From the Home Theater Archives - My Favorites For The Year 2000
The following is list of my favorite home theater-related product picks for 2000. This listing is kept for archival and continued reference purposes.
My Favorites Of The Year: 2000 -- Wrap Up Page 1, 2
PVRs have been available for some time in stores, courtesy of two innovative companies TIVO and ReplayTV. As a result of increased acceptance in the marketplace, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, and Thomson (RCA) have all jumped on board this past year with units of their own with either TIVO or ReplayTV-based platforms.
Merging with computer technology, this device records television programs on a computer hard drive instead of video tape. Programmed by using simple on-screen interactive menus, this unit can store several hours of programming which can be viewed later, erased and used again. No more need to fumble for that blank tape you misplaced. In addition, since these devices are non-linear in operation. You can view the beginning of a recorded program while simultaneously recording the end. You can also randomly access any part of your recorded program at much higher speeds than it takes to search a tape.
In addition, if your PVR hard drive fills up and you would like to save an important recording -- you can still dub it to a standard VCR using the PVRs audio/video outputs. Lastly, you can integrate your PVR into your home theater system, as PVRs have stereo audio outputs (with the same audio quality) as your existing HiFi Stereo VCR.
For more details on the capabilities of this technology, as well as info on PVR products, prices, and services, check my previous articles Tapleless VCRs Go Mainstream and Gadget Season 2000: Part II - Tapeless Video Recorders.
A new company, Terapin, has brought a video concept, popular in Asia for some time, to American shores with the introduction of its standalone CD Video Recorder ($599). Think of a Video CD as a VHS quality video on a disc, rather than VHS tape. A CD has the ability to hold up to 74 min of CD Video. As a bonus, Video CD recordings are playable on many DVD Players. CD Video is a great way to copy such sources as Camcorder tapes (Video CDs don't wear out like tape does!).
This concludes my favorite products for the year series. Obviously, with the thousands of products introduced this past year, I didn't have the time or space to include a choice for every category, but I hope I have given a perspective caught my attention as exceptional entries in the home theater category.
Do you have your own personal favorites for the year? Do you disagree with my choices, or have additional ones? Then just post your comments or discuss this topic on my Year 2000 Favorites Forum!
If you missed Part I in this series, click here -- if you missed Part II, click here.
Check out my favorite product picks from last year (1999).
Feel free to email me at hometheater.guide@about.com
with your questions and/or comments.
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