Gateway AR230 Progressive-Scan DVD Player / Recorder
Excellent user interface, inexpensive, and region free
This is Gateway's entry into the DVD Recorder arena, and is a clone of the LiteOn LVW-5001.  The user interface is very intuitive and much easier to figure out than the Philips models, but the instruction manual is a bit vague on the meaning of various functions.  Most of the functions can be figured out with a little bit of experimentation, but it would be better if the manual just gave a full explanation.<br />For example, if you delete a recording that is in between two others, and then you start recording a new program, the unit will not automatically overwrite the deleted area.  Instead, it will simply add on after the last program.  If you want it to reuse empty space, you must enable the overwrite function for the deleted program, and then record.  Be careful, because, if record a program that is longer than the one you deleted, you will overwrite the next program.  This all seems sensible once you figure it out, but it would be nice if the manual explained it.<br />The best thing about this DVD Recorder is that it can be made region free and it will convert PAL encoded DVD's (which are sold in Europe on www.amazon.co.uk) to NTSC, so you can watch DVDs that are not sold here (like the excellent British television show \\"Cold Feet\\" and \\"Black Books\\") on your TV in the U.S.<br />Just turn on the DVD player without a disc in it, press the right arrow, push 800, and then push the enter button.  From that point on, the unit is region free.