Recommendations on easy to program and simple DVD recorder w/HD

[mdoublem]

I'd like to get my mom a DVD recorder with the built in HD for Xmas. I had a Polaroid 2001G and that had a lot of quirks she would have trouble with. Anyone have recommendations on a good dvd recorder, preferably with LSI chip, that has a pretty good interface and not-too-tricky programming. She currently has a Mitsubishi VCR with a one touch recording feature that she loves. I'm sure she would appreciate recording to HD if the interface is pretty basic and burning to DVD for things she wants to keep. If it had this OTR feature, all the better. I was considering getting her a Polaroid but concluded it would be to quirky and complex for her, then my Polaroid broke.

Thanks

[RabidDog]

SO you're negative on the Polaroid then...look at the Sonys the panasonics, toshibas and Pioneers. I have never owned any panasonic branded kit, I did have a Sony Hi-fi good reliable but pricey. Toshiba dvd player very good playback, reasonable price. Pioneer ? I have read good reports and its a "big" brand.
Maybe liteon samsung ILO or other 2nd tier but their interfaces are never as good. ypymymyc

[BCdave]

I have an LG LRH-780 (80GB HDD) recorder which has the current generation LSI chip, for the video quality that you're accustomed to with your Polaroid, plus instant OTR, and a simple setup for timer recording. Unlike the Polaroid or Lite-On, it has a stereo tuner, and it records audio in Dolby Digital rather than mp2.
LG recorders seem to be very well built (I also have a two year old non-HDD recorder that's still going strong), and seem to have no serious quirks.

Unfortunately, the LRH-780, and it's big brother, the LRH-790 (250GB and upconverting HDMI) seem to be sold only in Canada (At Future Shop, an affiliate of Best Buy) Deduct about 12% to convert the price to US$
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10072965&catid=22226&l...gon=&langid=EN

Presumably, there must be SOME way to have one shipped down the coast to SoCal.

[samijubal]

Toshiba has great picture quality and lots of options, but the interface isn't for the faint of heart. I wouldn't suggest it for a beginner.

[NiteLite]

The latest Pioneer 640H-s is a really fun and easy to operate maching. Has Variable recording speeds and once or twice going thru the options it's a breeze.
Pic quality is good even at some slower speeds and the Hi-Speed copy is really nice that gives a good quality write.
Just another to consider.
Gool luck,
NL

[GTLifter]

hmm do any of the listed had an epg that works with satellite?

[mdoublem]

Thanks for all of your input, I'll probably go for a Pioneer 640 since I can get one relatively easily and quickly.

Mitch