What's the Future? Best DVD-R Announcement

None of them had anything too noteworthy, other than there were no HDD models announced. Most seemed to be just as expected - basically carryovers with digital tuners added (or in some cases tuners removed entirely)

I think we all lose right now. Current HDD machines are just terrible. I wanted one as a DVR, but I might have to pass on it. You're basically locked into SP mode for anything to look good, or suffer quality loss at 3-4 hour modes because the manufacturer poorly set up the encoding parameters.

Sucks.

Let's hope it's because their working on HD-DVD Recorders for us instead & maybe they are letting the "Regular" DVD Recorders go the way of the VCR?

It does seem strange though that Crutchfield is expecting their first shipment of the Panasonic HDD model DMR-EH55S on Feb. 5th, 2007 & their website has been saying Coming Soon for about a year?

Yeah, disappointing that the most "advanced" models are simply DVD/VCR combos with digital/dual tuners.

I would have to nominate the $2000+ Sony PC/BluRay hybrid since its the only one :-)

The fact that Sony announced this expensive creature may perhaps mean that all hope is not lost for HDD-recorders... Perhaps they are working on usability issues since the average non-techie consumer may want a more TiVo-like experience