Gateway AR230 Progressive-Scan DVD Player / Recorder
works great
had problems initially with setup/display functions on remote...figured dead battery...yup! make sure you double check input/output cables to tv if you get no picture or black and white picture. triple-quadruple check. component outputs worked best for me. burned myself a copy of a commercial dvd...looks indistinguishable in 2 hour record mode. (purchased decoder from popular auction site to get around copycode protection).  i've burned over the last 4 months over 50 movies/dvds. all play perfectly on both the gateway and my friends apex. some older dvd's don't play the dvd r+ format. disc manufacturer doesn't seem to matter.  anyhow, as a straight dubbing/film copying recorder from direct tv or commercial dvds (in conjunction with a decoder that allows one to get around the copy code protection), it's worked wonderfully well for me. i believe the gateway is actually produced by Liteon. they had at costco one that appeared to be exactly like this gateway for $179. it was replaced by a $199 unit that burns in all formats (r -, too).no severe problems like others experience. all perfect recordings.