Thread: DVD Recorders

Guys as I fix these things for a living and represent some of the bigger manufactuers my only advice is to try and keep them cool.
If you are planning to buy see if you can feel how hot they get in the store if they are running
I have just repaired 2 better branded ones (I wont say which on a public forum) that cost a total of $1400 under warranty to fix...that is not a misprint $1400.
Yes it was warranty but if it wasnt?
I am finding that most are running really hot.
It could just be our WA power as has happened in the past but I dont know.
The idea is really good but the reliabilty so far for me has not been as it should.
Most I have seen use a standard hard drive, same as whats in your computer,but the manfact want $480 for something u can buy at a computer shop for less than $200.
I even took a supposedly faulty one from a dvd recorder and have loaded win xp on to it at home, so I know there is no difference or nothing special about the drive.
My advice to you all is whatever you buy GET A Extended warranty on the product as it will normally save you in the long run.

anyway
good luck
Brad

Originally Posted by Bradtot

Guys as I fix these things for a living and represent some of the bigger manufactuers my only advice is to try and keep them cool.
If you are planning to buy see if you can feel how hot they get in the store if they are running
I have just repaired 2 better branded ones (I wont say which on a public forum) that cost a total of $1400 under warranty to fix...that is not a misprint $1400.
Yes it was warranty but if it wasnt?
I am finding that most are running really hot.
It could just be our WA power as has happened in the past but I dont know.
The idea is really good but the reliabilty so far for me has not been as it should.
Most I have seen use a standard hard drive, same as whats in your computer,but the manfact want $480 for something u can buy at a computer shop for less than $200.
I even took a supposedly faulty one from a dvd recorder and have loaded win xp on to it at home, so I know there is no difference or nothing special about the drive.
My advice to you all is whatever you buy GET A Extended warranty on the product as it will normally save you in the long run.

anyway
good luck
Brad

They all run hot thats why the majority of players are just a simple drive board and a big empty box. Any motorized drive generates heat thats why the most popular gaming console on the market removed the powerpak from the casing and reduced the size considerabally. I honestly think a home built media p.c is the way to go

Originally Posted by Redback

Yep they work in the computer which is good, now how do i get DVD software onto my work computer without IT knowing

Redback with all the testing we have done at home and work. I have to agree the cheaper player the happier it is to play the disks. The more you pay the pickier it is about burn't disks.
Havn't tried one of those units with a HDD yet though.

Originally Posted by George130

Redback with all the testing we have done at home and work. I have to agree the cheaper player the happier it is to play the disks. The more you pay the pickier it is about burn't disks.

Hi george130, there is actually a very legitimate reason for what you posted.

The cheap players have to be able to play as many types of formats that there is because they are sold all over China and China has no standardised format, so anything goes and as most people can only afford the cheap ones, so the only way a player can be sold there, is if it will play anything.

Yep I did realise that this was an issue. There is also an issue with the quality units lasers and dies. Some lasers don't like certain dies. I think there about 5 different die manufacturers. The best trick there is trial and error with the disk brands coupled with research on the web.

the only drawback with the cheap players is the quality of the sound processors. some of them are bloody terrible... but at $50 a throw ....

target are or were last week running a great special on some silver thinline units at $59 a pop and they do raw mp4 and divx.... e bits of kit :P