Toshiba updates VARDIA line of HDD / DVD recorders

It's been nearly a year to the day since Toshiba unleashed a slew of VARDIA updates -- the RD-A600 notwithstanding -- but recently the firm got official with four new combo recorders. Starting things off is the October-bound RD-W301 (¥90,000; $785), which is the only newcomer to record to HDD, DVD and VHS, and it also includes a 300GB drive, HDMI / S-Video / composite outputs and a hybrid TV tuner. The RD-E301 (¥80,000; $698), which is also slated to ship next month, shuns the VHS crowd but maintains the other features already mentioned. As for the RD-S301 (¥90,000; $785), it keeps the 300GB hard drive but doubles the amount of built-in hybrid tuners and tosses in an Ethernet jack for good measure. The flagship RD-S601 ups the ante even more with a DV input, i.LINK connectivity and a 600GB HDD, and should be available for ¥120,000 ($1,047) when it lands alongside the S301 in November.

[Via Impress]

[Andrew @ Sep 27th 2007 10:12AM]

Call me old fashioned, but that thing looks purty.

[PerfectTommy @ Sep 27th 2007 10:16AM]

What is this "VHS" thing you speak of?

[Xzavier @ Sep 27th 2007 10:46AM]

Damn Engadget for making me translate that webpage myself!

:P

[Liqwid @ Sep 27th 2007 10:51AM]

And it even matches the new 3rd gen HD DVD players!

[Jimmy @ Sep 27th 2007 11:00AM]

$1000 and no HD DVD recorder?

[AndyG @ Sep 27th 2007 3:52PM]

The big myth all of these manufacturers buy into is they think consumers want to make there own Blu-Ray or HDD DVD disks. I know all I want is a Tivo like HDD PVR with two digital tuners for picking up unscrambled digital cable TV.

Making Blu-Ray or HD DVD disks is a waste of time and adds extra cost to the price of the units.

[ztiger93 @ Sep 27th 2007 10:20PM]

actually, i do want to make my own hddvds of some of the things i watch. and this for a grand at 600GB is way better than sharp's bluray charging more than twice as much for half the hard drive. still too expensive, but maybe in 2 yrs it'll come down in cost and be worth a look.