Pioneer 640 getting scarce

I wouldn't say it will be obsolete...if you want to record OTA only, like me, then yes it will present a different challenge.

Heck, one could argue that Beta-max isn't obsolete and it has inputs and you can still purchase blank media

I just picked one up for $348 at http://www.hypeaudio.net/item.aspx?pid=103093 - they have them in stock.

I am not even going to unbox it - it is going straight to Pioneer technical services for the firmware upgrade so that I can see titles listed with their actual names instead of just the date and time.

PCdoc

$389 now at Hypeaudio and Pioneer might not honor the warranty from an unauthorized dealer.

OOS at BH Photo

...going...going...and now gone?

This may have been mentioned on another thread, but in all honesty don't you imagine that they will have to come up with some type of converter box that will allow your Pioneer 640 (and many others) to still record Over The Air broadcasts?

I just can't settle for the fact that we will have to throw the unit out (unless using it for VHS, etc..., transfers) and won't be able to record on it from it's internal tuner anymore. I know as is...we won't, but they have to come up with something that will let us and whoever creates it will make a fortune.

What's really an unknown is whether or not these ATSC tuner boxes, that will be supplied at "resonable cost" after the shut-down, will have the capability of being controlled by the IR blaster of the DVDR. If not, I would find the unit pretty useless since I could not schedule unattended recordings.

Nothing wrong with recording direct from HD cable/SAT box- never gonna be obsolete that way and if you have an HDTV that helps.

Perhaps some of the converter boxes will have timers so that you could set the box to come on at a programmed time and tuned to a certain channel. That would work.

I was thinking of getting one of these, yes, even though I am a Panasonic guy. I did a bunch of searching and pricing on Friday. By Monday (yesterday) the two best sources were showing no longer in stock. The sources that did show in stock were the kind of companies that had mediocre to poor customer ratings. Alas, I fear I've waited too long. My window of opportunity has closed.

I know absolutely nothing about this business, but their web page does say they have stock "available".

Proceed at your own risk!

http://www.ugotadeal.com/product_inf...oducts_id=2636

Theron

Electronic Warehouse advises they expect 15 units on March 26. Better hurry. They said units selling quickly.

http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/...ium=comparison

For those that have not heard, Club Panasonic advises there will be no HD DVD recorders in their 2007 lineup.

Is there any explanation why? Is this a temporary thing, or are they out of the US market completely? Are they waiting for BlyRay recorders, or are they thinking next year they will have models? Some of us really need to know. Panicking...

Called Club Panasonic (800-405-0652 x6) for more info on why there are no HD DVD recorders in the 2007 lineup. I was told by Daniel that Pan has focused its efforts on providing Comcast with a 250gb HD STB. When I asked her if there was an agreement with Comcast not to compete with HD DVD recorders, she said "that sounded right." Speculation, but probably close to the truth.

Comcast-Panasonic story here.
http://www.cedmagazine.com/toc-bbdir.../20060105.html


I suggest you grab a Pio 640 at Elec Warehouse before all 15 units (expected 3/26) are sold. I did. I ordered 2 of them.

http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/...ium=comparison

Well, it's not like we really needed any more reasons to not like Comcast, but I guess now we have one!

Theron

Panicking, indeed! I picture Pioneer officials sitting around a table. One says, "How can we get rid of all these Model 640s with their NTSC tuners now that we can't market them any more?"

Updated info:

"ugotadeal" has no stock (confirmed this morning by phone).

"4electronicwarehouse" will most likely not be receiving any more units and will have to cancel all backorders. This is a well educated guess since the regulation that went into effect 3/1/07 prohibits manufacturers from shipping any dvd recorders after 2/28/07! Since they are an authorized dealer, they would be getting units directly from Pioneer. It does not take a month for a shipment to reach them! I honestly hope I'm wrong but it doesn't look promising.

Matt at Elec Warehouse advises they receive shipments once a month, usually near the end of month. I reminded him that Pio cannot bring anymore pio 640 into the US after 3/07, and again asked him if Elec Warehouse believed their shipment of 15 units targeted for a 3/26 delivery would really be coming. Matt believed Pio would fill the order from their US warehouse.

As I understand, Pio cannot bring anymore Pio 640s into the US, but can still sell Pios already in their US warehouse until they are gone. Is this corect?

