Philips DVDR985 Progressive-Scan DVD Recorder and Player
defective out of the box...time-wasting customer service
I was very disappointed with the dvdr985.  <br />Upon installation, the unit would NOT record a color signal from the  s-video inputs. Color from the RF input was OK, just no s-video color.  Everything from the s-vid input was recorded as black-and-white. After troubleshooting a bit, I verified that cabling and signal TO the unit was fine....the defect lies in what the unit does with the signal after it's delivered.  After several lengthy phone calls and being on-hold for most of the time, having my call dropped and misrouted by Philips reps, and updating the firmware (to no avail) from the Philips website on my own in the meantime ( it turns out that I saved Philips the cost of sending me a firmware upgrade on CD that one rep suggested), the reps said I had no recourse but to send the unit in for warranty at my own expense...that means incurring costs for shipping, the long wait, etc.  I will think about this a bit before i commit to sinking MORE money into a unit that was defective out of the box. My guess for the cause of the problem:  a cold solder joint or a defective s-video input connector.  Too bad that at Philips, product design quality and customer service appears to be nonexistent.  <br />My advice:  install a TV/dvr card in a PC and record to hard disk, burning on DVD only those items you wish to keep.  It will cost little, if any, more than the cost of a Philips DVD recorder and will be much more reliable and flexible.