As I have noted in my twittering I have just successfully installed my new dvd recorder. This is no mean effort given my area of what some might kindly describe as expertise is in cultural studies and therefore in no way equips me to do anything practical or technical. So as I so twittily (and yes I have just made up that word!) noted, I am expecting an honorary doctorate in something related to electronics very soon. Because as we all know they have been awarded for equally dodgy achievements.
Anyway, for those of you considering buying a new piece of technology here’s a few hints. Don’t give up on the instruction sheet if after one read through you are baffled. You might need to read them at least 4 or 5 times, and ring your parents/or other such helpful friends and family, and get them to describe what’s hooked into what between their TV and DVD. Even then, you will need to persevere with the instruction sheet and try and use the long dormant, logical side of your brain to understand exactly what AV In is as opposed to AV out, as well as which ends of which cables go where.
So after three years with no way of recording television (how I have survived I have no idea!) I can now theoretically do so. It will involve more experimentation and close persual of the instructions, but following this afternoon’s great success, the world of dvds, tvs and recording between the two is my quite clearly my oyster.
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Is it a TiVo? TiVos can’t record straight to DVD, but other than that I’ve never had an appliance that I loved more or that worked harder to make my life easier.
I love my TiVo.
no it’s a dvd recorder player. i’ve not got very far with the instructions but i think it record straight to dvd or onto hard drive first and then burn dvd.
i haven’t recorded any tv for three years since got rid of vhs and only had a dvd player…so I’m looking forward to that.
Recording to the harddrive and then onto DVD is the go! That way you can delete ads etc and have beautiful uninterupted viewing of your shows!! 🙂
DVRs are fantastic. We’ve barely plugged our VCR in since we got our first TiVo several years ago.
(The TiVo is a hard-drive recorder, and I sometimes wish it recorded to DVD as well. But you can stream content to your computer to back it up on DVD. Mostly, we just watch and delete, though.)
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i think that’s what i’ll be mainly doing as well..watching and deleting. but if it’s something special i can copy to dvd to keep as well.
Just be careful. I tend to fill my harddrive with things I'll watch later, but then later never seems to arrive… 🙂 And then there are the shows/movies I think I'll burn to DVD and keep permanently, but I never get round to deleting the ads so they sit on the harddrive waiting, waiting, waiting… I'm hoping it will be later soon… 🙂
Sooner rather than later you mean?
Or later rather than sooner?
Or just sooner?
Oh you lucky thing, so much TV joy awaits you!!! I have 2 DVD HDDs, one with a digital set top box thingy built in so I get the EPG. I LOVE them. I have a bazillion things to watch and partial delete ads from.
Good tip, label all your cords and sockets etc so they match and then take a picture for future reference. I'm pretty good with the whole set up thing, I have a VCR in here so I can tape another station. The good shows are always on at the same time.
excellent idea to take a photo of the ins and outs of the cables. i am going to do that most definitely!