Pioneer DVR-633H-S DVD Recorder With 160 GB Hard Drive
What a great device!
I read the reviews on this device before I bought it, and quite frankly I was really worried because all the negatives regarding the TV Guide programing.  Don't let that stop you, this thing is wonderful! <br /> <br />It's true the menu system is not intuitive and the TV Guide system is slow to load (2 days for me) but once it catches up, you don't have to even think about it.  You pick a show to record, and the machine handles the record length and time. <br /> <br />The real thing is it will record to hard disk, and eliminate all those tapes and clutter.  You can review what you've recorded and delete them when you are done viewing them.  You can watch a show while it is recording.  I like to wait until a show is 10 to 15 minutes into the recording and then start watching it, that way I can skip through the commercials and and I will get to the end of the show about the same time that it ends on regular TV. <br /> <br />This is not the machine for a professional video editor.  Video editing is like everything else, the menus are clunky but it works just great for home users.  The DVD-R feature will let you archive shows or take them over to someone else's house to watch. <br /> <br />With all the bad things I read I was really worried about this purchase, but I had it up and running in just minutes and did my first recording within 10 minutes of turning it on.  Basic one touch recording is so simple you don't even need the manual.  <br /> <br />I really don't know why these things are not a hot item at the stores, it was really hard to find a store that even carried one, and I ended up ordering it online.  Most of the stores just carry the TIVO product line, but this does everything the TIVO does with no subscription fees. <br /> <br />One last thing, because the menus are a bit clunky I found some owners of these devices give up on them right away, I was able to buy one with just a few days use on it for less then half the retail price!  So check for a used one before you make your purchase!