tivo hard drive?..and a DVD video on the PC?

Good day there,I`m getting into the murky world of DVD recording soon and was considering getting something like a Panasonic E50 which I`ve seen for £310.
With these devices can u link up to Sky+ or similar easily.....edit the programmes on the hard drive and record a six hour batch of Bullseye onto a DVD?
I just wanted to make sure that SKY+ provided the right outputs for doing this.....I know that the Panasonic won`t record the Dolby 5.1.Is there a similar machine that will?
Oh.a final question.......I haven`t gone for the SKY+ thingie yet.I know that there are similar systems for the PC with a TV card and software.Is there one where u can link Sky to the PC and record onto the hard drive with full programme listings etc? If so do u know how much they cost and which ones are best?.Oh that`s 2 more questions.....there do seem to be more questions than answers with DVd recording though...:)
Thanks a lot .Ele.

If you could find Tivo it would be wise to leave it.SKY+ is the only system that will record a signal and play back in "live broadcast " quality,as it stores the raw digital signal and decodes it on playback.Tivo converts the signal to analogue before storage and thus gives a lower picture quality.Richer sounds are doing the Philips DVDR880 for £300,enabling you to use DVD+R,the format offering compatibility with the most players.The Panasonic only uses DVD RAM and -R.RAM gives great editing but you can`t play the discs anywhere.Some poor soul elsewhere on this site seems to believe RAM will play on all players soon,but apart from Panasonic,nobody-but nobody is planning to adjust their players to play this dying format.-R claim 75% compatibility,+R is 95%.SKY+ connected to a DVDR880 gives perfect pictures,and is probably the most trouble free recording you will ever do,thanks to it being linked to the EPG.

Who the hell do you think you are .phellings. I have consistantly come up with facts, you on the other hand just try to ridicule me without EVER answering the facts. First philips DVD recorders ruled the world then the west now it`s just the UK. CRAP. Do you think JVC, Panasonic & Toshiba will not have RAM as a feature on their new DVDs. This is three of the largest & BEST makes going. I believe you are the Iraqui information minister.

This item was edited on Friday, 20th June 2003, 18:21

Em..thanks for the replies guys.Very useful info about Tivo and Sky+.It would seem that no one really knows which format will win?Is there not room for Ram as rewritable format and the R- as the write once?
Does anyone use their PC as a video recorder? or is Sky+ definitely the answer?
Cheers from Ele.

LOOK AT THE FACTS...In 2002, the Panasonic brand captured more than fifty percent market share in both Japan and the U.S. For the recently reported first two months of 2003, Panasonic captured over sixty percent market share in DVD recorders sold in the US.

Panasonic ALONE sold over 60% of ALL DVD recorders. That means RAM. That leaves less than 39% between other RAM makes & the + recorders.

Very safe conclusion. RAM HAS WON.

I was also thinking of going for the panny but sparring between the above 2 posters has convinced me to hang fire for a bit longer, although i am still partially in the panny camp.

I`m in the process of setting up a digital video recording/ DVD mastering system based on my computer rather than buying into the standalone kit argument. Tivo and Sky+ have their limitations, as do the DVD Recorders. I won`t dare argue with Paull`s Panny argument, even though I do think it`s flawed. My personal conclusion is that the DVD+R/RW formats offer the better facilities, the higher compatibility and the longer lifespan (as the format is backed by the larger players in the game).

DVDRhelp.com offer some sound insights into the whole digital recording subject.

J Mark Oates

You can discuss anything with me & I`m happy to help. But this is the third time phelling tried to ridicule me without answering my questions.
"I won`t dare argue with Paull`s Panny argument, even though I do think it`s flawed."
I`m very happy to hear your opinions on both the + & - argument. But where exactly is my argument flawed.
I just get a very strong feeling that some of the people on this site have `hidden adgenda`s`. For me I love to buy the latest technoligy. I bought my first VHS video in 1978. There were only about 600 in the country at the time. Prior to that I was into 8mm with widescreen & stereo sound. If the USA & Japan are now buying the RAM system by over 60% & RISING that cannot be good for the philips system. The philips + RW is only just 60% compatable. It would also mean with mass production that RAM will come down in price quite fast & the Chinese manufacturere would have to look seriously at bringing out cheaper RAM units. In the end it won`t be computers that define the standard, it will be the home units. Yes we all love our computers but most people wouldn`t want one, but would want to have easy recording & safe storage of films/TV programmes & home movies. Ram & DVD-R is the perfect answer. As for SKY + it is very expensive & have you ever known SKY prices to come down. NO.

Rather than trying to answer your facts Paull,I have persistently countered them( on other threads).You continue to go on about how well RAM is doing in Japan and USA,and I always point out that what is happening there is irrelevant to the UK.You continue to not give me a reason why Microsoft and Sony have provided +R on their hardware,despite it being unofficial.I cannot argue with your statistics as I do not have any evidence you are wrong.I am speaking about UK HOME dvd recording-not the rest of the world,not computer drives,just the box under the tv.I have also conceded that RAM is a superior format,just like Video 2000,BSB,Betamax.But since when has that ever had any bearing on things.It would seem obvious that you do not read any Home Cinema/DVD/Hardware magazines written by people who know what is going on in this area.There is not a single one that agrees with your point of view.
If you read other threads you will see I hate Philips products,but I chose +R on the single reason of its compatibility.The Panny RAM/HDD machine is a dream come true with its facilities,but I want discs recorded now to play forever,not stop playing when the format disappears.
In fact the actual format war is between +R and -R,RAM is a non starter.Nobody disputes how great it is,just that it will never win,and the reason I was quite rude about your opinion of RAM taking over is that it really is funny.Panasonic themselves are trying their best by doing discs without caddys,but the discs simply will not play on other players.
You must be aware of the DVD recorders lining up to break price points in all the supermarkets,which is when they will start to take off.Now you answer something-Why are they ALL+R-not a single one is -R,let alone RAM.
I like to buy new formats aswell,but I have spottred ,over the years all the dead ducks-Video 2000,CDV,Video CD and left well alone.The only format I went into,knowing it was a UK failure was Laserdisc.Now that survived over 20 years in the US and Japan,but was a total flop here.I think that answers your international comparison question.Read the latest HOME CINEMA CHOICE and see what they say about the war-they review all formats and recorders.Tell me they are wrong aswell.
As for SKY+,if you do not want it,or cannot afford it-say so.Its the best thing(coupled with a dvd recorder)since home video began,and the price they charge is worth it.It depends on what you use your system for as to whether you wish to pay-but it has no competition at the moment that even come close for convenience.
BTW,Richer sounds are doing the DVDR880 for £300.I suppose Paull will say they are selling them off cheap to get rid of themOne more thing,Paull slags off DVD+RW for being only 60% compatible(its actually 75%) while telling us how great RAM is.Compatibility figures for that format,please.

This item was edited on Friday, 20th June 2003, 21:14

"BTW,Richer sounds are doing the DVDR880 for £300.I suppose Paull will say they are selling them off cheap to get rid of them"
going off an earlier thread that comment should probably be aimed at me, however i`m not going to argue as it will only continue a pointless debate and while the uk market tends to follow usjap leads none of us know how this is going to turn out and all we have done is confuse the original post which was simply asking for help and advise.
at the end of the day both machines can now be obtained for around £300 they both have merits and will be supported for some time to come, and as for compatability, this is only realy an issue with older machines as all new home dvd players support both dvd-r and dvd+r/rw and whilst ram may be very uncompatable it makes up for in other ways such as time slipchase recording.


peace