Got some Xmas money to spend and waas thinking about Sky+ or a standard DVD recorder or maybe finding some more money and getting a DVD recorder with built in hard drive?

New to all this so just wondered if anyone has any thoughts?

I wouldn't pay the extra £10 a month for Sky+, but if you already pay enough each month for the extra subscription to be "included" then it's probably the cheaper option. You don't then have the flexibility of lending someone the recording (on DVD) or keeping a recording.

Just bought myself the Panasonic DMRES20D, a dvd recorder with freeview tuner.

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/dvd-recorders/dmres20d/index.htm

So far, seems very good with a quality recording and picture.

Got some Xmas money to spend and waas thinking about Sky+ or a standard DVD recorder or maybe finding some more money and getting a DVD recorder with built in hard drive?

New to all this so just wondered if anyone has any thoughts?

I went for Sky+ and a cheap DVD recorder but to be honest i've found I rarely back stuff up onto DVD anyway. Sky+ is great and the standard 20hr(40Gb) HDD can be upgraded to 160Gb for

I'd go for something with a hard drive over a plain DVD recorder any day.

The ability to pause and rewind live tv is just excellent

I've got a HUMAX 9200T Freeview PVR and it's the mutts nuts

Not Sky, I know, and the EPG isn't as good as Sky, but I'm not lining Murdoch's pockets, so that's fine with me

I've got a HUMAX 9200T Freeview PVR and it's the mutts nuts

Not Sky' date=' I know, and the EPG isn't as good as Sky, but I'm not lining Murdoch's pockets, so that's fine with me [/quote']

Good arguement but i've had freeview, ntl and now have Sky. Sky knocks spots off everything else out there for value and choice mainly due to the fact that Sky own the most popular channels.

I avoided the switch to Sky as long as possible but freeview doesn't have the same choice of channels and ntl charge a fortune for the Sky channels and their service isn't reliable. So bit the bullet and went to Sky. Wanted the movies channels too so when I found out I wouldn't have to pay a monthly charge for Sky+, I ordered Sky+ fully installed for

Get someone who already has sky+ to recommend you as a friend and you only pay £49 inc installation. We have had sky+ for a few years and all agree it is one of the best purchases we ever made. It really does change how you view TV.

Get someone who already has sky+ to recommend you as a friend and you only pay

Good arguement but i've had freeview, ntl and now have Sky. Sky knocks spots off everything else out there for value and choice mainly due to the fact that Sky own the most popular channels.

I avoided the switch to Sky as long as possible but freeview doesn't have the same choice of channels and ntl charge a fortune for the Sky channels and their service isn't reliable. So bit the bullet and went to Sky. Wanted the movies channels too so when I found out I wouldn't have to pay a monthly charge for Sky+, I ordered Sky+ fully installed for

Yep , I have no desire to have any form of Sky.

There is enough to keep me entertained on freeview when combined with all the US shows I could want available for download

I've had Sky before, until about just over a year ago, but only had the basic package. However, I found we weren't watching most of the channels and the price crept up to

I'd go for something with a hard drive over a plain DVD recorder any day.

The ability to pause and rewind live tv is just excellent

The Panasonic DMRES20 mentioned earlier in the thread has a time slip facility when it is used with DVD-RAM media and will play back at 1.3 times while preserving the sound, so you can catch up, which is quite cool. It's

The Panasonic DMRES20 mentioned earlier in the thread has a time slip facility when it is used with DVD-RAM media and will play back at 1.3 times while preserving the sound, so you can catch up, which is quite cool. It's

Anothe vote for Sly+ from me too. Had it for a while now and just got round to putting a 200gb drive in it for under £60.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42715&highlight=sky

If you want the portability though then you're gonna need th DVD recorder.

The

I think thats why they offer it free if you have the greater package, it's just a way to bump up the monthly bill.

We were in the same position with just the £18 pack initially but now pay £36 to avoid the £10 charge!! Although we do have a lot more channels.

Does anyone know if the new Sky+ boxes will be HD ready or when they intend to launch this service.

The new one is HD ready, and should be expected early next year I think.

http://hd.sky.com/default.aspx?id=1

Does anyone know if the new Sky+ boxes will be HD ready or when they intend to launch this service.

Nope they are not HD ready. You'll have to fork out for a new box. The new ones will have 300Gb HDD's giving about 50hrs of recording and probably carry a hefty price tag too. I'll not bother until I can afford a decent HD Enabled plasma or LCD monitor and they broadcast Sky Movies films in HD.

Regardless of cost I still haven't seen a plasma or LCD good enough to do really do HD justice. The technology just hasn't moved on far enough IMO despite the fact that there's plenty of people out there convincing themselves otherwise as they ponder their credit card bill.

There's no fixed launch date but I reckon mid 2006 at a guess given that BBC plan to start broadcasting some programmes in HD by then.

Thought I'd seen it somewhere.

There's no way i'll be forking out for an HD Sky+ box and then pay a HD subscription on top of that. Not to mention paying the guts of a grand for a HD ready TV. Rip off Britain live and kicking in 2006 eh!