Sony launch SVR-S500 PVR

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Sony have launched their latest personal video recorder, the SVR-S500.

Its features are fairly standard for a PVR: an 80Gig hard drive, two Freeview tuners, meaning you can watch or record more than one programme at once, 8-day advanced recording, and the usual ability that we love about PVRs – pausing, rewinding and replaying live TV – and of course no more scrabbling around with tapes or DVDs trying to find a place to record your favourite show.

As with most TV-related gear at the moment, you’ll need to decide if it’s right for you. This might be new gear, but has the potential to become redundant very quickly. Let’s say you decide to go with Sky HD or TVDrive – you’ll get their PVR with many of the same features but with the ability to do it all in high-def.

Then again, if you’re perfectly happy with digital terrestrial TV through Freeview, and just want some extra functionality, this box could be just right for you.

It’s one of those dilemmas. Personally, though it looks like a nice
piece of kit, I’d be wary of buying it. Maybe it’s unfair to say it,
but Sony don’t have a great history of technology that goes the
distance, either. You know the names…the RDR-HXD710

Even if I were going down this route, I’d be more inclined to go for a PVR DVD recorder combo, like the RDR-HXD710 for example.

What do you think? Would you invest in one given the way TV is heading?

Andy Merrett
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One thought on “Sony launch SVR-S500 PVR

  • The amount of TV i watch is so insignificant that HD will have to be this side of free before I bother. I bought a PVR a couple of months ago and it’ll do me fine until the hard drive dies in many years to come.

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