Conclusion

With so many devices claiming to be an ‘all-in-one’ solution to any DVR task, it is important to understand the needs a device must fill before looking at its shiny feature set. While both the Archos AV500 and Neuros OSD are excellent digital video recorders, time must be taken to decide which DVR solution best suits you. They differ fundamentally regarding feature sets, understandable since the AV500 is portable and the Neuros has access to the Internet, a common division between the portable and home systems available.

The Neuros performs excellently as part of a home entertainment system, enabling a wealth of fancy options to compliment its purpose. The Archos takes a more casual approach, with DVR functionality acting as one of the extra features of a respectable portable media player. As such it is designed to move around, and doesn’t fit into a home as well, be it in an entertainment system or just under the TV. The right tool is required for any job, and with digital video recorders, as with anything, it is important that priorities are fulfilled before additional features, even if those priorities are themselves merely added extras.