Toshiba RD-XS32 Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive
Extremely Happy with this one
I've had this RD-XS32 for almost 5-months now, and I'm still totally thrilled with this purchase.  I'm a computer-geek, having ripped/edited video and DVD on a PC for a few years proved good background training for this unit (it basically feels like a PC, not a VCR).  For newbies, this has all the same basic functions as a VCR.  But, for people who want to do some serious video editing (chaptering and removing unwanted scenes) this thing rocks. <br /> <br />Downsides to this include a manual an inch-thick and a multi-function menu-system with a zillion options.  Also, don't buy this if your TV doesn't have video-inputs (this only has coax throughput, there's no RF-modulator for channel 3/4).  But, for those willing to learn, you can make this do some really cool things!  I dropped-down my record quality for most-everything TV-related I record (1.4MB/s), and I had something like 85-hours of programs recorded on it before it started yelling at me (and the quality was fine).  The \\"timeslip\\" chase playback is useful (play back while you're still recording), but the most-useful feature is recording one show while you play something you've already recorded from the content menu. <br /> <br />I am so thrilled with this unit (and, I don't know what others are talking about with the \\"black\\"-problem, I've made hundreds of DVD-R's off TV and my own Mini-DV camcorder, and had no problem... what they may be explaining is copy-protection of copywrited DVD-movies and they deserve to not see good copies), I'm about to buy another one for a different room!