| Ah, you think, as you take a look at your | | | | over $200, but for a relatively inexpensive |
| year's old collection of VHS tapes - all the | | | | machine it offers a few pleasant surprises, |
| enjoyable hours you spent watching each movie | | | | such as an HDMI port that allows you to |
| and deciding if it should be added to your | | | | connect with an HD-TV, plus in-front inputs |
| home theatre selection. What a great | | | | for camcorder use. While it doesn't offer a |
| collection of movies. But wait - technology | | | | VCR or a hard drive, the picture and sound |
| has not only crept up on you, it's left you | | | | quality are comparable to more expensive |
| in the dust. DVD's are the gadget of the | | | | models. |
| moment - they're faster, cleaner, have better | | | | |
| sound quality and way better picture quality. | | | | If you're looking for a machine that has it |
| Oh, no, you think - you'll have to convert | | | | all, you may want to consider the Panasonic |
| all those old VHS tapes to DVD if you want to | | | | DMR-EH75V - which will set you back about |
| "keep up with the Jones." But which DVD | | | | $375 - $400 or so. Even though it's pricier |
| recorder should you choose? Which will give | | | | than some other models, it offers a DVD |
| you the most features for the lowest price? | | | | player/recorder, an integrated VCR and an 80 |
| | | | GB hard drive that allows you to pre-program |
| A DVD recorder is different from a DVD player | | | | your recordings even when you're not there. |
| - as the name would indicate, a DVD player | | | | This model has excellent picture quality, and |
| does just that - it will play movies for you | | | | it records particularly well in LP mode, |
| as long as there is battery life left or | | | | meaning you can get more programs on a single |
| electricity to power the unit in your home. A | | | | disc. It also offers an HDMI output jack so |
| DVD recorder, on the other hand, allows you | | | | you can connect to an HD-TV, as well as an SD |
| to copy DVD's from the original media to a | | | | card slot if you want to display digital |
| recordable DVD that you can then add to your | | | | photos. |
| collection of movies - replacing all those | | | | |
| VHS tapes that are collecting dust. DVD | | | | Samsung offers a model DVD-VR335 that runs |
| recorders also can record directly from your | | | | about $280, placing it mid-range among other |
| TV to a DVD. | | | | models. It also features an HDMI upconverting |
| | | | DVD recorder, with an integrated VCR, |
| A big consideration is whether or not to buy | | | | composite video jacks in and out and Dolby |
| a DVD recorder with a hard drive - no, I'm | | | | digital capability. It can record on most DVD |
| not trying to confuse you with computer | | | | media, as well as playing DVD and CD media |
| jargon - it's not like you're buying a | | | | and MP3 audio. |
| laptop. The reasons you might want a model | | | | |
| with a hard drive are twofold - you have more | | | | What's the advantage to having an integrated |
| editing options, plus you can choose whether | | | | VCR as part of your DVD recorder? Most people |
| or not to archive a recording to disc. | | | | use this feature to convert all those old VHS |
| Another feature that's included with a hard | | | | tapes to DVD format - updating and cleaning |
| drive is that you can pause what you're | | | | up their movie or television show |
| recording as it's being recorded and not lose | | | | collections. End result - the vast majority |
| any of the show since that is how the unit is | | | | of consumers who have this feature end up |
| made. | | | | using the DVD recorder the same way they used |
| | | | their old VCR's - taping or copying |
| For a good, basic DVD recorder, take a look | | | | everything from their favorite TV shows to |
| at the RCA DRC8060N - it comes in at just | | | | movies from their collection. |