What is a DVR?
A DVR (Digital Video Recorder), also known as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) is basically just a really high tech VCR (Video Cassette Recorder); However, instead of using a video cassette tape to record a show on, a computer hard drive is used to record and store the show. The benefits of this are many. For starters there are no tapes to store and find when you want to watch a recorded program and everything is stored in the same place (on the DVR) so you can use the on-screen guide to see all of your recorded shows and pick what you want to watch. Another great benefit of the DVR is that since the recording is digital a few presses of the button is all it takes to skip over the commercials on a recorded TV show. Almost all DVRs will allow you to record something and watch it at the same time. Taking advantage of this feature you can pause “live TV” get something to eat and then come back to your show and catch up to the actual live point of the show by fast forwarding through the commercials. Another feature of most DVRs is the ability to watch one program while recording another. Most all DVRs have built-in programming guides that display upcoming shows as well as upcoming scheduled shows and previously recorded shows. Another feature of many recent DVRs is the ability to start or program a recording from the internet while away from home. Many of the television providers including Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and, Verizon’s FiOS all offer DVRs with their service for a monthly fee. Another feature that many of the above DVRs offer is the ability to start a show in one room and finish it in another which is great around bedtime or if company comes over. One of my favorite features is a one that works with DirecTV called DOUBLE PLAY. It allows the DVR to “remember” two shows at the same time. You can then pause one of them and watch the other.
If your television provider doesn’t offer a DVR there are still a couple options left for you. One is TiVo which sell DVRs and was one of the pioneers to the DVR technology. One thing you should know is that you will still need to pay a monthly fee for TiVo even after paying hundreds of dollars for the DVR itself. Don’t want to pay a monthly fee? Well there is still one option left and that is to use a computer based DVR/PVR. Currently there is only one HD PVR/DVR that I am aware of. It is the Hauppauge HD PVR model 1212. It connects to your computer via USB 2.0. With optional computer software such as MythTV or GB-PVR to control your recordings and output them through your computer you can set up a *free* DVR, well not exactly free but there is no monthly fee. Check back often for more info on computer based DVRs as we plan on testing them out in the near future and writing up complete reviews on a few of the top software options. You can check the Computers and TV section located here.