Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - good brand dvd recorder

looking for a simple recorder just to record movies off satellite box, nothing fancy but good quality recordings...thanks for any input

The picture and sound quality will be equal among any of the major brands you see in the stores. No need to spend more than $150. The research I would do would be (1) price, and (2) the customer service reviews of any given model.

You need to watch out for some brands like APEX and similar...they work just fine..but their remotes and menus can be a little strange.

thanks guys for the info. Have never owned a dvd recorder and just trying to experiment a little

I bought one of the first Panasonic consumer grade DVRs about five years ago and it is still going strong. Since then I have bought two more Panasonic models, one a tape/dvd model and one with built-in TV Guide.

The unit with the TV Guide started giving me problems with the timed recording based upon the TV Guide information so I took it to my local authorized service center. They couldn't repair it, even with guidance from Panasonic and even though I had taken it in just a few days prior to the expiration of the one-year warranty, Panasonic offered to refund my full purchase price or replace it with the current similar model. I opted for the replacement unit and it has been just fine for two full years.

So for no other reason than their standing behind the warranty I would choose another Panasonic.

I would strongly suggest that you purchase a unit with a built-in hard disk drive rather than recording everything onto RW or RAM discs. Most hard disc drives will hold at least forty hours at standard play.

I agree with furd on getting one with a hard disk.

I have a habit of waiting for technology to drop into my price bracket and recently saw a hard drive recorder that will also burn disks on sale for $200.00 cdn.
Many of these will allow you to pause a tv program if you are interupted.