Sony RDR HXD910 Freeview HDD DVD Recorder

Sony have just launched two new DVD Recorders the HXD710 and the HXD910.

Both have Freeview receivers, HDD (160Gb and 250Gb) and DVD Recorded (all types except DVD-RAM). The HXD910 has the additional benefit of an HDMI output. This is really cool as for the 1st time you can get recorded Freeview content all the way to your display without it leaving the digital domain!

I'm struggling to get confirmation on prices - both machines have had reviews with prices being quoted of £400 and £500 (Sony quoted prices of £499 and £699!) The review price on HXD910 seems a bit cheap - why would anyone go for 710 when for an extra £100 you get 100Gb and HDMI output?

BTW the above picture is actually the HX910 - note the lack of a 'D' this is the non DVB/Freeview version of the machine which has been available for some time (Haven't managed to get a nice big picture of 910 anywhere yet)

I think I'm probably going to get the HXD910 before any of the rest of the system - at the moment my old Pioneer DVD player has stopped playing CDs, can only output on S-VHS (because I use RGB scart on TV for Freeview) and I don't have any way of recording any programmes (VHS machine is pretty ancient and unusable)

There are some new machines coming from Pioneer though which may give the Sony a run for its money (the maing argument being possibly twin tuners)

(c) Ethan Pinnell 2004