Philips HDRW720 DVD Recorder with 120 GB Hard Drive
Great machine for the non-idiot !!!
I can't believe the number of bad reviews I have read that contains one of two things: <br /> <br />1) It doesn't work with Sat. TV Duh!!!  Read the product information before you buy.  Anybody that has DirectTV or Dish needs to buy their PVR receiver to get PVR functionality that is convenient and has high quality.  This unit will allow you to archive your Sat. PVR recordings to DVD but is way over kill for this simple task. <br />2) Then reading about all the moron using the RF output on channel 3 or 4 to watch this DVD recorder on there TV.  Or using RF input to record from VCR or cable box output.  WHAT ARE YOU IDIOTS THINKING?  Anybody spending this much money on a AV device better at least use SVIDEO in/out.  The quality of any RF output is terrible and these same people are probably still listening to the mono output of the channel 3 modulator on their TVs. <br /> <br />Legitimate gripes: <br />- Poorly written manual. <br />- TV Guide not available on all digital cable systems. <br />- Non-TV Guide operation is minimal (Try using TIVO with no service). <br />- Early firmware had lots of shortcomings (New version CF3.1 is pretty good) <br />- Feature rich product that most over 50 are going to have a hard time mastering.  I wouldn't purchase this unit for my parents. <br />- Editing video is not as easy or flexible as it could be. <br />- Doesn't allow on the fly quality setting per timer recording. Have to set the mode the recorder uses until you change it later. <br />- Doesn't control digital camcorder through he DV input like some other DVD recorders.  Other recorders allow you to FF/RR/pause/stop/play from the recorder's remote control.  This helps a lot for non-HD DVD recorders that you have one attempt to get everything just right.  With this unit you can just start the whole tape recording to HD and edit the video on the HD before make a DVD. <br />- Philips warranty requires you to send your unit in for repair.  They will not exchange.  There is nota large number of repair centers in the US so shipping time can cause a few weeks of down time plus the repair time. <br /> <br />Great features: <br />- Best fee free PVR excluding homemade Media PC's. <br />- Decent size HD 120 gigs <br />- DCDi by Faroudja.  (This is a great de-interlacing technology for the Progressive scan output.) <br />- Fast HD to DVD recording 2hr show takes about 15min in 3hr quality mode (that is 8x real-time). <br />- Multitasks well. Can archive show to DVD while scheduled program is recording to HD. Can watch DVD while scheduled program is recording to HD. Can watch HD show while new scheduled show is recording to HD. <br />- Time/Date auto-set with TVGUIDE info continuously. <br />- Allows virtually unlimited number of shows to be scheduled to record via TV Guide screen. No preset limits of 10 or 15 like other DVD recorders.  TV Guide web sites says the number of show timers is unlimited.  If the on screen guide doesn't work for you, the number of presets is limited. <br />- Has a time shift buffer that is always running recording when the unit is on. <br /> <br />I was looking for a PVR and not a DVD recorder.  I already have a DVD recorder with timer recording that I don't use any more after getting this machine.  I found that 95% of what I watch on TV is not recorded to the HD and watched later and never archived to DVD.  I archive DVDs for the kids or movie transfers to the PC. <br /> <br />I would only recommend this product to people that have analog cable for most of there channels they watch or have a compatible digital cable technology and don't mind slow channel changes. <br /> <br />If you are not using SVIDEO to connect your digital cable to your TV don't purchase this product. Keep using your crappy VCR and enjoy it (Picture will look the pretty much the same between DVD and VCR with RF connection any ways). <br /> <br />