DVD Recorder Questions

I have been reviewing the google archives and other web pages in order
to help me to decide if I want to buy a dvd recorder and if I want to
buy a cheap one or a more expensive one, and have come away very
confused. It seems to me there is a format war between the pluses and
minuses and the rams and I am afraid if I make the plunge with an
expensive machine, in a few years it may become obsolete. Or even if
I buy a cheap one and let's say transfer my vhs home movies (and throw
out the tapes to save space), will the dvd someday become unplayable if
my format loses the war?

The two uses I would mainly like to use the recorder is to time shift
my favorite shows to watch later and to transfer old vhs tapes.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

jeffy3@hotmail.com

>in a few years it may become obsolete.

In a few years, everything is obsolete: TVs, cars, girlfriends, pets,
presidents, ...

Buy now that you may live to the full, but only if
you really need the thing.

Yibbels

On 25 Mar 2005 11:50:05 -0800, wrote:

>I have been reviewing the google archives and other web pages in order
>to help me to decide if I want to buy a dvd recorder and if I want to
>buy a cheap one or a more expensive one, and have come away very
>confused. It seems to me there is a format war between the pluses and
>minuses and the rams and I am afraid if I make the plunge with an
>expensive machine, in a few years it may become obsolete. Or even if
>I buy a cheap one and let's say transfer my vhs home movies (and throw
>out the tapes to save space), will the dvd someday become unplayable if
>my format loses the war?
>
>The two uses I would mainly like to use the recorder is to time shift
>my favorite shows to watch later and to transfer old vhs tapes.
>
>Any thoughts would be appreciated.

http://hometheater.about.com/od/dvdr...gfaq2.htm?rd=1

RichA

You might try some of the DVRs (Digital Video Recorders). They have much
more capacity and since they use a hard drive rather than DVDs the format is
not applicable.

--

Darrell R. Schmidt
B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
-

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
>I have been reviewing the google archives and other web pages in order
> to help me to decide if I want to buy a dvd recorder and if I want to
> buy a cheap one or a more expensive one, and have come away very
> confused. It seems to me there is a format war between the pluses and
> minuses and the rams and I am afraid if I make the plunge with an
> expensive machine, in a few years it may become obsolete. Or even if
> I buy a cheap one and let's say transfer my vhs home movies (and throw
> out the tapes to save space), will the dvd someday become unplayable if
> my format loses the war?
>
> The two uses I would mainly like to use the recorder is to time shift
> my favorite shows to watch later and to transfer old vhs tapes.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>

Darrell S

Darrell S wrote:
> You might try some of the DVRs (Digital Video Recorders). They have
much
> more capacity and since they use a hard drive rather than DVDs the
format is
> not applicable.
>
> --
>
> Darrell R. Schmidt
> B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
> -
>


Thanks. I should've mentioned it's not an option. I want the ability to
record on one machine and watch on another.

jeffy3@hotmail.com

On 25 Mar 2005 11:50:05 -0800, wrote:

>I have been reviewing the google archives and other web pages in order
>to help me to decide if I want to buy a dvd recorder and if I want to
>buy a cheap one or a more expensive one, and have come away very
>confused. It seems to me there is a format war between the pluses and
>minuses and the rams and I am afraid if I make the plunge with an
>expensive machine, in a few years it may become obsolete. Or even if
>I buy a cheap one and let's say transfer my vhs home movies (and throw
>out the tapes to save space), will the dvd someday become unplayable if
>my format loses the war?
>
>The two uses I would mainly like to use the recorder is to time shift
>my favorite shows to watch later and to transfer old vhs tapes.

I would assume that the DVD-R and + formats will be supported for a
long time, even by the HD recorders. So if you get a recorder now that
can record to DVD-R you should not have to worry about compatibility
in the future.

For time-shifting, you will probably want to record to either DVD-RAM
or DVD-RW so you can re-use the discs over and over. DVD-RW is more
compatible in other players and PCs, while DVD-RAM is more durable,
especially the cartridge type. Or wait a couple months and get one of
the new Panasonic recorders that will record to -R, -RW and -RAM and
also be able to read +RW.

And don't rule out getting a HD/DVD Recorder either. With one of those
you can record programs to the hard drive first, edit the recording
(remove the commercials) and then copy it to DVD-R. The hard drive
also lets you record more programs without needing to swap discs.
Whether it is worth the extra $$ though depends a lot on the amount of
programs you record for time-shifting daily and how often you plan to
record programs with commercials to keep.


-
-Jon Purkey - <)
For a quicker reply by email please use the
address found here: http://tinyurl.com/o8ka

Jon Purkey

Jon Purkey wrote:

> And don't rule out getting a HD/DVD Recorder either. With one of
those
> you can record programs to the hard drive first, edit the recording
> (remove the commercials) and then copy it to DVD-R. The hard drive
> also lets you record more programs without needing to swap discs.
> Whether it is worth the extra $$ though depends a lot on the amount
of
> programs you record for time-shifting daily and how often you plan to
> record programs with commercials to keep.
>


I just checked the manual for the $250 + Panasonic DVD player I bought
four years ago and it says it doesn't support DVD-R or DVD+R!
Unbelievable! So if I bought a recorder and wanted to watch the disc
in the nicest unit I have, I can't! How does this madness happen? Or
am I incorrect?

jeffy3@hotmail.com

wrote:

> I just checked the manual for the $250 + Panasonic DVD player I bought
> four years ago and it says it doesn't support DVD-R or DVD+R!
> Unbelievable! So if I bought a recorder and wanted to watch the disc
> in the nicest unit I have, I can't! How does this madness happen? Or
> am I incorrect?

It's very unlikely any player doesn't play a -r
disc.

As for manuals, my Yamaha S1200 that cost a grand
a couple years ago states it doesn't play + media
or RAM disc but in fact they both play just fine.


drc

Darrel Christenson

Thanks for the prompt response. Now you're saying the -R is more
likely to be compatible than the +R?

jeffy3@hotmail.com

Does your Yamaha play DVD RW- ?

jeffy3@hotmail.com