you:
My PVR comes with a 160 GB drive, and that's the only PVR model currently available from my cable provider.
me:
Larger disks would be even more surprising considering the noise being produced about time shifting in general, but definitely needed for HD even in Mpeg-4 compression. So far we haven't upgraded our satellite equipment to HD because most of our viewing is of Netflix DVDs. Here, in L.A., satellite/cable HD isn't as good as DVDs in general because the companies restrict bit rate in order to provide more channels. The move to Mpeg-4 may help, but I doubt it.
Still my objection remains about PVR capacity not being enough. I suppose if you only want to watch things once or if you don't have grandchildren that want to watch the same DVDs over and over, then a PVR might by a good answer.
Yes, I've been noticing a definite degradation in the quality of DVDs since HD/BD hit the market. I expect more of the same as the studios try to move the market upscale. Personally, I'm quite happy with DVD MPEG-2 resolution on most disks, but quality varies a lot. Higher-end TVs will now display at either 1080i or 1080p and have deinterlacing capacity that produces quite a good picture from good DVD sources, GIGO.
Getting back to HTPCs in general. No way can they compete with a PVR from the cable/satellite company for ease of use and convenience. Currently they seem best suited for use as mass storage devices of video, music, pictures etc. If you're a collector or an A/V enthusiast they can produce a lot of WOW factor, but for day to day viewing a PVR is a must. Just the encrypted stuff is enough to limit the usefulness of the HTPC as a TV viewing medium.
For the HTPC to be able to compete with set top boxes you really need to have TV being sent over the Internet and that means bandwidth, which right now means fiber to the curb. As long as the cable/satellite/ma bell guys control content the HTPC is going to play an ancillary role, at best, to STBs. |
