| DVD Recorders are in my opinion one of the most | | | | recorder for basic recording of TV shows, to buy any |
| falsely advertised and promoted Consumer products | | | | Lite-On DVD Recorder with a built in TV Tuner, that |
| of all time because while most people know the good | | | | you can get under $100. Lite-On is incredibly easy to |
| stuff, very few people are aware of the bad stuff until | | | | use as they have a really good easy remote control |
| after they've purchased them. Having said that, you | | | | program that guides you step by step. The picture and |
| can still get good DVD Recorders for between | | | | sound are good as well. I say its better to spend under |
| $50-$100, the key is knowing what you're planning to | | | | $100 on something that you know will eventually break |
| use them for. You're now saying "Duh, to record | | | | down then spend $250 or more for a fancier recorder |
| DVDs". Well there are limitations on recording which is | | | | that will also eventually break down. Whatever you do, |
| the "Bad Stuff" and this article will give you general | | | | do not buy a used or refurbished DVD recorder |
| pointers on how to save money when buying a DVD | | | | because its life is even more limited as its laser has |
| recorder and DVD recordable media (DVD%2BR, | | | | already been worn down- to what degree you don't |
| DVD-R, DVD%2BRW and DVD-RW). | | | | know. |
| There are 3 types of DVD recorders: Internal | | | | If your computer does not have an internal DVD |
| computer DVD recorders aka DVD burners, external | | | | recorder, you can get a decent small external DVD |
| computer DVD Recorders aka external DVD burners | | | | recorder for between $50-$95 new. I would |
| and Stand Alone DVD Recorders (Some DVR's have | | | | recommend an HP 20x Super Multi DVD Writer |
| a DVD recording drive as well). You can record TV | | | | (Recorder) which you can get for under $60 new at |
| Shows on stand alone DVD recorders as well as | | | | discount. Most of these players come with free |
| computer DVD recorders if your computer has a card | | | | software and as I mentioned I would go with any one |
| installed that will let you receive broadcasts from | | | | that came with Nero software. The external DVD |
| Cable TV provided there is a "hub" to connect your | | | | recorders connect easily to your computer by USB |
| cable too. The main difference between the stand | | | | and they record CDs as well. They also play CDs and |
| alone DVD recorders and the computer Internal and | | | | DVDs besides recording them. |
| external recorders are that the stand alone DVD | | | | I would recommend if you are using a stand alone |
| Recorders can not as far as I know record in 5.1 | | | | DVD Recorder to only use DVD%2BRW or |
| sound while internal and external computer DVD | | | | DVD-RW media, as these are re-recordable DVDs |
| recorders can. This is one of the things they don't tell | | | | and you can play them on any DVD player as soon |
| you about Stand Alone DVD recorders. One thing | | | | as you finished recording. If you buy the standard |
| however I found the Stand Alone DVD Recorder to | | | | DVD%2BR or DVD-R disc, you can not re-record on |
| do better/easier than a computer DVD recorder is to | | | | them and more importantly you will need to do an |
| transfer old Video tapes to DVD. | | | | extra step on your Stand Alone DVD Recorder called |
| The Major Thing they don't tell you about DVD | | | | Finalize. If you forget to Finalize, the DVD will not play |
| recorders is it's almost impossible to make a DVD | | | | on anything other then your DVD recorder. You do not |
| recording of a commercially sold DVD as most of | | | | need to Finalize a DVD%2BRW or DVD-RW disc, |
| them are encrypted, as well as being illegal. I believe | | | | which is why I recommend you buy them for stand |
| that making recordings of non-encrypted commercial | | | | alone DVD recorders. For internal or external |
| DVDs is also illegal. There are no commercially sold | | | | computer DVD recorders you do not need to manually |
| retail software or devices as far as I know that will let | | | | finalize anything as the software does everything itself |
| you record copies of commercial DVDs that have | | | | so you don't need to spend the extra money on |
| been encrypted. So if you are planning to buy a DVD | | | | re-recordable discs. Having said that, I would still buy at |
| recorder to make recordings of commercially sold | | | | least 10 re-recordable discs as when you're first |
| DVDS, you are wasting your time. Note, if you do a | | | | recording on the computer as you'll probably make a |
| search on the internet there probably is software that | | | | bunch of mistakes, almost everyone does, and this |
| will allow you to make these recordings, however | | | | way you can practice till you make perfect. Personally, |
| doing so is illegal. | | | | I would recommend if you have a friend who has |
| The other thing they don't really tell you about DVD | | | | recorded DVDs on the computer to show you how to |
| Recorders is that they are built to self destruct as the | | | | do everything step by step. It's an easy process but |
| lasers eventually wear down, While stand alone and | | | | like everything else you learn by trial and error. |
| external computer DVD recorders are relatively | | | | I also noticed that when I recorded DVDs, the drop in |
| cheap, they usually don't last more than a couple of | | | | quality from recording at SP to LP and LP to EP, is a |
| years before their lasers break down. The good news | | | | lot more prominent in DVDS then video tape. If quality |
| is, they're relatively cheap and just consider them a | | | | is a concern, I would record at SP when you can and |
| disposable product. My internal computer DVD | | | | no lower than EP. |
| Recorders have never broken down. You do need | | | | I hope you enjoy using your DVD recorder. If you are |
| software to record DVD's on your computer and a lot | | | | planning to do things more advanced then editing, then |
| of these players come with software. I use Nero | | | | of course I would recommend buying a more |
| Software which I love and which is also good for | | | | advanced recorder but for the basic things, you can |
| burning CDs as well. | | | | get a decent DVD recorder between $50-$100. |
| I recommend if you are buying a stand alone DVD | | | | |