On the positive side, I was
able to find a half dozen shows I wanted to record, and had all the
capabilities to play them back that I would expect, plus more. One handy feature
is the ability to mark different parts of the recording for future reference,
instead of TiVo’s useless quarter-hour hash marks. I also like the fact that you
can adjust the timing for the “replay” (back skip) or “advance” (forward skip)
functions, but was dismayed that the extremely short out-of-the-box settings are
not, like many other default settings, more useful.
The on-screen channel
guide is in itself a bonus though its execution is similarly frustrating. For
one, instead of a sequential channel list, or even one that’s organized
alphabetically by network, the guide scrambles the channel order based on
popularity so that favorite channels appear on the first page, with local
channels at the top. It’s apparently based on regional ratings, which means that
unless you’re incredibly average, you’ll have a hard time finding what you want.
You’ll also have to add or delete channels from both the Sony and TV Guide menus
in order for the on-screen guide to coincide with the channels you get when you
just surf without it. In addition, as you highlight different programs in the
guide, an otherwise useful information box appears, but it displaces adjacent
channels as you scroll up or down so that a channel that was listed at the
bottom of the screen hops to the top, even though you’re still on the same page.
It’s disorienting.
Having used both TiVo and ReplayTV, I may be harder on
the Sony DHG-HDD500 than I should be. The former two systems are much easier to
use than TV Guide, but neither one offers a digital cable ready product. If your
experience with your cable company’s DVR has been less than stellar, the Sony
box might at least be a step up. If so, it’s certainly easy enough for you to
test the system at your local retailer. Otherwise, at this price, it’s hard not
to expect more.
RATING: GAURDED
Description: DHG-HDD500 digital cable ready digital video recorder
High
Points: HDMI outputs; 500 GB hard drive; sleek, sexy appearance; no monthly
fees
Low Points: No FireWire; no dual tuner; on-screen TV Guide programming
schedule scrambles channel order; nowhere near as easy to use as TiVo or
ReplayTV
Contact: Sony Electronics, 877.865.SONY, www.sonystyle.com
Price: (MSRP)$999.95
