DVD Player and more

Birroc

Howdy, I need help. I am an elder gentleman trying to keep on top of the latest technology. He is my issue - I have a 10 year old DVD player that is on it's last legs. I want to get a new player of some kind and my wishlist (if even possible) is;

1. DVD and BluRay Player (presume BluRay is the way forward?)
2. USB connection (for playing downloaded movies or showing camera pictures/videos)
3. Recordable (I only have RTE/TV3 but want to get free-to-air satellite and record/save missed programs)
4. Storage for files I want to keep safe

Note: I have a relatively new TV (HD)

Is there such a DVD player or "hard drive" on the market?

Any advice appreciated...e.g. am I missing something else?

tmull

Birroc, I too am on the eldery side and can answer most of your questions.If you have a 10 year old dvd recorder you have about used it out. Nearly all your requirements would be met with a decent blu-ray recorder,but at a price.Most major brands of recorders have ceased putting AV inputs on their machines and as far as I know only Panasonic are now doing so.Last years model in their range had two but this years model has only one.In my opinion last years model is proberly the better of the two.The AV out/inputs are being dropped due to pressure from the American movie industry so that us mortals cannot copy their content.I you go down the blu-ray recorder route make sure that you get the machine that will do what you want.It could be an expensive mistake as salesmen dont know too much about the capabilities of the products they are selling.It may be worth looking at my posts on this site under Blu-ray recorders.Good luck. TMULL

Birroc

Thanks tmull but I don't understand what you mean by AV. Why would I need this?

Could you ping me an Amazon link to one of the these Blu Ray Recorders and tell me which of the 4 functions I outlined below would be covered by this device?

tmull

Birroc,The AV input is required if you want to connect a Freesat or Free-to -air receiver to the recorder.If it has no Av input you cannot record anything only what you receive on the tuner of the Blu-ray recorder.I own two of these recorders .One ,the Panasonic DMR 720 has twin Freeview tuners which is capable of receiving the Saorview package. You can record two programmes at the same time or record one and watch one.This machine has a one terabite harddisk built in which can hold hundreds of films. My other recorder is the Panasonic750. This is a Freesat twin tuner machine but is now not available. Each of these machines has two AV inputs and I have two HD sat receivers connected to both machines.At the rate of change lately I would guess that next years models will have no AV inputs. From your first post I would suggest what you want is a recorder with a hhd so you can store and record your films.It should have a Saorview tuner but preferable two.You want a usb input so you can transfer files. The only Panasonic store in Ireland is in Limerick and the manager there is a girl named Jean. She is very clued in on the latest machines. You could check out their website.If you want any more info just ask here.What part of the country are you in? TMULL