| The popularity of DVD has continued to boom since DVD players
took over from the humble VCR. Now you’ll find DVD players and recorders
with a whole host of clever and convenient features to simplify
your recording. And if you've stepped up to a HDTV, the next generation
of high definition players are the perfect complement. We’ve detailed
the different types of machines and features below to help you choose
the box that’s right for you.
DVD Players
With a DVD player you’ll enjoy superior picture and sound quality
compared to a video recorder. You’ll also be able to navigate
discs quickly and easily through menus and chapters and access
special features on DVD movie discs. All our DVD players come
with a free 2 year guarantee. Look out for the following features:
Progressive scan
This method of scanning displays all the lines of a video frame
at the same time instead of ‘interlacing’ two separate ‘fields’.
This will improve the overall picture quality and reduce any on
screen flicker.
HD upscaling
Some DVD players now feature technology that ‘up-scales’ DVDs
for improved picture quality. When connected to a High Definition
Ready TV, you’ll enjoy breathtaking images that are almost as
good as high definition, from a standard DVD. These players all
output through a HDMI socket, which can be linked to the HDMI
or DVI socket on a HD Ready TV.
Combis
If space is at a premium a combi machine with both VCR and DVD
is a compact solution.
DVD Recorders
With a DVD Recorder you’ll be able to record in the same way as
a VCR with blank DVDs. Many DVD recorders allow you to choose
to record at a lesser quality for a longer recording time. Look
out for the following features:
EPG
An EPG (electronic programme guide) makes it easy to plan what
you want to watch and record. You’ll be able to view TV listings
on screen for the next 7 days (or more) and simply select what
you wish to record at the touch of a button.
DV input
A DV input will allow you to connect your digital camcorder and
burn your home movie footage to a blank DVD.
HDD recorders
Some DVD recorders include a hard drive which provides hours of
additional recording time (A HDD recorder without a DVD recorder
may also be known as a PVR). An 80GB hard drive will provide up
to 100 hours of recording space. Once you’ve saved and edited
your programmes on the hard drive you can simply transfer them
onto a DVD to keep. Hard drive and DVD-RAM technology has also
opened up a range of exciting and useful new features including:
Time slip
Time slip functions allow you greater recording flexibility so
you can watch what you want, when you want. These include ‘Chasing
playback’, ‘Simultaneous record and playback’ and ‘Pause live
TV’.
Chasing playback
If you’ve set your DVD recorder to record a programme but are
late home from work ‘chasing playback’ allows you to start watching
the programme from the beginning while it continues to record
to the end.
Simultaneous record and playback
This allows you to watch a programme that you’ve already recorded
while you’re recording another.
Pause live TV
If you’re halfway through watching a film and you’re interrupted,
you needn’t miss anything. Simply press the pause button to freeze
the action and then press play when you’re ready to resume watching.
Dubbing
This means transferring footage from one place to another e.g.
from hard drive to DVD and vice versa.
Memory card slots
View photos from your digital camera, save them to the hard drive
or burn them onto a DVD to keep.
Blu-ray and HD DVD
New High Definition DVD players take entertainment to the next
level with superior pictures and sound. When connected to your
HD ready TV you’ll enjoy clearer, sharper and more vibrant images.
The new generation of high definition discs are available in 2
different formats – HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs. The new players
are also compatible with regular DVDs so you won’t need to replace
your existing collection.
HD-DVD
A HD DVD disc has around 3 times the capacity of a normal DVD,
and will transfer data faster allowing greater levels of image
detail, multi-channel audio and more. HD DVD also promises greater
interactivity, with enhanced menu, searching, and commentary features,
and in the future you may be able to download additional content.
HD-DVD players are no longer being manufactured. Toshiba will
continue to provide full product support and after sales service
for all owners of HD-DVD products purchased from John Lewis.
Blu-ray
Blu-ray laser technology gives you much greater storage on just
one disc. For example, one Blu-ray disc holds the equivalent of
35 CDs’ or 5 DVDs’ worth of storage. It’s the same size as a DVD
disc, but by using a shorter wavelength and a narrower (blue)
laser beam spot, it can hold greater capacity.
Home cinema systems
Recreate the cinematic experience at home with immersive surround
sound. Home cinema systems typically include a receiver, DVD player
or DVD recorder as well as a subwoofer and multiple mini satellite
speakers. The subwoofer provides powerful low frequency bass while
mini speakers are placed around the room to provide the sound
effects.
Formats
A variety of recordable discs are available. Check the compatibility
of your machine.
• DVD-R DVD+R: Record just once for a permanent copy
• DVD-RW, DVD+RW: Re-recordable
• DVD-RAM: Re-recordable disc with a Random Access Memory for
flexible recording and editing capability
Dual layer discs
A dual layer disc has two layers on one side of the DVD and so
doubles the amount of recording space.
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