I can see now one of the reasons I was getting confusalbobbed with the Dvd recorder wotsit.
HDD means that it has a hard drive, not that it just records High Definition tv, is that right.
So when Dvd recorders were described as HDD and HD that is two separate functions. And they wonder why peeps get confused. I have just been reading John Lewis's buying guide. I would not buy from them. The local shop will deliver it and set it up for me free of charge, and they are very good. I definitely want to support local shops. Their prices are, surprisingly, very competitive.
I think I will purchase a separate recorder, rather than upgrade the Sky box. Twice now, I have had to have the skybox replaced, under warranty, something to do with the burning out of the search facility in the dish. If I have lots of programmes recorded on the skybox and it goes wrong, then presumably I loose those programmes.
From your very kind explanations, Ian, Potsy and Night Train I understand that:
I can record direct onto the hard drive, then edit what I want to keep onto a Dvd, (rewriteable) although in time that Dvd may degrade.
With a hard drive, I can pause a programme, then catch up, is that called "Time Lapse"?
If the Dvd Player has the right input/outputs, I can show photos on the tv.
Free view is probably included on the machine, in case I wish to cancel my Sky sub.
Tea and a mince pie for my advisors?