tivo/dvr in NZ

Is it possible to get and use a DVR of some kind in NZ? I know http://aardvark.co.nz did a PC DVR project to show you how to do it with a PC, but I want a nice friendly consumer box, not a PC. I think the main issue is the lack of a program guide.

Anyone know of any products or have any suggestions?

buy a mini itx + case (look at ascent)

theres a thread on it lower down.

ill bump it for you

(im assuming you mean a digital video recorder?

Yip, digital video recorder.

http://biggie.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=97143

http://biggie.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94378

windows xp will happily record with a tv capture card.

or you can use freevo (linux - i think theres a snap in for recording r another program to do it.

Thanks Bob. I really don't think I want to have a PC having to be connected to the TV, even if it is in a nice case. I just want a consumer oriented PVR that I can plug in and use. I'll keep them in mind if I ever change my mind though Thanks

youll save money this way

and you can use it to play mp3's into the stereo and divx's into the tv

http://www.ascent.co.nz/mn-product-spec.asp?pid=116833

there is one very sexy case...

Even better, take a look at this one: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/slim_pc/slm/pro_slm_detail.php?UID=431

(found thru pp.co.nz)

It looks kinda like a stereo, something that'd go fine with my TV and stereo And it even has a remote! I guess just adding Win XP media centre edition and it'd be pretty much like a tivo?

What sort of a CPU/RAM would you need for one of those? A 2GHz should be fine even for DivX I would think, or maybe a 2.8GHz Celeron? Both cost around $280. Probably $400 for 1GB ram (or would 512 work), $250 for a 160Gb disk, and $100 for two wireless networking cards (802.11 - 11mbps is enough) comes to about $1580. Probably too much for me, I think - for that amount of money I can get some more audio equipment!

go the mini itx way its all you need and has hardware mpeg2 decoder the remote is only $100 from ascent or $15 for the bits from dse

you need about 4-6mbs for divx but not if your going to run hard disks (just leave the movies on it) you dont need 512 ram you could get away with 256 or 386
i have mini itx plus 512ram 120 gig disk win xp pro wifi 11b and an external dvd r/w

fuck... when did wifi get so cheap?

last time i looked at it it was about $400 dollars for a 802.11b pci card...

now they're like $50

where?

the pc cards are cheap as but the pci cards still seem to be $$$

??

the usb ones are good too but personally i wouldnt buy the cheap ones youll only get trouble.

3com are good and dlink are reasonable.