Advice on DVD Recorders with Hard Drives

[knffa]

I'm looking to buy a DVD recorder with a hard drive and I think I've narrowed it down to these 2:
Lite-On HD-740GX
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11123627&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

Philips DVDR3455/37
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4922159

As far as I can tell they seem fairly similar (both in features and price), so I'm guessing it comes down to whichever brand name is more reliable. I usually like to research products to death before I buy them, but I can't seem to find any reviews/feedback on these models, so if anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Also, in my browsing around (places like Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, Walmart, etc...) I came up with very few options for DVD Recorders with hard drives that weren't TIVO's or tied to a provider like DirecTV. Am I looking in the wrong places, or is the selection really as limited as I think (in this price range of <$300)?

Again, any kind of help is appreciated. Thanks.

[SLK001]

Recorders with integrated HDs have been as rare as hen's teeth (at least in the US). We discussed this topic about two years ago. I found a vendor in China who had a HD based VCR (RE: no tapes), but it didn't have a integrated burner. No one was willing to send this guy ~$300 just to test the unit (buy one, test it, keep it). A unit with both a HD and a burner for under $300 sounds like a pretty good deal - provided the MPEG2 conversion doesn't look like shit and you have ample control over the encoding. Look over to the column on the left under "DVD Recorders" - there might be a review on one of your units.

[trhouse]

LiteOn's record to dvd in dvd+vr mode which is not as compatible as dvd-video mode.

[handyguy]

Those seem like cheaper players. Panasonic makes a lot of them with HD's, I got one with a 400 meg hd. But not in your price range.....
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders

[knffa]

Thanks for the feedback, and I have looked at this site for reviews (it's the first place I go when reading up on this kinda stuff), but the LiteOn seems too new and I couldn't find any.
Looking at both model's descriptions, neither mentions whether they record in dvd+vr or dvd-video modes. I'd ask which is better, but after some research that seems like a loaded question (and also very dependant on the user's preferance). But I was wondering if most newer DVD players support dvd+vr mode?

Anyway, I think I'm leaning towards the Lite-On, because my little experience with Lite-On tells me that while usually cheaper, they are simple and reliable enough to get the job done. If that assumption fails, I can still fall back on Costco's generous return policy. I've heard stories of people being able to return dead flowers!

[TBoneit]

Did you look at the new Pioneers, I believe you can get em at B & H @ http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ they have a decent price and selection. Their store is always packed (NYC,NY) and they also ship. In My case being in NJ I went to the store as tolls + Gas were the same as their shipping and I could carry the JVC SVHS home that day.

[lacywest]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7785615#post7785615

There are a few comments posted there