HELP-Which DVDR to buy?

kiwichick

Hi All,

Our video has finally given up the ghost and I reckon it time we treated ourselves to a dvd recorder.

We are working to a budget of about £100 and although there are some cheap ones around I dont know if they are good or crap!

Can anyone tell me what I need to look out for or which ones are good value for money. We record quite a bit so it will need to last well.

Thanks,
Al.

gizmoleeds

If you are willing to streach your budget a teeny-weeny bit then you could have this lovely Panasonic from one of Britain's most reputable retailers.

http://ws4.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=PANA-DMRES10-R2

Also available multi-region for an extra £10

It is a reasonable spec, and supports the DVD-RAM format, which has "timeslip" (it allows you to watch things which are still recording, or "pause" live TV).

gizmoleeds

Here's a quote of a post I made previously regarding DVD formats:

Okay, there are three types of DVD disk:

DVD-R/RW is the most common format.
DVD+R/RW is equally good, but slightly less common.

Most DVD players can play DVD-R and DVD+R disks, and a lot can play DVD-RW and +RW disks as well.

DVD-R is more common, and so it is better to use this format if you intend for the disks to be viewed on a DVD player.

(nb. R disks are recordable only once (ie. you can't delete stuff once it's on) and RW disks are re-writable (you can delete stuff and put other stuff in its place ).

Most DVD recorders will actually use both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW disks - so you don't need to worry too much here.

The third format is DVD-RAM. Very few DVD players will play DVD-RAM (so you couldn't, for example, lend them to someone with just a DVD player), but it is probably the best format to go for, as it can do a nifty thing called "timeslip" - which means you can start watching a program before it finishes recording (or "pause" live TV while you go to the loo ). About half of all DVD recorders support DVD-RAM.

Any DVD-RAM recorders will always use at least one of the other formats too (normally both). They usually cost a little extra, but I think it is well worth it.

Just look at the spec of any DVD recorder you are interested in and most should support both + and - disks, and if you can get one with RAM support, even better.

Hope this helps!

The logos by the way look like this:

DVD+R/RW

DVD-R/RW

RAM looks the same as the DVD-R/RW one but with the word RAM instead.

kiwichick

so..................what thedifference between buying a dvd recorder and shelling out for sky plus????? We have been talking about sky plus and werent going to do it until we move but if it generally the same we might as well do it while here????????????????

gizmoleeds

kiwichick wrote:

so..................what thedifference between buying a dvd recorder and shelling out for sky plus????? We have been talking about sky plus and werent going to do it until we move but if it generally the same we might as well do it while here????????????????

Sky Plus is a PVR, which means it records to a hard drive, rather than removable disks.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both:

Advantages of DVD recorder:

• Unlimited capacity (just keep buying disks)
• Can lend things you've recorded to others (just give them the disk)
• Not tied to Sky (maintaining Sky Plus requires a Sky subscription)

Advantages of Sky Plus:

• You can record one Sky channel while watching another
• Easier to use (as it is all based on the Sky programme guide)

(those are off the top of my head so I'm sure there are more... )

wonderfullife_2

Why Sky Plus,???? which you have to subscribe to every month, and pay ££how much.
Topfield 5800PVR, 160gb hard drive, twin tuner, can record 2 programs, whilst watching another, freeview, so no subscription, and can be updated, excellent quality and reception.

jjames_3

If you are after a good quality DVD recorder for £100, either Comet or Currys are currently selling a Samsung recorder for £99. Samsung DVDR recorders are based on Panasonic designs and the quality is as good as Panasonic. Good price for a good recorder.

ginger_nuts

the liteon LW5006 is £99.99 in Argos . I am thinking about getting this one .

kiwichick

You've helped me decide NOT to go for SKY+, I already begrudge the amount they charge us so why on earth was I thinking of giving them more???????????

GIZMOLEEDS Any thoughts on which of the 2 players posted by jjames and ginger-nuts is better???

Thanks for all your help,
Al.

gizmoleeds

kiwichick wrote:

GIZMOLEEDS Any thoughts on which of the 2 players posted by jjames and ginger-nuts is better???

The Liteon can be found here:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5334685.htm

It doesn't include DVD-RAM support though so you couldn't do timeslip (which I think would justify the extra £20 for the Panasonic I originally posted - sorry ginger_nuts).

The Samsung is here and also doesn't have timeslip:

http://www.currys.co.uk:80/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0769973077.1135760620@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdgikfiemmcflgceggdhhmdfhn.0&page=Product&sku=600041&fm=6&sm=1&tm=undefined

If you were going to go for one of these I would go for the Samsung just on brand recognition.

edtheduck_2

i bought a goodmans dvd recorder in currys just b4 christmas.
seems very very good. £99.99, lovely brushed steel effect, videoplus and comes with scart lead etc. connected up to NTL box and so far i am really impressed with its user friendliness..