Buy Microsoft Office Home & Student
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 28 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
3.0 stars
"Adequate recorder & player"
Pros: Component Video inputs
Cons: Poor Remote Control, Compatibility issues w/playback on some recordable media
Summary: I purchased this model shortly after its initial release so I have had over a year of experience with it. The initial draw for me to purchase this unit was its price coupled with its ability to playback both DVD+ and DVD- discs, which at the time was rare for the limited amount of recorders available.
My initial experience with it was suspect. The user manual was poorly written and it took me almost two hours to figure out how to switch between DVD/TV inputs (pushing the "monitor" button????) and how to cycle through the various a/v inputs (channel +/-). After figuring out these out solutions, I was able record a few shows finally. I have a Dish Network DVR and I was fairly satisified with the quality of the picture through the component video input of some of my favorite shows.
I big plus is its multiple timing settings for recording, 1, 2, 2.5, 4, 6 and 8 hour settings. The 2.5 hour setting really helps with those movies that barely go over 2 hours but you don't want to sacrifice the quality by switching to 4 hour mode.
The title menu creation options are limited with the ability to add a background picture to the menu from a paused screen and editing the text of the title.
The remote control is also cumbersome in that the fast forwarding and forward skipping is accomplished by the same button, by either tapping it or holding it down which can be frustrating if you don't time it right and end up missing and entire chapter and then you have to go back.
I also have problems with it playing DVD+ home movies I created on my computer drive. It states that there is a disc error. It will only read DVD- discs made externally.
So far all my three household dvd players recognize the recordings from this unit so that compatibility factor is a plus.
Overall, the player is adequate for the price but I would look out for something more advance if you are really in to snazzing up your creations.
