SanDisk V-Mate

November 4, 2006 06:42

4.0/5
Set up is fast & easy, firmware upgrade was also easy. User's manual is very sketchy as this is such a new product. Tried all the 4-digit codes provided for DirecTV receivers, but no go. put a call into SanDisk tech support--the tech seemed totally uneducated about this product--it's very new. However, she took great care to document the problem & promised an answer and call-back in 24 hours. Also bought a Sansa e280 about a month ago, and the video I recorded with the V-Mate transfered perfectly. Playback was awesome--very sharp video for such a small screen and 30 fps. All in all, an inexpensive, cool little device for getting that video onto your mp3 (phone/handheld, etc.)... also accepts just about every flash memory card ever made. I have no idea if this would work with an ipod, since i have never and will never own one.

- CeliaTrout

January 30, 2008 04:55

4.0/5
For what I paid ($76 shipped), I am so far happy with this product. Hopefully it will last a year or more until an ATSC model with 1080i is released. The remote is narrower than a credit card and is impossible to see in dim light since it's all black. Have watched recorded output from the V-mate on a 27 inch CRT HDTV and the video is as good or even better than my DVD+RW recorder. I especially like the IR transmitter function for scheduled recording. No big deal with real time recording if I'm not sitting there. The V-Mate automatically found the code for my Samsung SIR T-351 HDTV tuner - it took a little while.

- jadziasman

October 23, 2007 07:40

4.5/5
Once the firmware update is done to fix the problem I have with it, I'll be a happy camper.

- Jeff Lovitt

June 30, 2007 04:03
Excellent
2.0/5
I had high hopes for this recorder but it turns out I'm still waiting for someone to get video recording right. Tivo2Go *almost* had it right but it was so crippled that it became almost useless.

Which brings me to the VMate. Mostly I had a decent experience with it once you got over its inherent limitations (real-time recording). However, it's practically useless to me because there's no video pass-through while recording at 640x480. I am NOT happy with staring at a blank TV screen for the entire duration of a recording. (And updating to the latest firmware didn't help.)

- jjankechu

April 13, 2007 06:22

4.5/5
It does what it says in real time. But because of the spped of conversion the best quality is ok. It takes sony media manger about 5 -8 hours on my computer to convert a 1.5 hour movie to the highest quality MP-4 PSP format. I am going to abuse my v-mate!

- Doug A Moller

February 20, 2007 08:49
Excellent
2.0/5
The V-mate is very easy to set up and you won't have to read the manual to figure out how to schedule a recording. Resolution is OK if you are playing back on TV (it won't be incredible, but it won't be unwatchable either). I think this device is much better suited to play back video on a portable device. This product could be so much better if it had some basic functions: there is no s-video hookup, you cannot schedule a recording for channels over 199 (if like me, you have a cable or satellite system that goes to channel 999, you're screwed). You will have to manually record programs that are on channel 200 or above. Also, the menu takes up the entire screen - so you cannot see what is playing on the tv. When a program is recording, the picture is reduced to 1/2 the size of the TV - would have been nice to just put a little red flashing dot in the corner. The remote is tiny and all black and difficult to read - and all the buttons are the same size. Finally, the IR emitter works well as they provide codes for cable/vcr boxes, etc.; however, my cable remote no longer functions properly and the cable company can't seem to figure out why. As the saying goes, good intention with poor execution.

- Tech2005

February 12, 2007 03:18

4.0/5
THe Sandisk vmate needs a better manual. One is left to figure it out for themselves when it comes to connecting other portable devices. It only gives instructions for vcrs,cable tvs and tvs.Its greatest advantage is that it can do time recordings by the date week month just like a vcr,and very good copies in high resolution. I love it. For those who are complaining about coposit connection You can get female to male adapters that have one eight inch plugs.

- sniperox

February 6, 2007 05:00
Terrible
0.5/5
I bought this item from Circuit City for $129 and it does NOT work!! I have a T-Mobile MDA phone that is also a PDA Windows Mobile 5.0. The memory cards are MiniSD. I tried every possible combination of settings (3gp, ISO, MP4, PSP) and nothin works. Ironically, in a strange quirk...the T-Mobile MDA is one of the preset choices and it still does not work.

- jhechotek

December 21, 2006 08:45

3.5/5
This unit works great when recording in 320x240. When I did record in 640x480 its playback had much to be desired, as it was very choppy and jerky. When I played the 320x480 back it looked pritty good. However it was not quite as clear as a VCR. If the 640x480 did work it would look much better. The overall use of this machine is pritty simple. One thing I did not care for is that it says you can play these videos back on a computer, well so far no luck wiht that. I can play the sound, but no picture will come through. Like I said it is a nice item, but Sandisk has a little bit of tweeking to do before it can replace the quality of the trusted VCR or Digital Hard Disk Recorder. Maybe someday they will get it right. Untill then...

- llamachef