While the DVR (digital video recorder) is a fairly new electronic device, it is rapidly making the VCR obsolete. A DVR has a built-in hard drive for viewing and recording television content. There are many different DVR options. You can have a standalone DVR, a satellite TV DVR, or a cable TV DVR.
The DVR is a viewers dream come true and one of my favorite electronic pieces in my home theater system. The following are 10 reasons why you can’t live without a cable TV DVR.
- Video and audio quality – A DVR allows you to view and record high definition video and Dolby digital 5.1 sound. The DVR is one of the only ways to record high definition content.
- Conflicting show times? No problem – You never have to worry about which show to watch when you have two favorite shows at the same time. The DVR allows you to watch one show and record another, or even record two shows at the same time, while watching a third recorded show.
- Time change – One of the main advantages of a DVR compared to a VCR is its ability to allow you to record a show and start watching it later, even if you are still recording the show. As a fan of NFL football, I love watching football, but preseason NFL games can be nerve-racking to watch in real time. I just set it to record and make sure to start watching about an hour after the start. Then I can fast-forward through the game in about half the time.
- More family time – A DVR will allow you to record your favorite show while spending time with your children. When they go to bed, you can catch up on all your favorite shows.
- Commercial breaks – Your favorite one hour show can now be watched in 45 minutes by fast-forwarding through commercials.
- Pause Live TV – Next time you’re watching the big game or your favorite TV show and the phone rings, just hit the pause button and resume the show when you’re done with your phone call. The built-in buffer records up to an hour of TV automatically, even if you don’t have a recording scheduled. This also allows for instant playback. If you missed the last play or the last line of your favorite drama, just hit the instant play button to see the last few seconds again.
- Programming guide – The guide will give you an updated list of programs with descriptions of all available channels for the next week. It allows you to advance one day at a time, sort by topic, or search for your favorite shows or movies.
- Easy recording – You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out how to record a show. Just go to the program guide, find the program you are looking for, and hit record.
- Serial recording – Go to your daughter’s piano recital or your son’s baseball game? Don’t worry about missing your favorite show. Just set your DVR to record your favorite show and you can make sure you never miss an episode. You can even configure the DVR to only record the first few episodes played.
- Picture in Picture – The DVR’s dual tuners allow you to have picture-in-picture on your TV, which is a great feature for the sports fan who wants to follow the pennant race by watching 2 games at once.
There are many more functions of a DVR and many more ways to use it for your family’s TV viewing habits. As you can see, I am a huge fan of the DVR and consider it a piece of equipment that any home theater owner cannot live without.
