Philips DVDR75 Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder
Not ready for prime-time - poor tech support
For openers, the DVDR-75 is not a bad recorder.  It does an admirable job of recording, and output is excellent.  However, there are some serious drawbacks in the design and application of this device in the consumer market.<br />1) Poorly thought out Owner's Manual.  The manual is English/Spanish, but manages to not address some pretty important aspects of the recorders operation.  Sections are missing (Chapter 12 skips some sub-sections for disc access), and there is an occasional Dutch word interspersed in the instructions.  The cartoon character (Phil) is lame, and offers no tangible benefit to the manual.  Comparing the manual to the Sony RDR-GX7 manual shows how a manual should be written.  Philips needs to re-issue a valid Owner's Manual.<br />2) Lousy web support.  Go ahead, try to find web support for the recorder on their website.  I dare you.  Can't do it because it is not there.  Then why does the Owner's Manual tell you to try there first to have your questions answered?<br />3)  Lousy phone support.  Called pre-sale to see if the DVDR 75 would produce chapter thumbnails.  Was told by someone with a heavy Jamaican accent that it would.  Bought the unit.  Recorded on +R and +RW disks.  It records chapter points, but NO THUMBNAILS.  Called back today (Saturday), spoke with a woman with an island accent, and was told that there was no one there to handle DVDR questions.  I should call back later.  Why then was I prompted to press 1 for DVD support, then 1 for DVDR support if there was no one there to actually provide support?<br />4) Terrible on-screen menu.  Not intuitive at all.  Again, poor logic.  Maybe the Dutch understand it.  I don't.  <br />5)  Below average remote control functions.  Difficult to read buttons.  Not enough functions for a $500 unit.<br />Overall, the recording and playback are fine, but there are other units on the market that are at least as good, and far easier to operate for some of the more advanced functions (Panasonic and Sony come to mind).  If you've already bought this unit, good for you, otherwise consider a different brand until Philips figures out how to market a product in the US.