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Review 2 of 2
Price Paid:
$622.00
from Sears Summary: Good recorder, love the hard-drive, the manual is terrible and the copy protection (CPRM) almost make me want to send it back to the store...actually, I bought it at Sears to try it out since its a local store. I will probably return it and buy online since I like the unit and can get it for ~500$ (saving 150 plus).
If you want a DVD recorder now, this is a good choice. If you can wait, the next generation should be even better. Strengths: FR recording allows the recorder to maximize the quality of the recording in the available disk space. I use it to archive certain programs sans commercials. The hdrive is a big plus for this.
DVD-Ram seems to be popular for transferring digital video from the recorder to a PC where the video can be manipulated and the authoring can be much more intricate.
Some say the video quality is not equal to Sony recorders--I don't know, I haven't tried a Sony.
I have a Dishnetwork PVR and transfer the analog signal from it via SVid or Composite to the DMR. Then cut commercials in the digital domain and transfer to DVD-r for permanent storage. In 2 hour mode, there is little difference between the original recording and the original satellite broadcast. Weaknesses: Cannot digitally transfer your OWN data from a DVD-R you created back to the harddrive.
The finalized DVD-r menu system is very basic (personnaly, I don't mind this).
Limited authoring capabilities (fade-ins/outs, etc.)
Recordign quality goes down noticeably in the LP mode (4 hour mode)--same as with any digital recorder.
Compatibility: haven't had a chance to try to play a DVD-r in anything but my PCs and my Samsung dvd-p (which doesn't play anything but DVD-V per Samsung). Similar Products Used: No DVD recorders, but, several hard drive PVR units.
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