501 owners: Upgrading your PVR?

[Mark Holtz]

This is directed to the 501 owners. Please take into consideration that hard drive prices are constantly dropping, so even larger hard drives could be cheaper in about a year.

[Karl Foster]

I'm not a 501 owner (so I didn't vote), but as an example, I bought a Western Digital 120GB hard drive for one of my UTV's and it was $117.00 back in May. I have seen new Seagate Barracuda 80GB hard drives for less than $100 on EBay. Amazing how inexpensive they have become.

[cnsf]

I think having purchased my 501s at $99 each, there would have to be a serious cost savings for any type of upgrade. More than happy to use the Manage function on each one for now.

[Mark Holtz]

There may be good, solid reasons why Dish doesn't want the customer to be replacing the hard drives on the PVRs. If done wrong, you can fry the unit, plus there may be possible drive limitations. (I think the limit on the DishPlayer was 45 GB before problems started occurring).

Western Digital, at this time, has a 200GB hard drive, and a 320GB is around the corner. Dare I imagine the record times possible?

[Karl Foster]

I know with the UTV, there is a limitation of 137GB. A 120GB hard drive affords up to 105 hours of recording time.

[Unthinkable]

I voted for sticking with my 501. I'd love to get a 721 right now, but I think I'll wait for the price to drop on it before making any serious moves. I'd also like to have the 921 available today.

[John Corn]

I'd like to have another 721, but it's just to much money. I wanna see what features Dish plans on adding to the 721, right now there isn't nothing to brag about.

[Mark Holtz]

Right now, with some juggling, I can work with the 501. The 721 is more than what I need, and the Superstations pack gives me a few more options in regards to programming.

[TimL]

With my wife taping soaps , 2 episodes of Charmed daily along with various other shows and my taping 7 nights of B/W Overnight on Game Show Network, we can go through 15-20 Hrs. of PVR time on the 501 real quickly. I would like a 508 (since the 501's are out of production) as a second unit for the bedroom TV to replace my 301. Would give me 105 total Hours of recording time which should be enough (Hopefully)

Tim Lones

[DarrellP]

Neither, I am waiting for the 921. That should be an option in your poll.

[William_K_F]

Neither for me too, as I am waiting for a 921 too.