DVD Recorder with Hard Drive -- USA

[hsweet]

The DVD Recorder with hard drive was introduced to the US market and since withdrawn leaving only TIVO. Yet through the rest of the world this technology is thriving. At least that is what seems to be the case considering what is available for sale. ( i.e. dixons.co.uk)

There is very little chatter about this and nobody seems to have any real answers. What's going on? What nefarious arrangements have been made between companies or with the US government? This isn't the way that new technology is supposed to be handled.

[admin]

This is indeed very strange. I can understand there being no market if Tivos are everywhere, but there should at least be one or two models (even if they don't sell). The total lack of any seems to suggest some kind of copyright related crackdown on hard-drive recorders, which I guess can be used to record shows and then burn onto DVDs. But why ban these and not ban all DVD recorders, which can still record TV shows straight to disc? Is there some technological explanation?

[olyteddy]

Yeah, according to this list : http://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorder...erby=Name#next there ought be plenty. All I could find on Amazon were used and refurbs...

[admin]

I went to the Philips USA site and found a DVD recorder with hard-drive, but when I tried to search for a store location, it found none.

[Gary D]

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10071880&catid=

I found one here in Canada

[Dan]

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0071880&catid=

I found one here in Canada

Yeah, I noticed that there are several brands, models, HDD sizes available at various stores around here.

[RFBurns]

This is indeed very strange. I can understand there being no market if Tivos are everywhere, but there should at least be one or two models (even if they don't sell). The total lack of any seems to suggest some kind of copyright related crackdown on hard-drive recorders, which I guess can be used to record shows and then burn onto DVDs. But why ban these and not ban all DVD recorders, which can still record TV shows straight to disc? Is there some technological explanation?

All disc (DVD) recorders incorporate the DCM code which prevents the unit from even going into recorde mode when attempting to record a copy protected source.

Those units with the hard disk..the HDD can easily be removed from the unit and hacked into to get at the recorded material, and then create a bunch of bootleg copies from it and flood the market with these illegal copies. I am sure that someone out there well versed in software coding knows what I am talking about.

But who really knows...certianly the companies that make these things are not going to show us everything that is in their magical hat. Nor are they going to tell us every reason for pulling units off the shelves.

[admin]

Our DVD recorders have similar a copy protection mechanism, although most of our programming does not use this type of CP. We also have set top boxes (for free to air digital TV) that can record (sometimes in HD) to a built-in hard-drive, but does not have the DVD recorder - these do get hacked so content can be copied to a computer (and some has this feature built-in).

[RFBurns]

Our DVD recorders have similar a copy protection mechanism, although most of our programming does not use this type of CP. We also have set top boxes (for free to air digital TV) that can record (sometimes in HD) to a built-in hard-drive, but does not have the DVD recorder - these do get hacked so content can be copied to a computer (and some has this feature built-in).

Indeed! This is true for most US sold DVD recorders as well. They will allow recording of CP material from broadcast signals or direct input as long as the user is recording to a RW disc and in VR mode. Why they choose only RW discs is quite silly, since once finalized that RW disc can be put into a pc and copied onto a regular write once disc. (thats what I do-- )