DVD HDD recorders -- current best makes?

[Trollheart]

About to shoot my old Panny HS in the head: it's regularly crashing, losing all recorded progs, the timer just doesn't work no more, and the DVD tray sticks almost every time. Last time I spent half an hour trying to get a disc out --- had to use a knife to push the tray open in the end!

So what do I go for? My Panny is about 5 or 6 years old now, and cost a bundle when I got it, but now I'm looking at better ones for a third of the price! So for about EUR 300 or so (I'm in Ireland), what should I go for? Panny again? Sony? Mitsubishi? Something else? I'd ideally like one that plays, if not records on, DVD-RAMs, as I have a ton of those, and of course the usual features --- chasing play, edit progs, divide etc etc. Something that played music CDs/MP3 would be good too (mine doesn't) and maybe DIVX (doesn't recognise that either).

So, any suggestions? Anything I should steer clear of?

Thx for any input!

Troll

[mats.hogberg]

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Samsung DVD HR757, if it's available where you live. If not, the SH855 (€287.50) looks like the same machine, with a slightly smaller HDD. Bought mine from Pixmania.

/Mats

[Trollheart]

Thanx Mats. I was looking at the Samsung. Looks nice, though I've never had any sort of a machine by them before, so wasn't sure if they were a trusted make?
I'll put it on the list!
Thx
TH

[Trollheart]

Is this the one? Not the same model but seems close...

http://www.didstore.com/store_detail.asp?modelcode=DVD-HR750&subid=199

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, the "little brother" of my machine. I think the only difference is the HDD size (the 757 has a 320 GB HDD) and HDMI connector.

/Mats

[Trollheart]

Then there's this one, which seems to have all the features I'm looking for, and a good price. But LG?
http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/534219/art/lg/rh-277h-dvd-player-record.html

People seem to look down on them (very first DVD player I had was an LG, have to admit I had no problems). Sony's RDR HXD870 seems to have garnered all sorts of rewards but it doesn't do DVD-RAM, so I guess that's out...

http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/573806/art/sony/rdr-hxd870-dvd-player-rec.html

And then there's the Toshiba, which has a much larger HDD (250 gig) BUT no DIVX and it doesn't seem to mention anything about MP3/audio capability...

http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/573806/art/sony/rdr-hxd870-dvd-player-rec.html

Ah, which to choose? These are all on that Pixmania site you mentioned, which is good as they take Laser payment and I don't have a credit card...

[oldfart13]

I don't know about pricing where you are but you might check these as well:

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/45/133/501/overview.html

http://shop.panasonic.co.uk/icat/dvdrecorders