Hard Drive DVRs

Hard-drive DVD recorders let you save programs

The biggest drawback to DVRs is that archiving and sharing video is more difficult, though all let you dub to a VCR or DVD recorder, and some will let you download video to an external hard drive. If you are interested in saving or sharing lots of recordings, a DVD recorder with an internal hard-disk drive might be worth considering. Those offer some of the features of a DVR, including the ability to pause live TV and store hours of programming. However, none can record high-definition video in HD; HD programming is recorded in standard definition.

Not long ago, there were lots of options in this category. However, only one manufacturer is currently producing hard-drive DVD recorders, and the models available have far less functionality than even the most basic DVR.

The Philips DVDR3576H/37 (*Est. $310) is a DVD recorder with a 160 GB hard drive that can store up to 198 hours of programming at the lowest-quality setting and 33 hours at the best. This unit lacks its own programming guide, but it can use the one sent over the air as part of the digital broadcasting standard. However, it doesn't use that guide for programming. Instead, users must resort to the old-fashioned system of entering channels and recording times manually, much like a VCR. The recorder will work with standard-definition cable and satellite TV.

The Philips DVDR3576H/37 is a good choice for those who don't subscribe to satellite or cable TV, and for those not interested in HD programming or incurring a monthly fee. If you want to record HD broadcasts, the TiVo HD costs less and is much easier to use, but there is the ongoing expense of the TiVo subscription. We've not seen a professional review of the Philips DVDR3576H/37, but user reports are generally favorable, and it's the subject of an extensive discussion thread at AVSForum.com. The Magnavox H2160MW9 (*est. $240), a Wal-Mart exclusive, is also made by Philips. And while there are some minor differences, it is essentially identical. For more information on DVD recorders with hard-disk drives, see the separate ConsumerSearch.com report on DVD recorders.