I Want a DVR to Die For

I love DVRs. They put VCRs to shame. Unfortunately, almost all DVRs come with shortcomings that weaken them considerably. That’s unfortunate because they could be, in the words of How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson, “Legen…wait for it…dary”. If I were able to get the one that I want, this is the one…um…that I want.

First off, a DVR has to be off-the-shelf awesome. While it’s not that difficult to build one of these special-purpose computers, that lack of difficulty only arrives after all the parts are researched and bought, and the software is configured. If there was a kit, it would be easy (computers are pretty easy to build). But there isn’t, so it’s not so much. So, a requirement is that it be off-the-shelf. And affordable (let’s be real).

Next, it has to have a lot of storage. A LOT. In an age where 1.5 TB (not TiB, unfortunately) drives can be had for less than $120, there’s just no excuse to be stingy with the storage. But more than that…the storage should be hot-swappable. That’s right, you should be able to upgrade your storage as the technology allows.

You need to have four SD+HD tuners. Generally you only need a couple, but with the networks becoming putzes with their start/end time overlaps, it’s the only way to handle that.

The DVR should not require a subscription guide. Make it optional. Also give an option for one of the free listing services. The incentive for a subscription: your viewing will be counted in the ratings if you want it to (you have the option of  not being counted for some shows). Not only are the ratings a value-add, but also the subscription service must actively monitor the local schedule of the feed you are receiving. Too often, local broadcasters will muck around with start/end times even more than the networks. Manual override should be easy.

The front panel should have sufficient controls to actually operate the DVR if the remote is lost or damaged. Yes, it might be somewhat inconvenient, but less inconvenient than not having a usable machine.

Design the UI so that there is an efficient way of programming the machine. Up and down arrows seems easy until you are waiting for a scroll through a couple of hundred channels. Let me just program in the channel and time I want without being cute about it.

Allow for non-destructive edits and title unerase as long as there is sufficient disk space.

There needs to be a way to save programs (per the Sony decision, we viewers have that right). I’d like two options: recordable disc (DVD and Blu-ray) as well as downloading to computer (USB, ethernet, and WiFi). The second option is necessary because some programs will need a greater degree of authoring than can be reasonably be included with the on-deck disc recorder (which isn’t to say that the on-deck authoring software should be at all lacking).

If the DVR has to resample a title so that it can fit onto a disc, let that happen in the background with one tuner while also allowing normal recording/playback functions using the other tuners.

Design the remote to make sense. I’ve had some dream remotes where controlling equipment was like a well-rehearsed dance. I’ve also had remotes where there is nothing but years coping with horrendous design. (Universal remotes seem to always lack some critical function you need to run your equipment.) Also, the remote needs to not only be able to control several decks of the same brand differing only by a user definable ID, but also be able to basically control a TV (channels, volume, power, menu, selection/navigation star, input).

Wait…even better. One remote standard so we don’t have to reprogram these things to work with our stuff. It should be easier with only a handful of situation-specific standards to have to deal with.

I like remotes that make it pretty easy to start recording, but a little tougher to stop. It helps to prevent accidents. In the same vein, it shouldn’t be cumbersome to pause a recording, change channels, and start recording the new channel. Even if time-overlaps are accommodated by the number of tuners, some live broadcasts, as well as viewers choosing not to use the subscription service, will need some manual gymnastics at times.

If the DVR is connected to the home network (or is being routed to the Internet), allow for remote programming.

Of course, since it has the recordable disc drive, the player should be able to play CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc. Ideally the player will be able to convert between regions and broadcast standards.

There should be sufficient connectors to suit any need: RCA composite, component, HDMI, various computer connections, etc. People like having options. To that end, it should also be able to connect up to streaming media on the Internet. The delivery methods of video are now in flux, and I want a machine that can bend in the wind, as it were.

A very good thing would be a very reliable and silent cooling system, ideally without fans.

A guide for repair and upgrades would be nice. If the drives need to be formatted in a special way if/when they are replaced, then that software should come with the deck. Also, if drives are swapped, there needs to be a hi-speed way of transferring the contents of one drive to another.

And if we could have all of this for less than $350 USD, that would be great.

A while back, I was fortunate to get a Pioneer DVR-640H that has very good quality video compression and DVD recording capabilities. If you do a search you’ll find that this affordable machine was very well reviewed. Unfortunately, before I could get a second one (little more than a month later) it was discontinued and off the market. This shining star was pulled despite a demand that continues to this day. Sure, it has a few software bugs that a small update would easily fix, but even with them it’s a great machine. (I got mine for about $350 from Amazon… as I write this, they have a seller offering one for $1,199(!).)

Unfortunately, since it was pulled from the shelves, there has been no good replacement for this model. None. Nada. Zip. You pretty much have to build your own. I think it’s shameful.

If you don’t want to build your own, you pretty much either have to rent one from your cable company (good luck getting your programs back if you have to replace the unit), or purchase a TiVo and pay much too much for the subscription and ever-changing agreements (you sure these guys don’t also do credit cards?). At some point the end-user has to matter.

So… design this DVR. It’s not that difficult. All of the technology already exists. Economies of scale can take care of the hardware price. Both TiVo and the cable & sat providers can offer up the subscription to guides & ratings tracking, so they get their money.

It can be a win-win for everyone. Well, everyone except the AMPAS and NATAS lawyers because we aren’t going to let them ruin our fun this time. The studios will still get their money, but they don’t have to do it at the expense of crippling how we can use their merchandise. The sooner they understand that, the sooner they’ll have a better rep than the RIAA. The market is changing, so they need to stop suing to try to stop the inevitable. Innovate, instead. That’s where the big bucks are.