What is the difference between a PC-based DVR and an Standalone DVR?
A PC-based digital video recorder is basically a personal computer that has been modified with hardware and software to work as a DVR. An Standalone digital video recorder is a machine that has been manufactured specifically to work as a DVR. In Standalone DVRs there is typically one circuit board with software burned into the chip. There used to be significant differences in features between the PC-based and the Standalone machines. But with recent advancements in the Standalone DVR technologies the differences are becoming less. The advantages of an Standalone digital video recorder is that they are extremely stable and reliable since they contain fewer parts. The software is often written in basic machine code or Linux code which tends to be more stable than Windows software. The advantages of the PC-based digital video recorders is that they are easier to interact with because you use the on-screen menus and a mouse (as opposed to Standalone which you interact with more like a VCR
