Looking for a good DVD Recorder...

[Zak]

Hi,

I'm going to take the plunge and purchase my first DVD Recorder. I have noticed the prices have come down significantly since the last time I checked, but I don't want to buy any old thing. I was looking at the Phillips DVDR70 ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000A9YZT/qid%3D1114987864/202-5912861-8870227 ), but it seems to have such a mix of good and bad reviews online that I'm worried about getting it - apparently the multi-region feature on it is dodgy, too.

Anyway, here are a few requirements I'm looking for:

A decent brand name - not too hefty of a requirement, especially if anyone can recommend any good-really good recorders which have less brand recognition.

DVD-R recording compatible - ideally, I'd like one that can do both DVD +R/-R but if not, I'd prefer -R. I'll purchase a +R only one if it's good enough and at a decent price range.

Size - I'm not too bothered if it's around the size of a Phillips DVD70 (linked above) but I don't want anything noticeably huge.

Recording - something that can record my VHS tapes from my video channel when I play them on my VCR.

Price - I'm looking to ideally spend around £150, although I would go up to £200 if the machine is right.

Multi-region - preferably out of the box or very easy to make it so.

I would appreciate any and all recommendations, and anything I should look for as a requirement which I haven't mentioned.

Thank you.

[solidsnake]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00069YILC/qid=1114994415/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1...388381-2061249

liteon makes a good cheap recorder, granted it does have its share of problems. If you search this board for the "5005" I think its pretty much the same, only the 5006 has vcr+, or whatever its called in the UK.

[SCDVD]

Another plus for the LiteOn 5005 is that there are reliable hacks that allow the addition of 3-hour recording and the defeat of Macrovision.

[FKrueger]

I have the Philips DVDR75 and the ILODVDR04 (hacked). The Philips was dead out of the box, I shouldve returned it, but sent it in for warrenty repair, it took them 5 months to fix it. I can't recomend the Philips. The ILO has bugs with 2 of the 3 inputs, but it's hackable and I worked around the input problem by getting a video selector. I did recomend the ILO to 2 friends and we all 3 have been happy so far. I don't know if you can get the ILO...

[lordsmurf]

I don't know that any unit can meet all those criteria.

[super-al]

I would get a medion DVD recorder they are the best for the money. You can find them on ebay all day long for around 99.00.

[Zak]

Ok, it doesn't matter if it doesn't meet all the suggested criteria, I'm looking for any good recommendations. I have looked at Panasonic model here - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00021DM84/qid=1115041665/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_...912861-8870227 - what's the difference between normal DVD and DVD RAM?

[Shocker Milwaukee]

What's the difference between normal DVD and DVD RAM?

https://www.videohelp.com/glossary?D#DVD-RAM

DVD-RAM
A recordable format supported by the DVD Forum. It has superior recording features but it is not compatible with most DVD-ROM drives or DVD Video players. It works well when set up like a removable hard disk.

More info here:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/othervideo/dvdformats.htm