IEEE1394
03-29-07, 06:51 PM
Finally, J&R actually has a DVD-recorder with ATSC/NTSC tuner on the shelf. It's also changed from "pre-order" to in-stock status on their web page.
After popping in there and having no joy on several hunts for an ATSC unit, it was starting to look like they'd NEVER get here.
The salesguy had no idea that the EZ17's (Panny) tuner made it any functionally different than any of the other recorders. He's new though. The usual DVD salesguy got moved down to the TV department. Apparently jobs are handed out at that store not by the complexity of the product, but by it's ticket price (it's a commission-based sales staff).
Then again, the guy probably doesn't get a ton of questions on this new model, due to the relatively minor market demand. But for the OTA folks such as myself this is kind of exciting.
Nice to see one these ATSC units finally reaching the market though I'm waiting for one of the DVD/VHS units to arrive.
On an alarming note, three out of the 23 DVD-recorders listed on the J&R site have no tuners at all (one Samsung, two JVC's). Well, no surprise there. But it's a little disheartening that their priced not much differently than tuner models with similar features.
With video displays, the manufacturers went over to including ATSC tuners on many of the sets well before the March 2007 deadline, creating the impression that ATSC tuners don't add a huge amount to the manufacturing cost. I'd guess around $20 to $60. Perhaps this new crop of tunerless DVD recorders reflects the lower unit price, and less financial wiggle room, on recorders as opposed to displays.
After popping in there and having no joy on several hunts for an ATSC unit, it was starting to look like they'd NEVER get here.
The salesguy had no idea that the EZ17's (Panny) tuner made it any functionally different than any of the other recorders. He's new though. The usual DVD salesguy got moved down to the TV department. Apparently jobs are handed out at that store not by the complexity of the product, but by it's ticket price (it's a commission-based sales staff).
Then again, the guy probably doesn't get a ton of questions on this new model, due to the relatively minor market demand. But for the OTA folks such as myself this is kind of exciting.
Nice to see one these ATSC units finally reaching the market though I'm waiting for one of the DVD/VHS units to arrive.
On an alarming note, three out of the 23 DVD-recorders listed on the J&R site have no tuners at all (one Samsung, two JVC's). Well, no surprise there. But it's a little disheartening that their priced not much differently than tuner models with similar features.
With video displays, the manufacturers went over to including ATSC tuners on many of the sets well before the March 2007 deadline, creating the impression that ATSC tuners don't add a huge amount to the manufacturing cost. I'd guess around $20 to $60. Perhaps this new crop of tunerless DVD recorders reflects the lower unit price, and less financial wiggle room, on recorders as opposed to displays.