Toshiba RD-XS54 DVD Recorder with 250 GB Hard Drive
Tons of features/ solid product
I decided to buy this DVR with a little bit of hesitation.  I'd seen bad reviews knocking the product for:  1) Fan is on all the time  2) Hard to use / can't record manually  3) Can't burn copy protected content to DVD-R.    Due to the features and relatively low price (~$350), I bought one with trepidation.  I'm pleased to report that the unit is far better than what I expected.  1)  The fan noise is acceptable.  Nonexistent if the unit is in an entertainment center.  It's much less than a computer and just sounds like a low white noise hum associated with high end electronics.  2)  The unit is surprisingly easy to use.  I did skim the manual to learn how to use it so that I wouldn't have to do trial and error.  The buttons are color labelled and the unit is intelligently laid out.  It's easy to set up a manual recording by going into settings in the TV guide menu.  TV Guide updated fine in my region (Tucson).  3)  Not being able to burn copy protected content isn't a big deal.  If I need to back up my VHS tapes onto DVD (for legal backup copies), there are devices that can be placed in the video stream to disable copy protection.    What I would improve:  -Don't like the IR receiver on the far right of the unit.  My entertainment center blocks it when the door is closed.  -I wish the network setup was a little easier to do.  Would much prefer the unit had built-in wireless or a USB port to throw on a USB wireless.    Overall, I love the features: TiVo-like capability without a subscription.  BIG hard drive.  Full access to features such as changing the recording quality.  Digital optical output.  S-Video output.  HDMI upconversion.  Network link (including setting up programs over email- although the email method could be friendlier).  Love the cables that came with the unit including an HDMI cable and Ethernet direct link cable for connecting a laptop directly to the unit.    Great product for the money.  --  Update:  Discovered a shortcut that makes going through TVGOS MUCH easier.  When moving through the shows, you don't have to go in 30 minute chunks.  Simply start typing a number or two on the keypad on the remote.  After a second, a shortcut menu pops up and asks if you want to skip forward by that # of hours, skip backwards, or go to that channel.  This makes it much easier to page ahead a day at a time by typing in \\"24\\" in TVGOS.