Toshiba D-RW2 DVD Player/Recorder
Easy to use basic recorder (uses DVD -R)
As previous reviewers indicated, good basic DVD recorder.  I suggest a starter recorder to replace VHS; you could buy a combo VHS/DVD recorder to archive your VHS library, but (1) dubbing is real time (if a tape is 2 hours, it takes 2 hours to dub to DVD), and (2) most commercial VHS tapes are coded to prevent dubbing. <br /> <br />Thus, as a basic DVD recorder: <br />(1) Easy user interface menu system (not many options available). <br />(2) East to use menu to insert Titles to recorded material; be sure to allocate a separate time program for each show to have a separate title (don't string several off-the-programs together as 1 recording). <br />(3) Timer programing lacks options for MON-FRI and SAT-SUN; this means you must individually program each repeating show (for example, recording the Tonight Show w/ J Leno requires 5 individual slots --  very tedious and takes up 5 of 8 program slots).  My JVC DVD recorder has repeat functions (but user interface is very complicated). <br />(4) Using it as a 2nd recorder is OK if primary recorder is also DVD -R (I believe Panasonic uses +R, so not a good match). <br />(5) Box has drawing of input connections --  very nice.   Does NOT have HDMI or DVI output (for those who insist on digital Video input to their Large Screeens.  Primary output is Component.  Samsung is pushing HDMI digital output; their \\"upconverting\\" is a waste of money - - you can't improve on source material). <br />(6) For those with DV Video (digital tape), must dubb using S-Video (probably no degration of source DV tape) -  - no DV input (4 pin \\"mini\\" digital input -- my JVC has this). <br />(7) Relatively compact size (much shorter than a VHS); depth is reasonably shallow, but width is still wide bacause stylists want to give a substantial look).  Also very quiet while recording (has cooling fan).