Philips HDRW720 DVD Recorder with 120 GB Hard Drive
Not Ready For Prime Time (or my time)
I noticed in reading other user's reviews of this item that people tended to love it, or hate it.  When I saw the potential this unit had for allowing me to reduce the linear yards of LPs, cassettes, VHS and Hi8 tapes I pocess to CD/DVD formats, I figured how bad can it be?  Well folks, it's really bad! <br />Without providing a play-by-play account of all the glitches I encountered in trying to use this device, I'll describe some which relate to its most basic functions.  Pages 4 and 12 of the so-called Owner's Manual (a typographic train wreck) state that you must first enter a code to make the remote function for your brand of television. At no point, however, are you let in on the little secret on how to enter the appropriate code!  My household cable functions on channel 4, but I could do nothing to switch the DVDR/HDD from its setting on channel 3, making it impossible for me to integrate any VHS or other DVD components. <br />If I were a member of some focus group doing beta testing on this product, I could understand some of these problems and shortcomings, and expect that they would be ironed out when it hit the open market.  It is suprising to me that Phillips, which I assume would like to maintain its world-wide reputation, would continue to use its customers as guinea pigs by continuing to market this unit with such poor documentation and user support.  My advice is to consider any of the other DVDR/HDs out there before wasting any time on this one.