Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo
Excellent out of the box-- no manual needed
If you have ever connected a VCR or DVD then this unit will offer no problems in setup; in fact, I did not have to use the manual at all.  I bought this VCR/DVD combo mainly on the quality of Sony's name (having bought a Sony camcorder and laptop PC in the past), and the fact that I could replace an aging cheap VCR and DVD for less than both units together would cost.  Since my family will use this system heavily (4 hours plus a day), I did not mind going for the quality.<br />I tried both old and new DVDs and tapes as I tested the unit and had no problems with pauses, skips, or picture quality.  Some of the DVDs did have scratches (you can't have kids and DVDs in the house without scratches!)  The remote control's basic functions are easy to learn, and the remote did control the channels and volume on my Sanyo TV.  (If you own a Sony TV, you will get more functions.)<br />The setup funtions all worked well and \\"intuition\\" alone guided me through the menus.  The automatic clock set and the channel learning were the only settings I had to use; everything else stayed at default with no problems.<br />If you want to stay cheaper, look to Emerson and Panasonic, but for me, once again, Sony has come through with another great product.