Posted by <normanstrong on 10/10/06 15:48

"Citizen Bob" <spam@uce.gov> wrote in message
news:452b81a2.84131546@news-server.houston.rr.com...
> On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 18:24:39 +1300, "J Brockley"
> <jbrockley@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> I'm getting rid of a Pioneer 533 (80 GB) and looking for a new
>>> machine. Web searches make the Pioneer DVR640HS and Toshiba RD-XS52
>>> look pretty promising, but I'm wondering if anybody knows (a) another
>>> good unit I'm missing or (b) something horrible with either of those.
>>>
>>> My criteria:
>>>
>>> ** Must timer record from RF (basic cable) with its own tuner, or
>>> component input (output of cable box). If I can schedule half a dozen
>>> programs in advance, that's plenty.
>>>
>>> ** TV Guide not in the unit, or able to be 100% disabled. TVGOS was a
>>> *giant* problem in my Pioneer 533. I have no problem scheduling
>>> recordings manually and setting the cable box to turn on to the right
>>> channel at the right time.
>>>
>>> ** No Tivo -- again, I'm fine with scheduling manual recording.
>>>
>>> ** Must be able to edit on hard drive (e.g. delete commercials)
>>> before burning to DVD.
>>>
>>> ** Must be able to put chapter marks into recording on HDD and have
>>> them transfer to DVD when burning.
>>>
>>> ** Nice to have, if possible: two-level menus on burned DVDs that
>>> show chapters within titles. (The Pioneer 533 has only title-level
>>> menus.)
>>>
>>> ** Nice to have, not essential: burn DVD-RW and DVD-R DL. Essential:
>>> DVD-R, though I imagine any unit nowadays can do that.
>>>
>>> I've had really, really bad experiences with Pioneer customer
>>> service, so if you could say anything about customer service from the
>>> manufacturers that would be nice too. If the Pioneer 640 is reliable
>>> and I never have to deal with Pioneer customer service, that would be
>>> a plus.
>
> You did not mention DivX/XviD. Many have it now but some still don't.
>
> I am of the firm opinion that the DVDRs on the market now are just
> interim solutions and that the industry is not taking longevity
> seriously. So I refuse to spend a lot of money on a unit that is going
> to crap out in a year, no matter how much I pay. If I am going to have
> to replace the unit in a year, I might as well get off as cheaply as I
> can.
>
> That's why at this moment I am evaluating the Polaroid DRM-2001G from
> WalMart for $220. It's a 80 GB HDD unit with DivX/XviD and a fan for
> cooling. It is made in China for Polaroid.

I read the instruction manual. It says nothing about DivX/XviD. Indeed it
clearly states that it records in MPEG-II

Norm

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