Toshiba RD-XS34 DVD Recorder with 160-GB Hard Drive
Great unit after the firmware upgrade and learning curve
After learning how to use this machine, and applying a factory-provided firmware upgrade, we have been very satisfied.   There are many features on this dvr.   We use this dvr to record home school classes from Bob Jones Homesat.    <br /> <br />The learning curve on the machine is a bit steep.   The user's guide is very helpful, but there's so much to learn.    The remote control can inflame one's carpal-tunnel syndrome if you do a lot of chaptering like we do.    It takes a little time to learn all the buttons. <br /> <br />We experienced freezes while recording a program at the same time of chaptering/titling another.   This caused much frustration when we would lose several hours worth of chaptering/titling work.   We would recommend highly that you receive the firmware upgrade from Toshiba, RDXS34V1-2.   This was the latest upgrade available at the time.   We still have an occasional freeze, but the amount of data we lose is limited to just the title that was being edited at the time.    Usually, turning the unit off and back on suffices to fix, but occasionaly we still have to follow Toshiba's suggestion of unplugging the unit for 10 seconds. <br /> <br />From what I could gather from other reviews on Amazon and Google hits, I believe this upgrade is also needed in order to change the time on the machine.    We needed to synchronize the clock with the BJHomesat unit.  <br /> <br />Toshiba's customer service was for the most part satisfactory.   We had no long wait times, and most of the folks we talked to were knowledgeable.        <br /> <br />The TVGuide feature we did not need and it's a good thing because it appears to be a bit unreliable.    Some days it's there, other days it's not.      The Timeslip feature is great for pausing live-tv. <br /> <br />Overall, we have been very satisfied with the machine for what our needs are.