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DVD Recorder Reviews and Buying Guide: DVD recorders may have entered the marketplace too late considering millions of people subscribe to TIVO or cable and satellite DVRs. There is still hope for DVD recorders where those others fall short. DVD only recorders cost about $200 (that's a one time fee) versus monthly fees to either lease a hard drive digital video recorder (DVR) from your cable or satellite company or pay TIVO $15/month to use their service. A stand alone DVD recorder definitely doesn't work as seamlessly as the DVR services do. On the plus side you can use the DVD/VCR combo recorders to record your old video footage over to a DVD disc that stores easier and lasts longer. One important point to make here is that as of now DVD recorders only record in standard definition (SD) not high-definition like many shows are broadcast in. The HD recorders are not too far off in the distance but if you can't wait, then go with a good DVD recorder like those from Panasonic. Pioneer recently announced they are no longer making DVD recorders. The current recorders are able to record up to 11 hours of video on a single disc with extended play (1 hour at the best setting). Experts say going with 2 to 4 hours of recording on a disc gives you enough quality and uses the space wisely. Ninety-five percent of all DVD recorders playback DVD's just fine including commercial DVD's (movies). The real confusing part comes when you see all the different disc formats that exist. There are DVD-R and DVD+R which are discs you can write on just once. Then you have DVD-RW and DVD+RW which are rewritable discs. The dual layer ones are great for storing large quantities of data and they are referred to as DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL. There are some great dvd recorder reviews online at CNET, Epinions, DVD-Recorder-Review.com, and we also found a recent write up in Consumer Reports which rated all the top models. There are also user reviews and feedback online at Amazon.com and ConsumerSearch.com. With quite a few dvd recorders listed well below $200, it's time to buy one. Best DVD Recorder: Consumer Reports rates both the Samsung DVD AR650 and the Panasonic DMR-EZ17 about the same in terms of recording quality and DVD playback. The Samsung model is slightly more expensive ($20 more) and offers some features that the Panasonic doesn't such as a set-top box control, upconverts via HDMI, and it supports the DVD-RW (VR) format. The Sony RDR-GX355 is a close 2nd for the DVD only models. DVD/VCR Combos: The DVD recorder that most families could use are those that offer a DVD/VCR combo. Many of us, including me, have old VCR tapes that we would love to transfer over to DVDs. The cost of letting a professional do it is quite high, so having a DVD machine that will let you record your old memories to a DVD disc is well worth the money. Transfering video footage is easy, just hit play on the VCR player and let the DVD recorder do the work. Once again you have Panasonic and Samsung fighting out the top spot. We prefer the Panasonic DMR-EZ47V ($310) model although a real bargain can be had with the Samsung DVD-VR357 for only $185. Panasonics come with a built in tuner and offer simultaneous record/playback options that the Samsung does not. Check out Circuit City, Best Buy for these products or go online to Amazon.com. Hard Drive DVD Recorders: If you are looking for a straight hard drive DVD recorder that lets you record your favorite shows to a DVD, then consider the Philips DVDR3575V/37 ($300) with it's 160 GB hard drive and simultaneous record/playback capability. Experts say this model works well with regular TVs. Cheap DVD Recorder: CNET does a great job of reviewing and comparing DVD recorders on their site. They have a list of the bargain DVD recorders that still rate 'satisfactory' by consumers as well as their team of experts. The Samsung DVD VR320 ($120) is a DVD recorder and VCR combo unit that gets the job done. It may not have the bells and whistles of the more expensive models, but overall owner satisfaction is still good. © 1999-2007 Funskins.com - Product Reviews