Toshiba RD-XS35 DVD Player/Recorder with 160 GB Hard Drive
No Complaints Yet! - Updated 03.07.07
This was a birthday present to myself so, I had the unit barely a month.    [Update 03.07.07 - Almost a year later and still going strong!]    My unit gets cable directly from a wire coming out the wall, no cable box. (I have a funny story how that wire was a really good antennae...)  That said, the TVGOS worked within 24hrs, I've had no problem since.  Very nice to have a week's teeevee listings and not need the teeevee guide in the paper.  The TVGOS allows searching for shows by alphabetical, keyword, genre or just scanning the grid for listings.    The manual is more like a magazine, I would advise you to work with this machine frequently, and keep the manual nearby.  I didn't have much problem with the language of the manual, and everything is pretty much laid out straightforwardly. My only criticism re: the manual is that it could use an index.    This is not the most intuitive machine in the world, it is complicated, and it'll be a while before you get things doped out.  The unit provides a handful of indicators of it's activity at any given moment, and indicates whether you are working with the HDD or the DVD drive. One thing that is good is that there are usually a few methods and menus to do similar actions.    To date, I have recorded shows using the TVGOS, recorded shows just by hitting the \\"Rec\\" button on the remote and I have recorded shows from one of my VCRs directly to the HDD.  At present, I have started to record to DVD-RAM discs in order to not used the HDD extensively.  You can edit on either disc drive (Update 03.07.07 - provided you use a DVD-RAM disc).  I have also loaded DVD-RAM discs from my old DVD recorder, though programs from those discs must be loaded on to the HDD to do any editing.  I have copied back and forth between discs and copied edited programs to DVD-R/RW for finalization.  This can be done in a \\"high speed\\" mode or in some cases you have to do it in real time.    The deal is that you have an \\"Original\\" program that you set edit points within, and then edit together the \\"chapters\\" that you wish to make your final program which the unit calls a \\"Playlist\\".  If you are satisfied with the playlist, then you make a copy and the \\"Playlist\\" becomes an \\"Original\\".  DON'T delete the \\"Original\\" before making your \\"Playlist\\" an \\"Original\\" or you will have nothing.    Re:  The Program Editor Mode  I find it a little clunky. You can set edit points with four rocker switches on the remote which set the points forward or back at various speeds.  CAVEAT! The edit points wind up being a little sloppy on the finished discs, they don't wind up exactly where you want them, they kind of wind up maybe a few frames earlier than you have set them for.  YMMV, I like to take out the commercials and leave a little more dark space than most broadcasters provide (Usually less than a second!) so you may wind up with the last frame or two of the end of a commercial.    [Update 03.07.07 - When setting the edit points after any given commercial break, you should allow a buffer of about 13 frames after the end of the last commercial and the resumption of the program.  If you don't do this, then you will see about half a second of the end of the last commercial.  Nitpicky, yes, but you may want a smoother transition between scenes and you DID want to edit out the commercials...]    So far, I am happy with the machine, I haven't had any of the problems with the fan being loud, didn't even notice it till I had to change some wires and I was directly behind the thing.     [Update 03.07.07 - I did have a problem once with the Program Editor Mode where the time elapsed indicator wouldn't indicate the elapsed time and the window showing the program being edited in progress wouldn't work properly.  The time elapsed on the program being viewed wouldn't be indicated on the front of the unit, and a few other features wouldn't operate.      I phoned Toshiba, got a prompt answer from a live operator who had me unplug, then re-plug the machine.  I did so and all functionality returned to the machine and I lost none of the programs I had on HDD.]    I made sure to get a 2 year extended service contract though...     One thing: The volume level when using the RCA jacks directly into the audio in of my teeevee is really low.  This does not affect the finished product when I put it in my plain old DVD player I use strictly for playing DVDs.    Edit: Another thing: DO NOT (!) use Verbatim brand DVD-RW discs on the spindle, I have moved to Memorex brand in the individual jewel cases, presumably non-spindle discs are manufactured to a higher tolerance.  The Verbatim discs typically wouldn't Format, or would Format after 3 tries, but the disc would fail on Finalize mode, creating another drink coaster.    [Update 03.07.07 - I stand my my recommendation of Memorex brand discs, and have used TDK as well to near 100% success, even using those on a spindle.]