Mossberg’s Mailbox

Digital Video Recorders, Microsoft Money on the Mac and Droid

December 9, 2009 at 3:47 pm PT

Twenty years ago I could buy a VCR to record TV programs off the airwaves. Is there an analogous device, using digital recording instead of videotape, that doesn’t require a subscription, monthly fees etc.?

A: TiVo digital video recorders can capture free, over-the-air TV shows, if you connect your antenna to the TiVo box. Also, you can use a properly equipped computer to do this. Some Windows computers come with a built-in TV tuner, and Windows itself comes with functionality that allows you to watch TV shows and record them to the hard disk for later playback. You can also buy add-on TV tuners for PCs that lack them. Macs don’t come with hardware and software for watching and recording TV shows, but you can buy add-on hardware and software for Macs that do this as well.

I migrated to a Mac about two years ago. One program I keep using in Windows is Microsoft Money. Microsoft has announced it is discontinuing support for the product. Do you know of any Mac alternatives out there?

A: There’s a Mac version of Quicken, but it isn’t great. Intuit, which makes Quicken, is bringing out a new, supposedly better Mac version soon, but I haven’t seen it. There’s also a product called Moneydance for the Mac (and Windows) that looks decent, but I haven’t reviewed it. Another option is to keep using Windows and switch to Quicken on that platform, though converting from Money may be time-consuming.

My cellphone is ready to be replaced. I am considering the new Droid. although I wouldn’t use it for Internet browsing, but rather as a pure communications device and to keep my calendar and perhaps a few other apps. With such limited use, is it worth it to buy a Droid?

A: I’m not sure which “few other apps” you expect to use, so it’s hard to say which smartphone platform would be best for you, since the leading platforms have different varieties and numbers of apps. But if you really expect your use to be very limited, you might want to look for something that costs less than the $150-$200 a Droid would set you back. For instance, you can get a Palm Pixi for as little as $25 or its more powerful sibling, the Pre, for around $80. You can even get a BlackBerry for well under $100, or an iPhone for $99, or a different phone that runs the same Android operating system as the Droid does for $100 or less. I suggest you consider which apps you expect to run, or how much variety in apps you desire, then weigh your budget, consider which network you prefer and compare models.

You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online for free at the All Things Digital web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.

Tagged with airwaves, Android, Android Feature, antenna, Apple, aps, Blackberry, browsing, communications, computer, digital, Droid, Google, hard disk, hardware, Intuit, iPhone, Mac, Microsoft, Microsoft Money, Moneydance, monthly fees, operating system, Palm, Pixi, platform, playback, Pre, programs, Quicken, recording, shows, smart phone, software, subscription, television, TiVo, tuner, TV, VCR, videotape, Windows

comments so far. Add yours.

Anonymous

As Microsoft killed “Money”, had to find something different. discovered Moneydance which you mention above. Terrific product. You should do a review.
Anonymous

Walt mentioned Moneydance a few months ago as an alternative for Quicken on the Mac. I tried the free demo and ultimately bought the product. It is very easy to setup from my previous Quicken file and seems to meet all of my needs in tracking my finances.
swamijim

Moneydance has been more user-friendly than Quicken for years and a new, beta version for Macs is wonderful.
swamijim

Moneydance has been more user-friendly than Quicken for several years and a new, beta version for Mac, which I just began to use this week, is wonderful.
jeffburger

The forthcoming Quicken for Mac 2010, mentioned above, has a much better interface than the old Quicken for Mac but also some very, very serious shortcomings. Most astonishingly, it will offer no tracking of investment transactions; it will track only current balances and holdings, and then only for accounts that allow for downloading (you can't manually enter any investment data). Also, there will be no export to Intuit's own Turbotax. (All of this info comes from statements from the company and is confirmed by the latest beta.) A big disappointment after years of waiting for a better Quicken Mac product. As for Moneydance, it may be worth investigating but its latest version still has an ugly interface and I've so far been unable to successfully import all my Quicken Windows data into the program. Another key competitor in iBank, but it too has some serious shortcomings. I'm still using Quicken Windows via Boot Camp and hoping somebody can deliver a better Mac program soon.
bogie3

The answer to the VCR question is NO! How many families have their computer sitting next to their main TV? How many people want to watch TV on their computers? I'll answer both questions – very few! The TIVO requires a monthly fee.
randys123

I'll comment in regard to the cell phone q, if you are not signing up for a data plan, you will likely find that smartphone prices are not subsidized (discounted). Your choice will be getting the subsidized price on a voice/text phone device, or paying full price ($100's) on a smartphone.
Hamranhansenhansen

The idea is not to take a computer from the den and put it next to the TV to use it as a VCR. The idea is to purchase a computer to go next to the TV in the same way you used to purchase a VCR to go next to the TV.

Today, everything is a computer, even a pocket music player or phone. If you want to record video off the TV, you need a “video recording computer” not a “video cassette recorder”.
Hamranhansenhansen

If you want a smartphone without data plan, I recommend you get an iPod touch for the “smart” and a candy bar phone for the “phone”. This setup is like the portable version of what you typically see on an office desk: a phone and PC. You have 2 full devices, whereas a smartphone without a data plan is half a device.

In many cases you will be happy to have your PDA and apps and Web browser and email sitting flat in front of you like a PC while you are talking on the candy bar phone. It's a very productive setup.

A nice feature is the iPod touch is not just a PDA and netbook replacement, it's also a real iPod, you have the best audio, video, podcasts available on a portable device.
Hamranhansenhansen

I don't use it, but many people love Mint which runs on the Web so you can use it on a Mac or iPod or smartphone, not just on a PC.
RMitnick

On the VCR thing, just buy a DVD recorder. You can record right from the TV, or If you have just about any DVR, you can record on the DVR and then copy to the DVD recorder.
RMitnick

Just buy a DVD recorder. Record right from the TV, or, if you have just about any DVR, record on the DVR and then copy to the DVD recorder.
lowereastsider

The Magnavox H2160 hard disc recorder is another possible option for your reader that seeks a VCR replacement. The H2160 does everything an old style VCR did, but with much higher picture quality. And, it is much easier and simpler to use than a computer based DVR. It plugs into the same jacks that the VCR did and there is no extra hardware. The H2160 does not record in high-definition, but the picture quality is still very good. I use mine every day to record daytime TV while I am at work. It is one of the few audio-visual products I own that exceeds my expectations. However, there are rumours that the H2160 might not be around for much longer. The last time I checked, they were still available at Wal-Mart for about $230. There was a Philips version of the H2160, but I'm not sure if it is still available.
akbarsyed

TiVo requires monthly subscription to activate and record over the air TV shows in HD. EchoStar DTVPal DVR is an over the air receiver and digital video recorder with no subscription fees required. You can record and play back your free local digital broadcast in high-quality HD. This device is available at Sears.
akbarsyed

TiVo requires monthly subscription to activate and record over the air TV shows in HD. EchoStar DTVPal DVR is an over the air receiver and digital video recorder with no subscription fees required. You can record and play back your free local digital broadcast in high-quality HD. This device is available at Sears.
robertsterling

Your reader asked for a way to digitally record TV shows without a monthly fee. You clearly and correctly informed him that TIVO would record but you did not mention their monthly fee. They charge a small monthly fee but it is worth it.