[ghporter]

I'm looking at replacing my now failed VCR, and I want to move into the 21st century when I do, so I am looking at DVD recorders. I like the basic features that most recorders equipped with hard drives have, particularly the "pause live TV" type features. At the same time, I need something I can make work with my DirecTV receiver so I can program just one box for recording the programs I want to record.

Can anyone share their experience and suggest a product that doesn't cost a huge amount?

Thanks!

[residentEvil]

Do you want to record HD programming...those are pricey

If no, then check out the Panasonic line. I have a year oldr 120GB hard drive model (for whatever reason, i believe they only sell a 100GB now) and it has built in TV Guide program guide. Standard DVD player features including progressive scan 480p playback and DVD duplicating (of non protected DVDs of course hehehe). At the time I bought it, I had WOW cable and now have DishNetwork. The recommended use is to have the recorder be your control to change channels with the supplied IR sensor for cable/dish receiver but I didn't like that. That setup allows you to use the built in software to do all your smart recording based TV Guide program data. However, I have mine set up like a VCR would be and set all my recording by hand (date, time, channel) via S-Video from my sat receiver into the DVD recorder. I have recored HD programming but the hard drive (or direct to DVD recording) won't allow for widescreen/720p/1080i recording.

I always record to the hard drive first, then edit out commericials if it is a keeper program that I want to keep (like the 4 hour 9/11 special on a few months back).

I paid right around $329 for mine. My main reason to buy it was to dup all my home made 8mm and VHS soccer games, trips/vacations/etc. Pretty cheap solution. I record the 8mm/VHS to hard drive and do all the editing there. The software is pretty nice and you can edit frame by frame, time stamps, etc...change orders and create chapters. You can't create nice menus like iMovie/iDVD can but well, for archival 8mm/VHS source, it works wonderful.

I have found two normal DVD players that don't play the discs made from the Panasonic though. One was a Hitachi model, probably 5 years old and the other was a TV/DVD combo machine from Toshiba. I've had no problems playing the discs in several Sony models, an H/K in my home theater and a new Samsung I just bought.

[Doofy]

I've got the same problem. Been checking out the Panasonic jobbies, particularly the DMREH80V, which the DVD-RW/VHS/HD in it. 200 Gb, any disc you can throw at it including DVD-RAM. After a read of the manual, it seems just the job.

(note: Panasonic web site - or at least the UK one - doesn't appear to like Safari. Maybe best try Netscape)

[ghporter]

I'm hoping to find a decent model that supports all the varieties of media. Lite-On has one, the LVW-5045, that supports everything (they call it their "exclusive “Allwrite” technology" but it just means it uses one of their more capable drives) and has a 160GB hard drive. It sounds great for the price ($300US), but I've seen a lot of reviews that say it's not "all that." Basically they say "it's a lot like a VCR." Is that a problem with a DVR/DVD recorder, particularly when that's basically what I want it for?

[BRussell]

So what's the difference between one of these devices and Tivo?

[Teronzhul]

1. DVD recorder built in
2. Typically the standalone units use the tv-guide+ signal to download programming info and don't require a subscription service like tivo.

[tooki]

Have any of the DVD recorders been updated to do DVD±R DL recording?

tooki

[osxrules]

I have a Panasonic DVD recorder. I recommend the DVD-RAM kind over the DVD+-RW kind because of the time-slip. That lets you watch movies while recording them and does the pause live TV thing. My DVD recorder doesn't have a HD. I was thinking about getting one but it's just something else to go wrong.

The way I see it, DVDs can be replaced but HDs need you to take the machine in for repair. I reckon they are easier to damage in power cuts and things. I've worn out one of my DVD-RAM discs after 2 years and I just threw it out.

The advantage to HDs is the recording time though. My discs just hold 6 hours maximum but it does encourage me to watch less TV .

What I don't get is why my DVD recorder is so big. It's the size of a VCR but it's not doing anything my Mac Mini couldn't do. It is about 10 times smaller and has RAM, a graphics card, firewire, usb, DVD burner and a hard drive. All the DVD recorder has is a TV tuner card and a DVD burner. Wasted space IMO.

Of course a Mini with a TV tuner is still too expensive but if you already had a Mini then it might be an option.

After comparing prices on Kelkoo, I would probably go for the JVC DR-MH20. It has an 80GB HD, supports DVD+-RW and DVD-RAM, VCD, SVCD, MP3, CDRW. Average retail price is about £250. Either that or the Panasonic DMR-EH50M (I have the E50) for the same price of about £250. Check kelkoo anyway:

http://audiovisual.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/...recorders.html