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DVD recorders are a device for recording TV shows onto DVD disc. It's pretty much the same as a VHS recorder, but with a DVD instead of video tape. Generally, a DVD recorder will save the TV programme onto a hard drive, and will then burn this information onto a DVD at a later date. DVD recorders were initially expensive to buy, at least £400. But, the prices are beginning to fall, and finding a cheap DVD recorder online isn't a hard task. Currently, the majority of major manufacturers, such Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Toshiba, JVC, Sharp and Samsung make DVD recorders.

Look for these properties on a recorder (28/09/08),

• 160 GB HDD Capacity
• Record on DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs.
  
• 64 x High Speed Dubbing from HDD to DVD
  
• Pause Live TV
  
• Intelligent chaptering
• PAL progressive component output

DVD recorders can also support,

• Video Plus+
  
• D-Matrix Noise Reduction

DVD recorders also use different formats such as DVD+ and DVD-. It may appear bonkers that there are two different recording formats, but that's the electronics industry. Most recorders only support one format, but as time passes more machines are supporting all formats, such as Lite-On machines. There are also many different types of recordable DVDs, such as DVD-RW DVD-R and DVD+RW DVD+R. The 'R' indicates the disc can be written on once, and 'RW' indicates the disc can be written upon multiple times. Their are also DVD-Ram discs, which can only be played on a DVD-Ram recorder.

• Comet - Comet supply a wide range of DVD Players and DVD's. Comet currently stock these brands of DVD Recorders; Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Hitachi, Sharp, and many others.
• Dixons - Dixons also stock a wide range of electrical brands, such as Sony, Panasonic, Aiwa, Compaq, Hewlett packard, Toshiba and many more.
• DVD Players UK - Online store offering the very latest in brand name multiregion dvd. Find all the major brands.

User Rating -
Sky+ Plus Box

I've never owned a dvd recorder, my Sky Plus Box, which I'm led to believe is a DVR appliance, is the first digital recording device I've owned. My local electronics retailers was discounting them for fifty pounds, and that also included the installation, which apparently cannot be performed easily. The installer stated that unlike a normal Sky decoder, the Sky+ box needs two cables connected to the satellite dish. One to play and one to record I assumed, though I didn't like to ask, unless it was such an obvious answer as to make my question seem moronic.

It's been around six months since I had the box installed, and all I can say is WOW. Apart from starting to access the Internet, I can remember few so revolutionary items installed in my home. Certainly in the last decade, this baby has totally changed my viewing habits. Gone are the days of watching adverts and using video tapes. I was never one for recording on to VHS, it all seems so fiddily and effortsome, especially if you wanted to time a recording in advance. There is no such issues with Sky+, all you need to do is browse the menu system and press a red record button on your controller. That's it!

You can also pause live television, make yourself a cup of tea, and return twelve minutes later to resume your viewing. And this will not effect your recording of another programme. Therefore, you can pause what your watching, and simultaneously record another programme. This on the face of it may not seem so impressive, but believe me, once you get into the habit of it, you will never want to go back. There is storage space for around thirty or so movies, well that's the most I've singularly had stored at any one time.

I cannot imagine there are easier ways to record and watch television. The only things I wish Sky+ supportedare, the ability to burn recorded programmes onto DVD, (this maybe possible with a DVD recorder, but I am not sure), and the ability to surf the menu for a week in advance, and record any programmes then, if your away for a day or two. Otherwise I cannot fault Sky, they have managed to create a genuinely astounding product.

User - supalou

User Rating -
Sony RDR-HX510

At £300 this recorder isnt cheap, but for this price you get a machine that's easy to use and has a well specified and thought out design. Like with most Sony products it ozzes quality and build quality, and the picture quality produced is superb. The feature i love most is the synch recording that allows for use with a digital set top box. The editing of recordings is also ABC simple to get the hang of, as is any dubbing you wish to do from HDD to DVD formats. Maybe a little pricey, but you get what you pay for.

User - Colin Watts

Popularity
Value for money
Ability to find on the Net
Better value than high street

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DVD recorders are slowly making video redundent. It's all down to price currently, hopefully by 2006 a DVD recorder will be within the price limits of most UK households. Update, prices are now within the reach of most households, in every respect a DVD recorders is superior to it's VHS counterpart, so what are you waiting for!