A + or - for sky? (Sky Plus (Sky+))

Member Name: Ryandinho

Product:	Sky Plus (Sky+)
Date:	23/10/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Less videos!

Disadvantages: No auto change

Just recently I upgraded my faithful Sky box that I've had for the last 9 years to a new Sky+ box. So far I've found some good points on it but there are also some features that I think could be improved.

First off, the good. The main feature on Sky+ for me is being able to record programmes straight onto the hard disk contained within the box rather than having to rush around the house trying to find an empty video to record on. Although this sounds simple there's been many an occasion when I've almost injured myself on the stairs trying to get to the TV in time to start taping for someone in my family! Being able to just set what programmes I want to record up to a week in advance is a big help and means that there's even less excuse now to miss a programme.

The other main feature highlighted in the adverts are being able to pause and fast forward live TV. So far I haven't had any reason to use this and if I'm honest there's not a lot that I'd be panicking to pause if someone came in to interrupt. Even if I did use the pause button I think mostly I'd end up using the fast forward one just as quickly.

The Anytime TV aspect allows you to see the best of Sky TV from the previous week at a time that's suitable to you. Again I haven't used this feature yet but looking at the programmes that are on it I don't think I'll be using it much either. Anything I want to watch I already know about and have recording anyway. Anything else I either don't want to watch or just don't want to add to my already too busy TV viewing schedule!

The worst part about the Sky+ box is the lack of the automatic channel change button. I always found it handy to be able to have the channel changing itself when I knew there was something coming up that I wanted to see. Obviously if I'm sitting watching TV this isn't a problem but when I was doing something else or trying to record then I thought it was a great feature.

This brings me onto the other worst part of Sky+. If you're living with other people who all add to the TV planner you could find it difficult to get watching your programmes when you want to. You can only watch something you've recorded on the hard disk if nobody else is watching anything. This means watching a recording takes up the whole Sky part of TV so that no one else can watch anything else. With a DVD or video this was never the case. Then again, if Sky let you do this they'd lose out on all that money they're making from their multi-room system.

To upgrade to Sky+ is usually £50 I think although sometimes you can get yourself a deal on a special offer or by telling them you are thinking about cancelling your sky subscription. Since it doesn't cost anything extra each month I think its worth getting just for the handiness of not building up a lot of videos you will need to catch up on. If you're happy enough with using videos or DVDs to record onto then I wouldn't be overly worried about upgrading from your normal Sky box.

Summary: A plus from sky