Comments on: Old DVD-recorders selling for $1,900

Auction sites like eBay and Amazon's marketplace are selling used DVD-recorders with hard drives for close to $2,000. Why is old technology fetching such high prices?

[nina96]

Bring back the hard drive

In 2009, we'll all need digital tuners to record tv shows. The smart ones know that it's idiotic to pay subscription fees using Tivo when we can buy our own dvd recorders outright. The problem is, when February 2009 rolls around, our current hard drive recorders will become useless, as they have only analog tuners. We need both hard drive & digital tuner, but we're not being given any choice. We shouldn't be forced to go without.

[vgrabo]

yes, bring back the dvd recorder/vcr/hd combo!

I had a JVC unit that crashed last summer. When I sent it in for repairs it was damaged during shipping by UPS! And now I can't even replace it. I was right in the middle of editing old home videos (on vhs) and converting them to DVD. It was so much easier than hooking up a vcr to my PC.

[stedlj]

Simple if they would make it...

I know old post but...

Many of the past hard drive recorders may not have sold well because the people buying them know the price difference between an 80gig, 160gig and 500gig drives. So when they go putting 160gig on the box in big letters the buyers are saying 160 why not for an extra $40 a 500gig?

Want to charge more for a unit then add something of use like ATSC tuners, two tuners to record two shows, and recording in full HD, USB for external drives as well!!!!!

Built it and they will buy it!

[duanegrasse]

Panasonic blaming TiVo lawsuit

I own the dmr-eh50s (Panasonic's 100gb model), and love it. I didn't know they had discontinued them in the US until I tried to buy a second one today. I called them up and got told that since TiVo sued a company (EchoStar, as I recall) for patent infringement, everybody (except, apparently, Philips and Polaroid) stopped producing them for US sale.

[bluemustang]

Hard Drive DVd Recorders

I had two Panasonic hard drive DVD recorders stolen in a burglary last November. I was quite shocked to find out they weren't available in the US anymore from anyone. In checking Panasonic's and Pioneer's Canadian web sites they offer three different models between them. I couldn't buy from the manufacturer for delivery to the US, so on EBAY I bought two brand new Panasonic DMR-EH55 with 200 GB hard drives for less money than MSRP including shipping, from a Canadian dealer. The date sticker on the back shows Sept 2007 as the date they were made.
I have one hooked up to my HD cable box attached to a 42" Panasonic Plasma and by using the box as a tuner and the recorder on channel 3 I can record anything I want. Of course the TV Guide programming is useless, but the box has it as well, so no big deal. The other one is hooked up to a bedroom tv and all its features work as intended. I wish they were still available here as I will not pay for a TIVO and programming as well and the $15.00 a month to rent one from the cable company is ridiculous.

[CNETearth]

I have a DMR-E500H , my cnet review of the machine was removed. Wierd. I got my cheap, . At first I did not get it, because I thought this was too good to be true but went ahead oneday. thats been 3 years ago. Its awesome. Well worth the money. With Kids, its the best, you can watch the videos on your computer. So at the time, to get a 400gb HD, DVD writer, tuner and decent Graphics and CPU, was around $1200. I guess the interface is also pretty good, but the manual is so technically filled. THere are tons of inptus and outputs. The TVguide option is pretty cool. Makes recording pretty easy. Recoding to DVDs really quickly. Ths unit also records in Wide Screen. The DV input from Cam Corder is really nice. I guess the interesting part is that I had to search for this. Its was not advertised or carried in major stores. Just saw in on buy.com and then went from there.

[hsweet]

DVD Recorders with hard drives are selling like hotcakes everywhere except in the USA. Even new models are being introduced. Are we expected to conclude that, in the USA, there is either no interest or no user competence? Check out TIVO's lawsuits claiming patent ownership.

[hsweet]

DVD Recorders with hard drives are selling like hotcakes everywhere except in the USA. Even new models are being introduced. Are we expected to conclude that, in the USA, there is either no interest or no user competence? Check out TIVO's lawsuits claiming patent ownership.

[Barking-Dog]

I bought my first hard drive recorder with a Hard drive a few years ago at Future shop. This Pioneer recorder has an 80gig HD that has just died. I have used it a very lot over the years, so I can not complain about the HD dying. I have checked with Pioneer and can get a 160Gig HD replacement for approx $160.00 plua tax. I like the machine so much I will get the drive soon as it has great editing and 9 templates to choose from for you DVD menu.

I have 3 other HD recorders, all of them are made by Phillips and one has a 120Gig HD and the other 2 have 160 Gig HD's. I like all of them and have found the newer ones can burn +/- R and +/- RW's.

These recorders are GREAT for Shows, movies and for converting old Beta 8 , Super VHS and mini DVD movies to DVD.

I have even made a DVD with 90 commercials on it that were all good in some way. I find that most of these commercials were very creative or memorable. Wow I never thought I would take the time to do this but it was worth it. I will sometimes keep a good commercial to this day, but when I started there were many good commercials.

[Caveadsum]

I've wondered why I can't find any DVD recorders with harddrives. I've been looking all over. This is terrible news that they supply has dropped so. I'd love to see them come back. I'd buy one, but I must admit $1000 is a bit steep.

[ScottyDog10]

I would love to buy one two as my old VHS VCR just quit working. I think it sucks that nobody makes models for the USA .I too went to all the manufacturers websites and see that they make em...not for USA though.

The magnavox model that is available is ok but only has a 160gb hard drive and will not record Closed Captions for the hearing impaired.

I guess I will have to build my own PC with hard drive that will do the same thing.
It is too bad that DRM and manufacturers like Tivo have killed this great addition to any home theater.
Conspiracy theory ... I think not otherwise they would not be selling like hot cakes in the foreign markets.