RCA DRC8300N DVD Player/Recorder and VCR Combo
Save your $
This will teach me to read the amazon.com reviews before buying anything. This unit refuses to read discs (commercial and handmade) literally nine times out of ten. I am a West Wing addict like one of the previous reviewers; I bought this because my old DVD player didn't want to read my West Wing DVDs and I figured it was time for an upgrade. I also test-drove it with The Ten Commandments and several other discs that I know for a fact are the right format and in good working order. Repeatedly, they digitized and froze up.<br /><br />Using the DVD-RW disc that comes with the unit, I made a test recording last night by transferring a couple hours' worth of material from a homebrewed VHS tape. It played back fine; imagine my surprise tonight when I put the disc in and was first told there was a \\"disc problem\\", then that it was formatting the disc and erasing everything I'd put on it the previous day! Imagine if that had been something irreplaceable instead of a mere test recording.<br /><br />I haven't even gotten started. I'm fairly tech-savvy and I do not expect to be spoonfed; however, I do insist that things work with a minimum of fuss. That there is no one-touch record feature for making DVD-R recordings straight from television, I can (sort of) understand; you have to take time to program in how long you want the recording to be, at what speed, &c., &c., &c. Maybe this is normal for DVDs. But you also have to do this for the VHS, because on this unit, everything is run from the menu. You can't just sit there watching television and make spontaneous, impromptu recordings (say, of historical moments such as a major newsflash) in which you decide where a recording begins and ends. You are not in control.<br /><br />Did I mention the freezes? I've lost track; enough, perhaps, to start a new ice age. Take the disc out, wipe it carefully, put it back in, and after a bit of stammering the screen turns a gorgeous shade of green. Pull out the plug, put it back in, how many times do I have to do this? Fortunately, I still have my receipt.<br /><br />Please, save your money and buy something that works.how many times do I have to do this? Fortunately, I still have my receipt.  <br /> <br />Please, save your money and buy something that works.