With so many devices providing a wealth of features in the DVR market we are going to examine two devices to see if the usual set-top box still holds its appeal next to a portable DVR.

Much of the progress made in creating consumer electronics has usually been in updating old devices with shiny new counterparts that are better, faster and stronger. Think about it- After the cassette Walkman became the CD player, after that comes the MP3 player. DVD replaced VHS, which replaced Betamax, all the while each device offering new potential. Now the digital video recorder is moving in on the DVD’s status as the currently preferred recording method. But the choices here become less clear, as both traditional set-top boxes and portable players compete in the same market and it’s hard to say which the superior is. We put the question to you examining the Neuros OSD and the Archos AV500. Let’s face them off-

For consideration here are the Neuros OSD and the Archos AV500. The first is a traditional set-top box that allows users to record and play back their favourite television content with complete control. The second is a mobile digital video recorder that lets users watch videos on the go including those they record. Both versatile machines can lay claim to the title of ‘all-in-one DVR’, though both do things very differently.