Cheap dvd recorders

steven589

Hi all,

I need some advice, I'm looking to buy a dvd recorder, and I want to know if it is ok to simply look for the cheapest, or will there be issues with the reliabilty of the machine and quality of recordings with the cheaper models.

The sole use of my dvd recorder will be to record from videos to the dvd recorder, so I'm not bothered about any special features or hard drive capabilities.

For example, there is an Alba RDVD1000 dvd recorder for £89 in Argos, which appears to do all I want (upto 6 hours recording capability, and records in +R and +RW format, and can playback +R, +RW, -R and -RW. This seems fine to me, but I know very little about this!

Also, does anyone know of any cheap way to print information (i.e. pictures) onto blank dvd discs?

Thanks for your help,

Steve

paul_h

I have read some negative comments about the Alba, if you want a cheap one look at this one which seems to get good comments, but is DVD-R -

FUNAI Dvd Recorder DR-A2937

The LiteOns are well liked, but a little more expensive -

LiteOn LVW-5002B DVD Recorder

LiteOn LVW-5006B All-Write Home DVD Recorder

Look here for reviews -

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/reviews/

And here for some user comments -

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders

Before plumping for the Alba RDVD1000, make sure you check out the user comments on videohelp here -

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDnameid=1102&Search=Search&list=1#comments

steven589

The Funai seems fine, but as you say is R-. Would this be a problem for selling dvds to others in the uk? I'm under the impression that all dvds can playback both + and - formats, although most models seem to record in the + format.

Or have I got this wrong?

Woby_Tide

-R is slightly the more compatible format in percentage terms of players(only slightly though). As for the +R recorders, it's more the fact that most of the cheaper models are +R, there are still plenty of -R recorders, they just tend to be more known makes rather than PC firms rattling out cheap recorders.

steven589

Cool, thanks for that I think I'm going to buy the Funai one then.

I have one more question, does anyone know how easy it is to print information on discs, and also on disc covers? As I would like to put some info on the disc professionally after I've copied it rather than just scribbling with a pen, but I have a feeling this will involve buying some expensive equipment and will probably not be worth it.

paul_h

steven589 wrote:

Cool, thanks for that I think I'm going to buy the Funai one then.

I have one more question, does anyone know how easy it is to print information on discs, and also on disc covers? As I would like to put some info on the disc professionally after I've copied it rather than just scribbling with a pen, but I have a feeling this will involve buying some expensive equipment and will probably not be worth it.

I use a Epson R300 printer and cannot recommend it too highly - dirt cheap inks, prints directly onto printable CD/DVDs and prints great quality photos to boot - Comes with software to print onto discs. I've used quite a few printers and the Epson beats them all...

Epson R200 is exactly same engine and can be had for £50-£60.