Back when I was in college, I remember reading about a new concept in a technology magazine. It was called a digital video recorder and it would store hours’ worth of television shows on a digital hard drive without the need for cassette tapes.
From there, I really wanted one for myself. Unfortunately, it was too expensive. They were more expensive than television sets themselves, as any new technology will generally start out at high prices. I was always missing TV shows because I’d forget to throw in a tape. The ability to of record things digitally was perfect to me.
The idea of recording TV shows while I was out was a great one, and the concept of doing it all without a tape seemed really clean to me. I was also told that the quality would be just as good as it was while watching live. You might remember that cassette tapes generally gave you lower grade quality and sound when watching a program.
Everything sounded great to me and I ended up buying the Replay TV. The only drawback about it was that you’d have to download the TV guide via dial-up Internet to keep up with the listings.
Other than this, it essentially worked just as it does now, only it’d hold a few hours at a time.
The concept of DVR has evolved since then, and it even comes standard with many cable boxes out there. The recording capacity is much stronger than it used to be and the quality continues to improve.
I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years since I first read about this device. At the time, it seemed like one of the most futuristic pieces of technology I’d ever encountered. Today, it’s common in most households.
As I finish writing this article, I’m getting ready to curl up by the fireplace and watch my favorite recorded show. I wouldn’t be able to do this without my DVR.
In addition to technology, this writer likes to write about the electric fireplace insert and gas fireplace fans.
Tags: Computers, entertainment, hobbies, home accessories, internet, multimedia, product reviews, society, technology, television