TiVo Community Forums Archives - Another PVR. TF4000 from Topfield

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Another PVR. TF4000 from Topfield
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Posted by: Ian_m

http://www.topfield.co.kr/tf4000pvr.html

Posted by: oferlaor

Looks like a satellite unit.

I don't even think it supports PAL...

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Cheers,
Ofer LaOr

Posted by: BrianHughes

Ofer,

It has RF input and is PAL. Click on the specifications link.

Posted by: pauljs

It's a digital satellite box for all most everything except Sky Digital. It records as well. Echostar make one like it. DVR-7000

Posted by: topbanana

Did anyone find a price for it?

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Top Banana

Posted by: pr1uk

this is only the beginning by this time next year there will be a good choice of PVRs on the market.

Peter

Posted by: oferlaor

The problem, as I see it, is that the units being marketed now are:

1. integrated into satellite receivers. Some people still want to watch aerial, or don't want to buy a new receiver. In the more distant future, I see this as the prevailing technique for using PVRs, though.

2. Integrated into various things. For example, into a DVD player, a TV, etc.

3. Tivo style service system. This is really becoming funny, since any cable or satellite service that has gone digital will have a free program guide. The accuracy of the Tivo EPG is mediocre. In a couple of years, the service itself will be worthless.

Finally, what I'm not seeing is units that are closer to what www.linuxtv.com was supposed to be all about. A digital VCR that would work universally (not just in the UK & US). It looks like DirectTivo style units will be the way to go, but it will take quite a while for the rest of the world to catch up.

The annoying thing is that the technology is there & it's not all that expensive. There are already quite a few integrated PVR circuits (Exatel.net) & even chip sets (Zoran) - but we're not seeing end user products coming out...

Ofer.

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Cheers,
Ofer LaOr

Posted by: BrianHughes

Ofer

I agree with what you're saying, however I don't agree that the Tivo guide data is mediocre. I get the "sunday Times" every Sunday and use the TV guide for the following week. Quite a few times recently it has disagreed with Tivo - guess who was right - Tivo!

My NTL Cable EPG is alway a few minutes late and often only has the next 2 or 3 programmes - and it doesn't give much detail about each programme.

There are occasional mistakes and wrong episode descriptions do turn up fairly often but it is still more reliable and more useful than the alternatives available to me.

Perhaps the Satellite EPGs are more reliable, in which case I would love to be able to use that and not have to pay a separate subscription to Tivo. And I'm all for integrated boxes where possible to help reduce the number of separate devices and accompanying clutter.

But in the end Tivo is the best solution so far. Naturally you're frustrated by it as it is of very little use to you. I do sympathise but there will be more choice soon - I'm sure of it.

[This message has been edited by BrianHughes (edited 05-21-2001).]

Posted by: oferlaor

Brian,

I'm in complete agreement with you on these points.

IMO, the EPG is not a service that's worth 10 UKP a month. Not when this same service will (pretty soon) be offered to all for free as part of the satellite or cable subscription fee. In Israel, the cable companies are gearing up to offer this for free as well... At one point, people will start asking why they are paying all this money for!

The idea is brilliant, but, in my opinion, they should focus on producing useful end user products (particularly since service companies are dropping dead all over the world at this point!).

Personally, I'm very happy with my Satellite EPG. It is only 4 days into the future, but even if the program changes 30 minutes before hand (e.g., nasty news preempting the regular show), the EPG will show that the program has changed!

Anyway, I hope you are right and that Tivo (or another company) will offer a Tivo equivalent system for the rest of the world...

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Cheers,
Ofer LaOr

Posted by: ALanJay

quote:
Originally posted by topbanana:
Did anyone find a price for it?

I saw it today uses the IBM chipset and they said would cost around Ł400 depending on the size of the hard disk.

Basic VCR functionality with pause live TV. No support for SKY or OnDigital.