JVC unveils duo of VHS / DVD / HDD recorders

For the folks that just can't let go, JVC is introducing a new duo of recorders that handle VHS, DVD and HDD-based logging. Predictably, the DR-HX500 holds 500GB while the DR-HX250 gets a 250GB drive, and outside of that, both units are identical. You'll find a built-in analog / digital TV tuner, an HDMI socket and all the dubbing features you (or your grandmother) can handle. It should be noted that digital TV recordings can only be stored on the HDD, but it is possible to capture a digital show there while copying an analog broadcast to VHS / DVD. The pair is all geared up to land in multi-generational homes this July, with prices being pegged at ¥95,000 ($906) and ¥75,000 ($715), respectively.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[spass @ Jun 4th 2008 8:09PM]

for a moment, with my bad vision, I read hd-dvd...

[catachip @ Jun 4th 2008 8:12PM]

VHS? Really? Come on.

[Tragedy @ Jun 4th 2008 8:18PM]

What's this "VHS" they speak of?

[dagamer34 @ Jun 4th 2008 8:58PM]

VHS is like those things, you know, those "tracks" with a number in the name? Oh forget it!

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 4th 2008 9:01PM]

Back when I was a little boy, we used to watch movies on big boxes called "tapes". They were huge, about the size of three DVD cases put together and the picture was blurry and the audio foul. And every time you watched it, the tape wore out more and more. You could also rent movies from places called "video stores". Also, once you watched the movie, you had to "re-wind" the tape so it would be at the starting point for the next person. And I had to walk five miles to school every day in icy-blizzard conditions with a rock in my shoe and it was uphill- both ways. Gosh darn that sucked.

[Khris @ Jun 4th 2008 11:31PM]

So let me get this straight......no one uses Laser Disks anymore??

[Nomi @ Jun 4th 2008 8:33PM]

Oh JVC...you need to let go of VHS.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 4th 2008 8:34PM]

Gotta say, I never thought VHS would out-live HD-DVD.. This is very sad.

[Shadow @ Jul 13th 2008 4:54PM]

yeah thats gotta be a kick in the teeth :P

[PCIV @ Jun 4th 2008 8:40PM]

Thing is, can it do VHS to HDD? That would make it good for lots of people.

[tokyo-g @ Jun 4th 2008 8:56PM]

I'll be holding out for the betamax/DVD/HD version

[Peter @ Jun 4th 2008 9:39PM]

What about D-VHS?

[TheRequiem @ Jun 4th 2008 9:55PM]

Also those price tags are laughable.

[Skorpius @ Jun 4th 2008 10:05PM]

I'll always keep a decent quality VHS player around. I have too many things I've recorded over the years to not have access to one, and I don't fancy I'll ever transfer everything to DVD. I still use a VCR to tape things and watch it later. And remember people, your friendly media companies can't set do-not-record flags "by accident" in this instance.

[DJ @ Jun 4th 2008 10:15PM]

There's probably ten times as much PORN on VHS as there is on DVD. For that fact alone, VHS will be around for years to cum. And by regularly rolling out new VHS products, JVC protects it's patents for both media and playback devices for another 17years.

[Captain Drew @ Jun 5th 2008 12:25AM]

Captain Drew thinks this be *fantastic* news, as his Pappy uses an old Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder and has been wondering what to replace it with when it finally goes full fathom five, down to Davy Jones' Locker. Sure, there be computer-based tuner solutions, but an all-in-appliance still suits some users what don't be as handy as us boffins with our mobile babbages. The VCR capability is a bit of a head-scratcher at this late date, but even now I begin to see uses for it. Thanks for this story, Engadget.

[Matthew C @ Jun 5th 2008 11:35AM]

Pirate theme, huh?

thats cool...

[Jamar @ Jun 5th 2008 9:13AM]

Hey, have a look at the branding...

[MichaelP @ Jun 5th 2008 10:21AM]

@ spass: I thought it said HD-DVD too, "for the folks that just can't let go"...

My biggest technical criticism, as listed above, is not being able to record digital TV to DVD. Unless that's a technicality, and you can record the same program from the HDD to DVD.

It would be handy for transferring from VHS to DVD, if only it cost, like say, $250 instead of $900... For that price, it ought to record HDTV to Blu-ray, but this thing doesn't seem to handle high-def content at all, even for broadcast TV or DVD upconversion, despite an HDMI connector.

Put out a VHS/Blu-ray/500GB combo for $500, (with 1080i HDTV, 1080p BD, optical audio, and DVD upconversion to 1080p) and I might consider the offering as both reasonably-capable and reasonably-priced.

[Matthew C @ Jun 5th 2008 11:32AM]

Everything else aside - Including the fact that I see VCRs in free piles at least once a week - Those have to be the ugliest remotes i've ever seen.

[JOE @ Jun 5th 2008 5:06PM]

hey, youse guys just wanna laugh, I gots over 500 "vhs"s and don't know how to turn them into DVD. bought on of them thar 'recorders' but it quit working after 6 months. so i bought another and sat on the remote and now i can't even get the damn thing to open the door. Never had that problem with "VHS" players!!!!

[steve @ Jun 5th 2008 5:11PM]

this is more than likely a JDM only product, especially since it says Victor on it.
and comparing what it cost in Japan compared to what it might be released at here in the states is stupid.
judging by what dvd/vcr combo's w/ atsc tuners cost, $299, a price double or triple that for a HDD isnt out of the question