Advice request on buying a DVD recorder. Leaning towards R75

[gfrobe]

I'm about to purchase my first DVD Recorder and could use some advice. Have read through quite a few posts but still have a few questions.


Here is what I'm looking for:

- convert VHS-C tapes to DVD. I'm in UK and VHS-C camcorder is NTSC. I know DVDR75 can record in NTSC from an NTSC source but can it also convert to PAL if I wanted it to?

Are there any other recorders in same price range that have same or better NTSC and PAL capabilities than DVDR75?

- I also have a DV camcorder and would like to make DVDs from this as well. So, I'd like to have a firewire input.

- Question - if I download a DIVX movie from internet, can I go straight from firewire out on computer to firewire in on recorder and make a DVD? Is this feature standard on all DVD recorders with firewire?

- I'm a bit confused about deciding between DVD+RW and DVD RAM. Aside from an internal hard drive, is DVD RAM the only option that would allow me to pause live TV or can I somehow also do that with the DVDR75?

One last question - if I have a cable decoder box (telewest in UK), will it be at all possible for me to record one program while watching another?

I was leaning towards DVDR75 primarily because I read good things about it's PAL/NTSC capabilities but if others in the same price range offer similar, I would like to consider. And I would like to pause live Tv.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[hech54]

In my personal opinion:
I have an old Philips DVDR985 and love it. I have never mucked with the firmware and it has never broken down....quite rare for Philips DVD Recorders if you believe everything you read in certain places. Again in my opinion...the reason mine has been so trouble free is because I DO NOT use it as my primary DVD Player. Those little cheap DVD Players available out there were designed specifically to PLAY DVD's and do it MUCH better than any Philips DVD Recorder.
The Philips recorders will record in either PAL or NTSC "with a brand new unused disc" or an RW that has been erased completely in a computer burner.
Believe it or not....I've never tried the firewire port...or even any of the connections on the front of my machine....and I bought it in 2002. Maybe others can add more info from here on....
Oh and one more thing...again in my opinion...I still use my S-VHS VCR to record most TV material I want. I bought the 985 to preserve old family and concert VHS material....not to wear out my then $700 investment for my family to tape soap operas and sitcoms.