which DVD player/ Freeview recorder?

a while ago i asked about freeview recorders for my mum and you sorted her out with some good suggestions.  the one she went for does the job but she sometimes gets confused with it, and also wants something to play her DVDs now.

rather than get her another unit with another remote control, (she only really has room for one unit anyway) ive recommended that she just stumps up and buys the best, simplest to use, all-in-one jobbie, just to make life easy for her.

so, with that criteria, could you suggest something for her please that has a dvd player, and a freeview recorder that has 2 x HD’s, as she wants the versatility to be recording 2 different channels at the same time, PLUS watch a 3rd channel.

oh and did i say, it needs to be SIMPLE to use :D

thank you

I think the only option left if you want to buy new is Panasonic?

Can’t comment on how easy to use they are now. The one I had about a decade ago was ok

I think the only option left if you want to buy new is Panasonic?

ah, didnt realise that @jimw.  altho it doesnt specifically need to be new, 2nd hand in good nick would still be fine.

ah, didnt realise that @jimw.

Really? If you’d read the replies when you asked exactly the same question a month ago you would know that. Let me direct you to your own thread in case that helps; https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/freeview-recorders/page/2/

Really? If you’d read the replies when you asked exactly the same question a month ago you would know that. Let me direct you to your own thread in case that helps;

@timmys yeah lazy ‘thread starting’ really isnt it i suppose.  could just remember ending up being a bit confused when i left it (feels like ages ago), had a lot going on since then and should really have revisited that thread.  spose i just thought ‘lets start again from scratch’.

thanks, i’ll go have another read……

EDIT:  aaaaand lo and behold…..

Now I’ve read back I see the current Freeview recorder is a Panasonic. One reason I wasn’t recommending an all in one was that Panasonic seem to be the only people who make them anymore, and my experience with a Panasonic recorder is that the interface and usability was shocking.

If you really want an all-in-one I think your only option is this;

https://www.richersounds.com/panasonic-dmrex97-black/ (£319)

or for a tenner more one that also plays Blurays; https://www.richersounds.com/panasonic-dmrpwt550eb-black/

I still think your better option is separate units for a better recorder experience (and cheaper overall). eg. these (which are both physically small units so might be an option?);

Recorder; https://www.richersounds.com/manhattan-t4r-500gb/ (£169)

Bluray player; https://www.richersounds.com/panasonic-dmpbdt180-black/ (£89) – or Panasonic DMP-BD84EB-K on Amazon at £75 looks a good option (and possibly even smaller).

thanks for your (previous) help

The Manhatten PVR is only 280 mm wide and a Sony DVD player 230mm, so might they fit side by side ?

@jimw finally got round to measuring the gap under her tv.  looks like its 635mm, so i think the 2 separates is a good shout.  only slight issue may be 2 remotes rather than just the one, but then again if she rarely plays dvd’s it might actually be better if she just leaves one alone until she actually needs it, rather than one ‘complicated’ remote.

looks like all of the suggested models will fit alongside that manhattan jobbie (272mm) so ill probs order them both from either richer sounds or john lewis.

thank you both for the advice, i really should have sorted this earlier when you first made your suggestions.   she’s abroad at the mo for a month so will try and get her ‘system’ sorted for when she gets back, be a nice surprise for her.

cheers

only slight issue may be 2 remotes rather than just the one

Assuming they have the buttons and support HDMI-CEC, you might find that one remote will suffice for both devices.

The Manhattan recorder is quite good, whereas the Humax aura is a total pile of poo in my experience.