HDTVoice.com - High-Definition Television Talk

06-19-2003, 06:09 PM	#1
markw Reged User Tier 2 Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 85	Looking for a D-VHS I recently purchased a HDTV television. I was looking forward to the day that I will actually get HDTV television. I have DirectTV but am holding off for the HD DirecTIVO. Even though I know that I won't want to pay but so much for extra HD channels at first and then the idea came to get a player that I can buy movies in HD Format. I was waiting for Blu Ray but I know that is way off and it seems D-VHS may take off now with HDTV and maybe get so big that Blu Ray will take awhile to catch on or either something beyond Blu Ray will be the next beyond D-VHS. What are most people's feelings of this? Will Blu Ray catch on soon or is it best to go with D-VHS for now and wait awhile for Blu Ray or whatever takes over? Also, what about copy protection? I know many HD Broadcasts will be protected but part of my idea is that for now little is protected if any and that means now is a good time to start recording HD content while I can. Also, is there any protection in these D-VHS players? I think I can build up a big collection but do stores actually sell or rent these D-VHS HD Movies. Even if so What is a good brand to look for or is JVC the only one? Do they play regular VHS tapes. if so it's a big advantage since I don't have the extra connections for a additional player but could easily just replace my VCR in the entertainment center with one. I assume they have component outputs and maybe even DVI. Do they have composite or RF out (I know RF out is fairly useless as well as composite). Do they downconvert to regular TV for other TV's? What I'm saying is if I take the D-VHS over to a regular standard TV will there be a output that I will be able to watch the movie in standard format through or will I be stuck with only using this on the HDTV? When I do get something like blu ray or beyond I would love to convert whatever D-VHS tapes over to that format. I know this could be more complicated with store bought tapes since they could have built in protection or would it be possible to somehow copy these? Also, are there any special brands (most of what I see is JVC) or any special features to look for? I believe that's all the questions I can think of for now. Thanks for any help.

06-19-2003, 06:36 PM	#2
57U Runner/Cyclist/X-C Skier Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 17,068	1. Tape is dying. I doubt too many people will disagree. Once the HDPVRs come on the market, D-VHS will mostly vanish. (It can archive, but not many people do that...) 2. Copy protection, if it happens, will affect all HD recorders, no matter what type. Rumours of "downcoversion" or "blocking" are just rumours. Many feel that the "fair use" laws in place will protect us so we'll be able to record. What you will not be able to do is make a copy of a copy. 3. You need a firewire connection to the recorder - that's the only connection that will work unless the unit is "integrated" like the HDPVRs for Satellite & Cable will be (with tuners). 4. There is not much "software" out there. Few movies to purchase. I don't think anyone rents. 5. JVC is the only one that works this way, the Mits basically works only with a Mits TV. Do a search for the JVC unit and look at the specs for what it can do. It can record in many formats, including downconversion and downconversion to a SDTV (why I'll never know). Recording an NTSC programme in "HD format" apparently also makes a nice copy (better than S-VHS for example) 6. Not sure if D-VHS is copy protected and whether you'd be able to copy to HDDVD. __________________ 57U - Toronto, Rogers Cable, SA8300HD, 500GB HDD & Hitachi 61UWX10B HDTV, Yamaha RX-V1 A/V Receiver, Martin Logan Speakers. Photos --> 57U's HT SA8300HD, 250GB HDD & KDL40W3000 (Upstairs) Please don't PM me with questions that can (and should) be asked in the forum, thanks. Personal Question? Fire away.

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