New Technology TV

When it comes to recording a favorite show or much-anticipated Pay Per View concert, more and more consumers are turning away from traditional VCR taping and utilizing the digital video recorder (DVR). Most cable and digital satellite TV services are now offering these great devices. They're equipped with a host of features that make recording easy, and they've pretty much revolutionized the way we watch TV.DVRs are easy to program and simple to control. They require no video tape and store content on a hard drive that's just like the hard drive used in a computer. Most have an electronic program guide that makes it convenient for viewers to designate which shows they want to record well in advance of the date the show is being aired on TV. The guide can also be used to set the DVR to record every episode of a show for the current season. For viewers who can't get home to record a program, the DVR is perfect, because it can be told what to do ahead of time. It can even be set to start recording a program a few minutes before the program begins, in order to ensure that all of the program is recorded. DVRs can also be programed to search for shows and movies based on an actor's name or a director's name.

The reputation of the DVR has been built upon the control it gives viewers over live television. The DVR has capabilities that were once unheard of: viewers can pause live TV shows; they can fast forward through a live show, go into slow motion or rewind live TV. Suffering through annoying commercials is no longer a problem with a DVR, as viewers can skip them altogether. Certain models of DVRs, known as dual tuner DVRs, allow viewers to watch one show and record another at the same time. With a single tuner model, viewers can only record the show that they're currently watching, although they can watch a pre-recorded show while another show is being recorded. Additionally, most DVRs support Dolby Digital surround sound - a definite bonus for home theater lovers.

Is there anything this great gadget can't do? Well, some DVRs have small hard drives, which means a small storage capacity for recorded content. Once the hard drive gets full, a viewer must transfer the content to a videotape or a DVD. Popular DVR brands like TiVO and ReplayTV necessitate a TV subscription in order for viewers to use them. These brands require landline phone jacks, which make it possible for the electronic program guide to be downloaded each day.

Overall, the benefits of this device are remarkable. DVRs can be purchased now for less than $200, and prices are sure to drop as more consumers buy them.