Newbie quest regarding HDD DVD recorder

[Peachhaze]

I want to buy a DVD recorder. I have looked all over this site for different reivews for one. I have settled on the Toshiba dr5.

My question is why would I want to purchase a recorder w/ a HDD? What's wrong w/ recording straight to DVD?

[redwudz]

Lots of reasons for a hard drive: If you were to set your recorder for more than one show, they would end up mashed into one DVD. If you recorded the wrong show, you could just delete it from the HD, not throw the disc away.

If you wanted to edit the video before burning it, it's much easier from the HD. I have a 160GB HD in my DVR. I can record several hours of different programming. Watch it (As in time shifting) and if I don't want it, I delete it. Many times I just use the HD for time shifting and never burn to disc.

You can also adjust the bitrate when you burn from the hard drive. You record to the HD in normal resolution, then you can adjust the bitrate lower to put several episodes on one DVD when you burn it.

The hard drive just makes the DVR much more flexible.

[samijubal]

I've used a DVD recorder without a HD since 2001, I get by fine without it. I do TV series discs on the PC instead of the DVD recorder, edit and make menus. If you're just going to record movies without commercials, I did that for the first 2 or 3 years, you don't really need a HD, unless you're going to be away from the recorder and can't change discs. For doing anything with commercials, you'd probably want a HD or a PC burner and authoring program.

[Frobozz]

The HDD is great for recording sports. Let's say that big game you're recording while away at the kid's recital goes into overtime. You can set the recorder to keep recording for an extra hour or so just in case. When recording direct to disc the recording stops when the disc gets full and you end up with a family crisis because your kid thinks you hate him for missing the ending. (I'm just making that part up).

[Peachhaze]

Thanks your responses.

[ktnwin]

With HDD in a DVD recorder, you have something similar to TIVO functionality (without that monthly service charge). Of course you can GET BY with a DVD recorder without HDD but you lose a lot of flexibility. Going away on vacation for a few days or one week and when you come back home, your favorite shows are there, waiting for you to watch. Can't do that without an HDD. I did go on vacation during Olympiuc week and when I come back, they are there for me to watch. Did not miss what I wanted.
Cutting of the video section that I do not want (commercials, or a badly recorded section of a home video, etc...) are some other benefits.
If you already do all this with a computer (capture TV shows, edit, burn DVD, etc...) then I see no need to buy a DVD recorder with HDD if you are willing to leave you PC ON the whole time.

[ejai]

I've just started using a dvd recorder which has a hard drive. I must admit I was tired of compiling a large amount of rewritable disks, and it began to annoy me when it came down to organizing the mess. It is so much better using a HD unit and I will never go back to a Non-HD recorder again.

Also editing is a snap, if I wish to do some advance editing I still use my computer.