Philips DVDR75 Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder
Difficult &amp; incomplete manual makes for rough time operating
I bought this as a replacement for my VCR and to use with my Tivo to record movies and shows from its hard drive.  I therefore installed it with my Tivo and the set up required me to use a different output source from the DVDR to the TV than the default output.  I searched the manual for more than an hour trying to find how to switch output sources.  There were no instructions anywhere in the manual telling you how to switch from one output source (e.g. EXT-1 or EXT-2) to another.  I finally called Philips and asked them how to switch outputs.  They talked me through the process.  I then asked where the information was in the manual.  They told me that they did NOT include the information in the manual!  The reason they gave me was that &quot;they didn't consider it important enough.&quot;  I think that instructions on how to switch between output sources from the DVDR is extremely important.  Additionally, every time the power goes out, the DVDR reverts to the default output, so be sure to write down (or memorize) the steps to make the switch because you will have to do it again.<br />I am reasonably pleased with the recording and playing of DVDs on the device, but have not had much luck playing recorded DVDs in other DVD players.  Further, the manual is nearly useless and customer service is terrible.  You can spend hours with the manual and never find the information you need because Philips didn't think it was important enough to include.  If you aren't well versed in setting up and operating devices like this, or cannot make very lucky guesses at how to use various functions, then be prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone.  I cannot understand Philips thinking on this - they should make the user's manual long enough actually to explain how to use each function of the device.  I will not buy another DVDR from Philips.