VCR, DVD recorder or PVR?

[sten102]

My VCR has packed up, and I'm trying to decide what to buy, and would be grateful for any advice. I've got Sky (free-to-air channels) and tape quite a lot of programmes. I don't want to pay �10 a month for Sky plus. My worry about a DVD recorder is that you can't tape up to 12 hours like I can with my VCR. The DVD recorder and hard-drive combination looks quite tempting, but is a big benefit with PVR's the fact that you can easily record with them if you have Freeview? Can I record OK from Sky? I'm tempted to wait until the technology improves/changes, and prices come down, and just get another VCR...?! It's a lot cheaper, and I've still got lots of tapes to watch...! I was thinking about a DVD/VCR combo, so I could transfer my tapes, but I've read that the picture quality isn't as good as getting one or other on it's own. Thanks!

[Postdog]

Just my opinion, but about 9 months ago I had to get a new one too, and I went for a DVD recorder/Video, which was very reasonable at about �150. It Plays video's, records video's (standard and long play, but up to 8 hours only,not the super long play of 12 hours, and it records DVD's at up to 6 hours. Plus you can watch one while recording another and if you really want 12 hours recording, nothing to stop you doing 8hours on video and the rest on DVD.

I have no complaints about the quality at all (mine is a Daewoo BTW), and I have copied tape to DVD and vice versa. But, just a comment, you say you have loads of tapes to watch - if these were recorded on a 12 hour tape, even with another player which plays for 12 hours, you MAY not be able to play them - quite often it is recommended that you only watch such tapes on the machine that recorded them, as playback quaility can't be guaranteed.

[tomd]

I wouldn't worry about only being able to record 6 hours on a DVD, as you can get them in bulk for around 20 pence.

[Ethel]

I love my hard drive dvd recorder. Records up to 180 hours on the hard drive, can be archived on to dvd disc. It pauses live tv and rewinds live tv too. Record quality is excellent.

I also have a cheap vcr/dvd combo hooked up. I can record digital on the vcr and terrestrial on the hard drive dvd at the same time (or vice versa).

I can record video cassettes from the vcr on to the hard drive - the recording is as good as the quality of the tape.