Another AV question, should I get DVD recorder?

[ianS]

1 of my old VCR was dead and need to replace. So should I get those DVD recorder(no hard disk one) or get the DVD+VCR combo? Is those DVD recorder ne good?

[Chopper]

Generally the combos are not worth the money in my opinion. They fail to capture the full features and quality of a dedicated system.

DVD recorders are not as easy to use as the hard drive nuits (TiVO,. etc.) i think. Also, the new DVD formats are coming out so dont spend a whole lotta money on it when the storage of it will be passe soon.

[M333ee]

DVD Recorders are in a flux right now. So many formats and features that it makes it confusing. If you are going to use it like a VCR where you copy and erase TV shows look for something like a DVD-RAM drive which allows something like 100000 rewrites per RAM disc. The problem is you can only play it on your player or another player that reads RAM discs.

If you want your recorded programs to play on other DVD players you must look for DVD-R recording which allows the finalized DVD to be played on most (90%) DVD player.

A DVD with a built in hard drive (80meg, 160meg and up) allows time shifting and actual organization of the programs recorded on the DVD. You could actually save all the programs on hard drive and then record them to DVD at high speed.

On the horizon Blue Ray DVD and HDDVD 2 competing formats which allow recording and playback of HighDef material. The 2 formats should be out sometime next year. Japan is already selling HD players/recorders. There is talk that HD players might be skipped altogether and the manufactuers will go straight to selling recorders right away.

Prepare to sell all your standard definition 480P DVD's and buy them again for HD DVD :eek:

Lucas film might be the first out with a FULL Set of all 6 STAR WARS movies in the new format :crying:

[ianS]

Thx for the comments! a lot of info! I think I may get a cheap combo! I just use it as a VCR to record TV show such as Gundam Seed on YTV woot . Since my old tv only have 1 input so I can only hook up to a VCR or DVD, so I think the combo should still able for me to rec & playback on tape and play "Copied" DVD & VCD! if it can play DivX then it will be better! :blaaaa:

[M333ee]

Ian you are recording Gundam Seed :D

I've missed the first 6 episodes already..... :crying:

The Panasonic and Pioneer DVD recorders have been very well reviewed. I'm looking at the Pioneer with the 160GB hard drive.

[Chopper]

I hear the Blue Ray DVD will be the ultimate winner in the new format wars. Bigger capacity already and plenty of industry backing (trying to avoid the Betamax scenario).

:D

[M333ee]

Yeh, it looks like Blue Ray is already ahead of the game with the software backing but the other format has some good points also.

[ianS]

I hear the Blue Ray DVD will be the ultimate winner in the new format wars. Bigger capacity already and plenty of industry backing (trying to avoid the Betamax scenario).

:D

I am 1 of the Betamax vitcm! I still have more than 100+ animation in Betamax and some of them are even in ED Beta! :crying:

[M333ee]

I still have a top load beta machine in the basement for the old tapes. I used to rent anime from a store called TV Japan in beta. My first few glimpses of actual Gundam in true japanese language with no subs.

Recorders are less than $400 now and some even play DVIX and WMP files. I would buy one just to play the downloaded anime that I have.

[ianS]

The sub title are available only after vcd & dvd being common. The old day LD and OVA tape are pure japanese with no sub title. I spent $350 hkd 20yr ago for a copy of Macross movie in PAL. Then I start collecting LD by mail order directly from Japan. What a pricey hobby! :Qboy:

[M333ee]

I still have the old VHS english subbed widescreen tape copy of Macross Do You Remember Love. I still to this day do not have a good DVD version. That is my all time favourate Anime movie.

I have a orig Japanese LaserDisc of Final Yamato.

If I ever do get a DVD recorder, I'll transfer everything.

Another format on the horizon is pure solid state memory cards that can hold at least 2h of film. No more moving parts and spinning discs and lasers to brake down. Just plug in your memory card and watch away. Remember when 8 and 16meg memory cards were considered big....