Philips HDR612 TiVo 60 Hour Digital Video Recorder
by Philips
Average Customer Review:
Electronics (15 November, 2000)
list price: $599.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With up to 60 hours of program recording capacity, the Philips HDR612 offers the most hard disk space currently available in a personal video recorder.

Unlike analog VCRs, Philips's HDR612 personal TV recorder uses TiVo technology to store compressed audio-video data to a computer hard disk. When you're ready to watch a preselected program, the HDR612 retrieves it upon command from a list of shows you've recorded. Among the most revolutionary aspects of the Philips/TiVo server is the ability to pause live broadcasts and either resume a program where you left off or return to real time. For example, while watching live sporting events, you can replay the last eight seconds of the action. You can then return to the live broadcast at any time. Using the palm-size remote, you can rewind and fast-forward pretaped programs and skip through recorded commercials if you choose.

Philips supplies all the necessary cables for setting up the HDR612, including a 50-foot phone line and splitter. You don't need a separate phone line; simply connect the splitter to the wall, connect your phone and receiver cable to the splitter, and you're in business. The phone line is vital for downloading TV listings, recording shows, and receiving TiVo's Suggestions feature and TiVolution Magazine, which offer guidance and recommendations on the best programs to watch. After the initial download, the receiver spends about five minutes updating your programming data each night.

The HDR612 has lots of great features that make it easier for this personal TV server to record programs as it learns your preferences. For example, the Suggestions feature actually offers input on shows you might enjoy based on your previous selections.

TiVo's onscreen setup guide includes easy step-by-step instructions. TiVo charges $12.95 a month for weekly listings, TiVolution Magazine, and the Suggestions feature, or you can pay a one-time service charge of $299.

Once you've selected a program to record, you have four choices of picture quality: basic, medium, high, or best. The higher settings take up more storage space, which translates into fewer hours of available record time. ... Read more

Features

• 4 picture-quality settings
• Up to 60 hours of storage capacity
• 8-second instant-replay feature
• Pause, fast-forward, and rewind
• Jump-to-live button on remote

Reviews (34)

Without TiVo, what's the point of TV?
I bought one of the early models of TiVo, and added drive space to make it a 110 hour unit. I wouldn't bother watching TV without it. It really is everything it promises. I don't know what time a lot of my programs come on, or what day of the week, I just watch them when I feel like watching them. I have a one year old daughter, and I would especially reccomend TiVo to new parents. Without the ability to pause, or just stop and come back to it later, a new parent can't expect to watch anything all the way through.

Setup may be a bit complex, but once it's in place, it is simple to operate. My mother in law can figure it out when she comes to town. She can't figure out our X-10 remote control lights, or her own e-mail, but she can set TiVo to record her programs and figure out what she wants to watch. If she can do it, anyone can.

We use our TiVo so much we are planning on getting one for the little TV in our bedroom.

WE LOVE TIVO!
We never even heard of TIVO until our children gave us one last Christmas.The TIVO came with a lifetime subscription which made it even better.We are retired and not exactly "Hi Tech" people, so we paid someone recommended by our excellent store, Sound Advice" to hook it up and educate us in the use, etc. This service was great, as we also had to hook up a DVD player to the TV (a gift from another of our kids).There is nothing easier to program for recording.No tapes, no fuss .As sports fans we particularly like the ability to do our own instant replay.I no longer dread the telephone or doorbell interupting "Jeopardy", as I can pause the program and pick it up later.I recommend this product to everyone that loves TV.
J. T.Sarasota, Florida.

Life Changing
I bought the HDR112 but is the exact same product as the 612.It was the greatest decision I have ever made.There's no buyer's remorce with TiVo.I've had it for 5 months now and I don't know how I ever lived without it. ... Read more

Asin: B00004UE2L
Subjects:  1. TiVo    2. PVR (Personal video recorder)