Cyberhome CH-DVR1600 DVD Recorder
Great value for the buck, but not for everyone
I must admit I was skeptical when I first saw this DVD recorder offered for less than $90, but I figured it was worth the gamble. I purchased the CH-DVR 1600MU1 in December. <br /> <br />Now after using it almost daily for the past three months, I think it was well worth the money. However, I did find some problems which I will explain later.  <br /> <br />First the positives -  <br /> <br />The recording quality is great. I usually use the SP mode and can record two one hour TV shows (I am a big Law & Order and CSI fan, and on those nights when I can't watch the broadcast, this unit has worked great!). The LP mode is a bit blockly, but I have used it when I need to record more than two hours. The high quality mode is also nice, but I like to record more than one hour of programming per DVD. The below VHS-like quality of the LP mode has discouraged me from trying the other longer recording modes. <br /> <br />Timer works well - The menu does take some getting used to, but it becomes easy to use once you have spent some time figuring it out. (If you do buy one, be sure to keep the manual next to the remote for the first few weeks.) As other reviewers have pointed out, if you can use TiVo, you should be able to use this product without any problems. <br /> <br />Does a good job with DVD+RW media. After I purchased this unit from Best Buy, my next stop was a Staples store where I bought a 10-pack of Staples branded DVD+RW discs on sale. I have recorded, deleted, reformatted and then recorded some many shows on those discs and they show no signs of failing soon. But I have had mixed results with the DVD+R discs. See below. <br /> <br />And what I do not like - <br /> <br />Do not buy this product for your parents! My dad just turned 72 and I know he would have a lot of problems with this unit. The documentation is skimpy, and as I noted above, the menus are confusing at first. I would only recommend this product to people who are somewhat tech savvy, unless you want toget a lot of support calls. <br /> <br />DVD+R burning results have been mixed. I picked up a stack of 100 DVD+R CompUSA-branded dics and was able to make about a dozen DVDs before it started giving me messages about using poor quality media. I tried using Memorex DVD+R discs and those haven't worked either. I just read where another reviewer had a similar problem and was able to fix it by burning a DVD-RW disc and then he was able to burn DVD+R discs again. I will try that myself, and hopefully I can resume burning DVD+R discs. <br /> <br />Remote is too small. Hopefully, your fingers are smaller than mine. This remote is among the tiniest I have encountered and navigating through the menus with these buttons requires some practice and patience. You can probably purchase a larger remote from another manufacturer that might resolve the problem, but Cyberhome should have made this thing larger in the first place!  <br /> <br />Conclusion -  <br /> <br />So after using the Cyberhome for a few months, I do like it, feel that I have gotten my money's worth, and give it five stars because if you can figure it out, this product does a lot of great things and yet doesn't cost a lot of money. <br /> <br />Still, I don't like the tiny remote and want to find a DVD recorder with a more user-friendly menu system. I have been watching the prices decline for brand name DVD recorders and plan to buy a more expensive unit in the next few months and I will then use the Cyberhome as a second DVD recorder with my Panasonic video camera.     <br />