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Learn: Home » Toshiba SD-H400: TiVo recording and DVD playback in one box!
An all-in-one entertainer
One of the coolest things about the SD-H400 is being able to control the digital video recorder and the DVD player from a single remote. Though since the remote pulls double duty, the TiVo-related buttons aren't quite as "thumb-friendly" as those on the Sony SVR-2000's remote (a really intuitive design that deserves a place in the Remote Control Hall of Fame). The Toshiba's remote includes multibrand TV functions, so it also controlled my several-years-old Sony TV after I punched in the appropriate code. The DVD player appears as another source in the TiVo menu, but once you're actually watching a DVD, you see typical DVD player menus. My TV is the conventional (non-HD) type, so I wasn't able to take advantage of the SD-H400's progressive-scan output (but the capability is nice to have for when I upgrade to an HDTV-ready TV). Still, picture quality for both DVD and DVR was sharp and clean.
Take 2 - Series2, that is
Because this is a TiVo Series2? recorder, it offers flexibility and future-readiness that were not available on earlier TiVo recorders. The SD-H400's Series2 designation means that it can be used to access digital music and photo files stored on your computer. To make it happen, you have to first sign up for TiVo's Home Media Option (currently $99), as well as purchase a USB network adapter (there's one designed for wired networks and one for wireless networks). I recently set up a wireless network using Apple's AirPort, and I plan to report on these features in a future article.
Conclusion
The new options and functionality of TiVo Series2 recorders like the SD-H400 should help these devices finally achieve the kind of mass popularity that has been predicted for them since their introduction several years ago. Once you've experienced this level of control over TV viewing, it's difficult — very difficult — to go back to the old way.
One of the coolest things about the SD-H400 is being able to control the digital video recorder and the DVD player from a single remote. Though since the remote pulls double duty, the TiVo-related buttons aren't quite as "thumb-friendly" as those on the Sony SVR-2000's remote (a really intuitive design that deserves a place in the Remote Control Hall of Fame). The Toshiba's remote includes multibrand TV functions, so it also controlled my several-years-old Sony TV after I punched in the appropriate code. The DVD player appears as another source in the TiVo menu, but once you're actually watching a DVD, you see typical DVD player menus. My TV is the conventional (non-HD) type, so I wasn't able to take advantage of the SD-H400's progressive-scan output (but the capability is nice to have for when I upgrade to an HDTV-ready TV). Still, picture quality for both DVD and DVR was sharp and clean.
 User-friendly menus make it simple to choose from three playback options — live TV, the "Now Playing on TiVo" list of programs you've recorded, or a DVD. And picking a show to record is just as easy. |
Take 2 - Series2, that is
Because this is a TiVo Series2? recorder, it offers flexibility and future-readiness that were not available on earlier TiVo recorders. The SD-H400's Series2 designation means that it can be used to access digital music and photo files stored on your computer. To make it happen, you have to first sign up for TiVo's Home Media Option (currently $99), as well as purchase a USB network adapter (there's one designed for wired networks and one for wireless networks). I recently set up a wireless network using Apple's AirPort, and I plan to report on these features in a future article.
Conclusion
The new options and functionality of TiVo Series2 recorders like the SD-H400 should help these devices finally achieve the kind of mass popularity that has been predicted for them since their introduction several years ago. Once you've experienced this level of control over TV viewing, it's difficult — very difficult — to go back to the old way.
