Toshiba RD-XS32?

[chole]

I missed out on the pioneer deal at costco, the next best deal on a quality recorder seems to be on the Toshiba RD-XS32 dvd recorder at $350, I'm looking to step up from my panasonic e55 I use -Ram and -R discs, the only problem seems to be that I've read that their manuel stinks, I'm looking for something fairly easy to learn, I'd like to here from some of you guys that own this machine, is their an easy way for me to learn it and what do you think of it, how does it rate to the Panasinics and the pioneer...

thanks

[SteveDH]

I've got one and am happy with it.I didn;t find it particularly hard to use. If you get stuck you always have the 'easy nav' button.

BTW I'm a UK user.

Others have been less happy with it, if you want to see lots of discussion on it have a look at http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=113

[chole]

I have a comcast digital cable box, I want to copy from HBO on demand and ESPN etc, does the black bug effect that at all.

I do want to use it to copy some SVHS, Super Beta, and Hi8 tapes that I recorded in the late eighties and early/mid nineties, this is to give out on -R discs to other people, if? there is a black level bug could I simply take the time to first record them to my Cannon ZR40 mini digital camcorder and then transfer them from the mini tape to the RD-S32, would I loose any real quality.

Outside of the possible black bug how does the S32 compare to panny's and Pioneer for editing and picture quality played back on other DVDs when not involving analog tapes as the source? (coming from my camcast digital cable box or my mini digital camcorder) if the sourse is from my digital box does the channel I'm recording from make any difference?