The AP has a review of the latest Scientific-Atlanta DVR, the Explorer 8300, available in some Time Warner Cable areas. The two-tuner unit’s most unique feature is probably its ability to steam content back over the in-house cable network to up to three other set-top boxes. All in all it sounds pretty promising, but as is standard operating procedure for company-provided DVRs, you should probably hang tight until the guys at AVSForum have had a few months to put the 8300 through its paces.
Also mentioned in the article is that Lawrence, Kansas, is one of the test markets of Diego’s Moxi set-top boxes (Sunflower Cable?). I had a chance to play with a prototype a few months back and it was pretty fantastic. I’m looking forward to the reviews from those users. (Thanks, Vic!)
DVRs Can Be Used All Around House [Yahoo]
Update: Reader Jonathon Robinson gives us more info after the jump.
I have one of these (I’m a TWC customer in Manhattan). There are three things I’d like to share with you re: this post:
1. There are two versions of the 8300 (Four, actually… two for each
format, SD and HD). One (the only one currently available from TW) is a
standalone – no home network streaming. It is called the 8300. The
second, the 8300 Multi-Room, isn’t available yet… at least not to me.
2. The 8300 HD is FAR SUPERIOR to the 8000HD in two ways… first, image
quality is much, much better. Second, It can stretch 4:3 HD, whereas with
the 8000HD, you’re stuck with vertical sidebars on a 4:3 HD image whether
you like it or not. Both units can, of course, stretch and zoom 4:3 SD.
3. The software is improved. I’m assuming they could re-flash (or
whatever) even the older 8000 boxes. But if they can, they haven’t. The
8300’s software allows you to choose whether to record first-run or all
episodes of a show when you first choose to record an entire series. The
older software defaults to all episodes and you have to jump through a few
menu hoops to change it.
When TW installed the 8300, the guy INSISTED the operations and
capabilities of the two boxes were identical. The man is a liar. I still
have an 8000HD in my living room and the 8300HD in my bedroom. But at
first opportunity, I’m trekking to TimeWarner Express with 8000 in-hand to
demand a switcheroo.
