Hey mhz40, any news on the HD PVR?

[louisd13]

Hey mhz40,   I was just wondering if you had any new info on the SA8000HD box.  I know the "word on the street" is that it will be released around the end of the first quarter, but is there any more info than that?  I also know that Green Bay is testing the box right now.  Do you have any info on how that beta test is going?  Have they found a lot of bugs?  It's just that I haven't heard any info about the HD PVR in a long time and I'm really anxious for any new info.  Thanks a bunch.

[mhz40]

All I know is end of the first quarter is what I have heard as well.
The reason Green Bay is beta testing is because the code is ready for the SA platform. Milwaukee (as anyone who has booted a set top knows), is running Pioneer code.
IMO, short of a complete code meltdown or instability issue, I don't see anything that would change the general timeline everyone has heard.
I haven't heard any results of the trials in GB. I hope things are going well...

On another note, has anyone delivered on HD PVR yet? I thought a satellite-based product was supposed to be ready for the holidays last year. Did this actually happen? Has anyone seen or played with one yet?

[borghe]

well, that depends...

LG has had their OTA 80GB DVR out since the middle of last year IIRC.

RCA has had their firewire only DVR also out since around the same time.. Of course you need an HD device that will transmit out firewire to use it.

The Dish PVR921 is out, although unless you pre-ordered it expect to pay $1500 on ebay as it seems no dealer is selling them instore/online for MSRP. Also expect many bugs such as no guide data for OTA channels and the sometimes inability to record or tune to OTA channels at all.

The SA 8000HD is out in non-beta form in a few markets (GB included), mostly TWC markets.

The Motorola xxxxxx (can't think of model number) is also out in a few markets, mostly Cox and Comcast markets..

Now if the question was supposed to be "Is there any widely available HD PVR that can record from cable/satellite" then the answer is, no. Pretty much the fit will hit the shan it seems at the very tail end of Q1 when it is presumed that Motorola, SA, and Tivo will release their respective products to the market en force.  I know the scheduled ship date on my HD DirecTivo is between the second and fourth weeks of March.

[Skipjack]

Any specs on the SA8000-HD?

I'm guessing a coax digital audio output... and component out (DVI would be nice )

[mhz40]

I don't think there are any changes on the back of the HD PVR except the obvious... component and DVI ports.

[louisd13]

Thanks for the update mhz40.  If you hear anything new please let us know!  Oh, by the way here is a link to the thread that had a link to the SA8000HD Spec sheet.

[Skipjack]

...component and DVI ports

Really?  It has a DVI port?  I was only half serious since my current SA box doesn't have one.

Oh, by the way here is a link to the thread that had a link to the SA8000HD Spec sheet.

Um... where's the link?

[louisd13]

D'oh!!!... Here's the non-invisible link

[louisd13]

Hey MHZ40,   I was talking to the Rep at the TW Kiosk in Regency Mall in Racine, and he said he just got back from a big meeting in which the news was that the HD PVR Launch wouldn't be until the end of April.  Have you heard anything to this effect, or any other new news about the HD PVR?

[mhz40]

I wish I had better news, but that's what I heard as well.
:bang:

MHz40