dvd recorders

The Toshiba D-R2 would have been more appropriately named the Toshiba R2-D2 because it's just as quirky as the robot of Star Wars fame. While the interface isn't the most user-friendly, it shouldn't take very long for the average user to become familiar with it, though it did take a while to learn how to edit a title. While recorded picture quality is adequate, the main problem with this machine is its uncanny ability to record entirely through a disc without detecting "disc errors" and then during the finalizing process (DVD-R) discs, you commonly get the message "DISC MAY NEED CLEANING OR IS DAMAGED PHYSICALLY".
As I've been using DVD recorders for almost two years, I didn't think that brand new DVD-R discs required cleaning, but I cleaned a couple anyway. No cigar. After trying to record approximately 40 DVD-R discs FOR VIDEO on this machine, from both Fuji and Ri-Data, I've had to throw away almost 45% of the discs. If you like to spend much money on discs, this is the machine for you. It's highly doubtful that I was unfortunate enough to purchase two bad batches of discs, from two different companies no less. Rather than contacting Toshiba, I threw the D-R2 into the trash with the latest disc it couldn't finalize successfully. To provide company for the Toshiba D-R2, I also tossed the Philips DVDR-75 recorder, another nearly worthless machine that has caused many people much grief. Does anyone know of any DVD recorders manufactured to be relatively grief-free?

The Toshiba DVD recorder has too many great features to list in small review.If you are new to DVD Recorders or not willing to learn. Then get one desgined for dummies. But once you learn all its features, you will be rewarded with the finest quality recordings. Yes this unit has a 150 page manual, as well as two smaller ones. That alone should give you a clue as to how many features this has. The remote, does not have the strongest signal. However, you could always replace it with a universal remote. It does have some oddly labeled buttons. But once you learn them , all is fine.

The virtual keyboard that is used to name your DVDs. Is your standard "QWERTY" keyboard. Should you make a mistake there are a delete, backspace, and clear keys on the Keyboard. One odd feature is that you must press the PAUSE button for CAPS LOCK. But once you know that,it's simple to use. Just be sure to press the * key after you named your DVD disk. You are NOT able to edit chapter information on a DVD-R with ANY DVD RECORDER using DVD-R Disks. That's why this unit uses DVD-RW and DVD-RAM disks. Those disks are used for editing. The picture quality is excellent. There are three noise reduction units to prevent blocking and mosquito noise. Unless you record in the six hour speed you will not have to use them. In reply to the person who thinks this unit is difficult to use. He obviously needs a simple plug 'n' play tinker-toy unit like the $200 Gateway.

The Toshiba DVD recorder seems like it was created as a textbook example of how not to engineer a user interface. The underpowered remote, which will not work unless pointed directly at the recorder's sweet spot, is covered in a bewildering array of incomprehensively-labeled buttons. I'm a smart guy, but seeing buttons labeled "*" and "O" really puts me off. The virtual keyboard was evidently designed by a sadist; combinations of moving the cursor around the screen merge with strange elections like "pause" to toggle caps lock. Should you make a mistake (easy with the box's slow response times to its weak remote), you'll need to flip a little door open on the remote to find the "delete" button. Just be careful not to press the identical "clear all" button that's right next to it.

When I tried to edit chapter information, I got highly uninformative error messages about the option not being available. I had to dig through the 150-page instruction manual to find that I was getting the error because I was trying to add chapter information to a DVD-R, which is verboten.

The picture quality is decent. The built-in line doubler works tolerably well. But using this thing is like pulling teeth, and in fact I've barely touched on the pounding headaches this device will give you.

Mine is going back to the store. I'll get a DVD recorder manufactured by a company that actually hires people to create usable UI.