Lite-On LVW5001 DVD Plus Player/Recorder
Incredible value...with minor niggles considering price
Great value.  Finally a DVD recorder priced to replace the VHS recorder.  Record from analog or digital (firewire) devices.<br />First the good.<br />DVD recorder works well.  Auto chapter marking.  TV tuner has auto scanning and neat window feature where you can see the channels being scanned in a window from the setup menu.  Has progressive out...even for TV signal.  Lots of inputs....rca front, firewire front, S-video back.  Has 16-9 and 4-3 outputs.  4 recording speeds/qualities....from 6 hrs (mpeg1 352x288) to 1 hr (mpeg2 720x576.)  Dolby Digital and DTS.  Plays MP3, Jpeg, VCD, Super VCD. <br />Next the not so good.<br />Recorder must be turned off and back on to &quot;take&quot; recording settings.  <br />Remote is very weak...must be aimed directly at recorder.  <br />RCA video out jack does not work even though they provide a yellow jack and that is the only cable you get (at least not on mine.)  In the directions it says that it will only output to a single output device...the one you choose in the setup menu.  There are three choices, s-video, component, and progressive (no rca.)  Switching output is a bit tough...when you do it blanks out the output you were using, leaving a black screen and then you must select OK in 10 seconds or it switches back...but you can't see the new source to click on &quot;OK&quot; until you have something hooked to it so you almost need two output sources or a TV with two inputs that you can switch quickly between.  I used one with picture in picture.  If you have component in, this isn't such a big deal...just leave it on component in.<br />No mpeg3/DIVX<br />No CD recording...DVD+R/DVD+RW only.<br />No time shifting...no TIVO features.<br />Need to check disk space before recording.<br />Overall conclusion:<br />Recommended.  A great device for those that want to save old video tapes onto new digital media.  Nifty digital VCR.