Sony RDR-GX300 DVD Recorder
Pick the GX300 over Philips 985 any day
I had trouble following what Decon Coder and Hockeyrules wrote in their reviews although they both mentioned something that really mattered to me - they were both experienced Philips 985 users.<br /><br />Now that I've had this product for about a week, it all makes sense to me what they were trying to say.<br /><br />I couldn't take another month of Disk Errors after giving the 985 nearly two years of chances.  It killed me to start recording and go to bed only to wake up the next morning to see that a Disc Error message terminated my recording.<br /><br />I convinced my wife to let me have an early fathers day present to take advantage of a $349 sale price.  I've cranked it up and recorded from every source possible, Cable, VCR, camcorder, etc.  Error free every time!<br /><br />Hockeyrules review is very insightful.  There are some feature that Philips offers that Sony should swipe (changing index pictures, splitting titles, needing to check to make sure the right recording speed is used, etc.).  It's why I give this product a 4 rating instead of a 5.<br /><br />The thing I am amazed at is the picture quality.  I can play it on any of my players or computers and it's just like watching a rented DVD.<br /><br />If you buy it, put it through a heavy workload right away.  That way you can return it to the store for a full refund knowing that you gave it a shot.  I did and I plan on keeping it because I haven't made one coaster yet!<br /><br />GX300 is worth the investment.