Philips DVDR80 DVD Recorder

Bought this unit to transfer VHS and DV tape to DV ...

Strengths: VHS and DV tapes, also satellite television transfer beautifully. Better quality than the originals.

Weaknesses: Users manual practically useless.

Summary: Bought this unit to transfer VHS and DV tape to DVD with the least amount of effort, which it does wonderfully, once you figure out how. But, users manual is difficult to interperate and lacks "How To" information. Had to call support 4 times just to figure out how to copy my tapes. They did offer helpful information and I was recording like Crazy in a few minutes, only to have to call again a few minutes later. User manual is basically useless for a new user. Too confusing even for a self proclaimed Tech-Wiz like myself. Even so, Plays back my copied VHS and DV tapes beautifully. Picture and sound quality even seems to be improved. Only drawback so far.. Could include a lot more information in the Manual. Would save calling HELP several times. I was happy with the support though.. They were understanding of the incomplete and ("NOT" user friendly Users manual.) But, was able to get up and running quickly. They patiently walked me thru the processes. All in all. I would buy it again.. Excellent quality recordings!... Please PHILIPS.. Improve the Users Manual. Then I would rate it.. 5 STARS instead of 4.

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Problems I have had with the Philips DVDR80/17 ...

Strengths: see comments

Weaknesses: See comments

Summary: Problems I have had with the Philips DVDR80/17

1. Build in Guide Plus does not recognize all my cable channels. There are six channels that I cannot record through the Guide Plus system. Guide Plus web site refers me to Philips and Philips refers me to my cable company.

2. Cannot watch television while the Guide Plus system is updating which can take 24 hours. If you try to watch television with the DVDR80 off, the updating Guide Plus system will change channels as it updates.

3. Philips does not tell you on the box, but you have to install a remote channel changer to the front of your cable box. Will stick out about an inch from your cable box.

4. If you have to reset the Guide Plus system with the cable box installed, it again takes 24 hours to update.

5. If you want to watch TV channels from the cable box, you have to switch the DVDR80 on. On my setup, this means I have to turn on the TV set, the stereo amp, the cable box and now the DVDR80. You can guess how many remotes I have to have available.

6. The only thing that the Philips help line seems to be able to recommend is "reset the unit" (if you can understand them). I have done this 4 times (no TV during 24 hour reset) and still cannot receive all channels on the Guide Plus system.

7. If I had to do over, would not purchase this unit. The Guide Plus system on this unit is not ready for prime time.

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Product works fine to record programs from TV/Cabl ...

Strengths: Price

Weaknesses: Owners Manual is useless.

Summary: Product works fine to record programs from TV/Cable. However, purchased product to convert family VHS tapes to DVD. It is very difficult to work with.

83% of People (5/6) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?

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I have numerous problems recording videotapes (VHS ...

Strengths: TV recording and programming is simple.

Weaknesses: Recorder is not easy to use. Loss of picture quality watching or recording a videotape. Multiple recording problems, damaged a few DVD+RW's.

Summary: I have numerous problems recording videotapes (VHS). Most of the problems are poor picture quality, especially with animated programs recorded from VHS videotape and even a few color movies. Some of them are literally unwatchable. They are either washed out, especially in scenes with very light backgrounds, or they look like an overexposed picture. At times the recorder is very slow to respond especially when I stop the "record" mode. The unit will continue to flash "POSTFRMT" or "MENU UPDT" for a long time. Sometimes the unit will not respond to input from the remote. I've had to reset the unit a few times and have had to unplug the unit many times to stop it when frozen in a certain mode. Calling Philips support has been marginally helpful. The Owner's Manual is incomplete. It doesn't explain everything nor does it explain it very well. I can't say I wouldn't buy this again but I am disappointed in its performance for the price. Black and white movies copy the best from VHS and I'm happy about that. Animated programs haven been disappointing for the most part. Even just watching a videotape from a VCR through the unit is disappointing. When I've watched the same videotape on another TV with only a VCR the picture quality is better. Maybe this is just the nature of these things but I had hoped for better results. I am waiting for upgraded software for this unit from Philips.

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This is the very first DVD recorder that I have ow ...

Strengths: Very easy to use. Picture quality is excellent.

Weaknesses: Manual is incomplete and difficult to understand. On-screen menus are somewhat confusing.

Summary: This is the very first DVD recorder that I have owned. After using it for the past 6 months, I find that it is easy to use and has some very useful features. I also like the quality of the picture and sound. I am very pleased with this machine.

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I had this DVD recorder that I purchased from Circ ...

Strengths: Compact and thin, Can choose backgrounds for the menus, Thumbnails can be changed.

Weaknesses: Picture quality is not very good past the highest quality setting, Inability to connect other than composite.

Summary: I had this DVD recorder that I purchased from Circuit City and returned it 10 days later. I tried various types of media and still nothing helped the improvement of picture quality. I will say that I was shooting for backing up old VHS tapes, but did record some TV with not much more improvement. For the price, there are better DVD Recorcers out there like the Toshiba D-R2 or the Lite-On LVW-5005. You get what you pay for though. If you are looking for professional quality, you will need to spend alot of money.

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