VCR replacement

[Knavish]

I've got a family member whose VCR just died. He doesn't want a DVR -- one major requirement is the capability of recording to some kind of permanent & portable media. I know you can do this with an HTPC, but I think it would be a huge hassle for him to have to boot up windows and start some software to record TV (not to mention transcoding recordings and burning to DVD).

It seems like a stand-alone DVD recorder is the best option here. What do you think?

Any suggestions on good models?

 

[ChaoZ]

Get a DVD-RAM compatible recorder. I've been meaning to get one myself, but I'm not sure if prices will ever come down.

 

[sivart]

DVD-RAM isn't really portable unless you have another player that will play unfinalized DVD-RAM's (there are a few). Even finalized, you still may have problems with standard dvd players playing them. A standalone DVD recorder with a digital tuner will probably be your best bet. (However, no HD recording or playback)

Of course a D-VHS deck would record HD, but good luck finding one and blank tapes for them.

 

[techs]

The only pure vcr's I see nowadays are off brands.
I am not even sure you could get one from a decent company like JVC, Sony, etc.

 

[kalrith]

Does he want to record all shows to portable media, or does he just want to do that with some shows? If it's the latter, then you might look into a DVR-DVD-recorder combo. He could always record to the DVR for normal watching, and then if he wants to record something to DVD, he should be able to record it directly from the DVR to the DVD recorder.