Toshiba RD-XS32 Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive
Wonderful Machine, Even Better Than Its Predecessor (RD-X2)
I loved the RD-X2 enough that I would only have considered another Toshiba.  (Much as I love this machine, it *does not* do 90% of what a Tivo will do.  Tivo has season passes, suggestions, wish lists, search functions, and other features that make it absolutely fantastic.  Buy both -- they really compliment each other.)<br />This is an absolutely great DVD Recorder.  Picture quality is very good.  You can record programs onto the hard drive, edit out the commercials, create custom thumbnails and titles, even customize your menu screen, and with a 4x DVD-R burn a DVD in 15 minutes.  Its definitely more difficult to use than a VCR, and the manual isn't particularly well written or organized (it lacks an index), but its not that hard to get the hang of it.  It works like a computer, not a VCR.<br />Features I Really Love (in no particular order):<br />1.  Burning a DVD-R in 15 minutes.  If you want to control the burn speed, use a 1x or 2x disc instead of a 4x.<br />2.  Editting functions.  I can set the timer to record programs on the hard drive while I'm away, then come back and edit them with ease and speed.  I mark the chapters, can batch delete (its quick) and then recombine the chapters to make a single title.  Or I can manually set the chapters, almost down to the frame.<br />3.  Recording quality settings.  You can select the video and audio recording settings, from 1.4 (EP equilvalent) to 4.6 (SP)on up to 9.2.  Adjust your settings to get the best possible PQ and still fit your movie on the disc.  At 1.4, I can get about 6.5 hrs on a DVD-R, at 2.2, 4.25 hrs, at 4.6, 2 hrs 6 mins.<br />4.  You can watch another program you've already recorded while you record &quot;live&quot; programming.  Or you can use the &quot;timeslip&quot; feature to watch a program from the beginning while its still being recorded.<br />5.  You can give titles to &quot;timer recordings&quot; so everything has a title in advance.<br />6.  For DVDs you've created yourself (*not* prerecorded DVDs) you can recopy programming back onto the hard drive and burn additional DVDs.<br />7.  To copy to VHS, you can create a &quot;playlist&quot; and have your VCR copy all six hours worth of programming at once.<br />8.  Out of town for a 48 hour Star Trek marathon?  No tapes or discs needed, you can record all 48 hours on your hard drive as long as you have enough free space (135 hours at lowest setting).<br />About the black level bug issue, I've seen it reported, but I've played DVDs I've created on a variety of different DVD players (Toshiba, Sony, Hitachi, a PC and a Mac) and never experienced what some of the reviewers have complained about.can recopy programming back onto the hard drive and burn additional DVDs.<BR>7.  To copy to VHS, you can create a &quot;playlist&quot; and have your VCR copy all six hours worth of programming at once.<BR>8.  Out of town for a 48 hour Star Trek marathon?  No tapes or discs needed, you can record all 48 hours on your hard drive as long as you have enough free space (135 hours at lowest setting).<br />About the black level bug issue, I've seen it reported, but I've played DVDs I've created on a variety of different DVD players (Toshiba, Sony, Hitachi, a PC and a Mac) and never experienced what some of the reviewers have complained about.