To whom it will concern:

Check out "resellerratings.com" before you place orders with highly questionable, obscure dealers"! "hypeaudio" is just that......hype! Can't even reach them by phone......it's listed as a voice line but it's actually a fax machine! Their name should be a warning!
When you read their reviews, you'll want to call your credit card co. and cancel (since you probably can't reach them to cancel)!

What the majority of these "no name" dealers do is actually shop around for your item, since they have little or no inventory (they do it on the cheap and are very unprofesssional). This causes delays and aggrevation, especially when it's a hard to find item like the 640. They also substitute new with refurbs without informing you. Not to mention the aggrevation you'll have if you try to cancel the order. It can be a nightmare!

BUYER BEWARE! BE CAUTIOUS, NOT IMPULSIVE!

Incorrect info. (unfortunately).....
They cannot ship any units out of their US warehouse..... Assuming this regulation is being enforced and adhered to (which it most likely would be by major manufacturers such as Pioneer). The dealers can sell off their remaining inventory.....not the manufacturers! If Matt believes that his shipment is coming from Pioneer's US warehouse he is sadly mistaken. The manufacturers would have made it a point to ship out all their remaining inventory by 2/28.
It's a mystery to me as to why they think they're getting them.

Assuming everyone is adhering to the FCC Rule, as you say, the only legal way for Matt to receive units from Pioneer is if their warehouse is in the same state. The Rule specifies no "interstate" shipment by a mfgr, assembler or importer ("responsible party").

Another "out" might be a mfgr shipping within a state to a seller's warehouse, sort of a trans-shipment trick?

Or maybe Matt's shipment will really be coming from his company's warehouse?

Just got the phone with Elec Warehouse (Tim). I told him that all other Pio authorized internet dealers have notified customers they will *not* be getting any more Pio 640s.

Tim reiterated they will be getting 15 units from a mfr warehouse in CA. Elec Warehouse is in IL, so this would be a shipment across state lines..... which some of you say is against FCC rules after 2/28/07.

I asked Tim:
"Are you sure Elec Warehouse is getting 15 Pio 640s on 3/26? I, for one, will be upset with Elec Warehouse if you cancel my Pio order on 3/26, and I find I can no longer buy a Toshiba sx35 (the only other large HD DVD recorder still available from a 'big four' dealer)."

Tim said he would call his rep and discuss situation.

I think the bottom line here is that for all intents and purposes the Pioneer 640 is off the table. It will soon join the Panasonic EH55 on ebay selling for >$1000.

Better get those EH75V's before they are all gone from CC

640 is no longer being sold on Pioneer's website (was avail. before the "powers that be" dictated this stupid deadline and decided for us what we can and can't buy in this country.....dictatorship?.....don't get me started!).
Called Pioneer.....answer......no available stock.....discontinued. My guess is that, if they had an overabundance of these units, they cut a deal with their dealers to blow them out of the warehouse ASAP (can't blame them). Just speculation, mind you.

Shouldn't the consumer decide....given the facts....whether or not he/she wants to purchase a unit that will not be totally compatible two years down the road (in reality, this NTSC/ATSC issue is really much ado about nothing)!
I don't get it! If we are willing to spend our money, it's our choice to make, not the FCC!
This nonsense is causing all sorts of aggrevation and frustration for no good reason! (ooops -- I got started)

BTW, if you read the details on Electronicswarehouse website it says "first come, first served " and "no guarantee of receiving merchandise"
May as well just cancel orders now......good luck!.....happy hunting!

What is stopping Pioneer from making a similar product with an ATSC tuner. I'm not defending our government by any means...maybe demand doesn't support building more DVD recorders with hard drives and this was just a time to stop. Haven't the number of these (any brand) been dwindling in the past few years?

I blame the uneducated public and TiVo


Ah, there you go assuming that this board is a represenatation of the general public. I for one, know that my grandparents would be very upset if they bought an NTSC DVD recorder in a year to find out it was a paper weight (or they needed to buy another device to make it work) in 1 year. They are on a fixed income and use OTA only. Ask them (or even my parents before I educated them) what an ATSC tuner is...most of them don't know.

Heck, 6 months ago I was looking in BB for a ATSC tuner card for my PC and the computer "geek" (read: idiot) didn't even know what ATSC was.

FYI, I would love to get my hands on one with an ATSC tuner as I, too, use only OTA for my TV watching.

What about the Canadian retailers? There is no mandate about selling DVD recorders with NTSC tuners in Canada...or is there...?