The Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder. A next generation machine?

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The Phillips DVDR-75 DVD recorder and Phillips DVDR-80 DVD recorder both feature the Variable Bit Rate (VBR) recording system. That means these DVD recorders efficiently dedicate resources to make the best picture quality DVD. VBR enables a DVD recorder to monitor the incoming signal and automatically dedicate more resources to scenes that need it.

The Phillips DVDR75 DVD recorder is the more basic of the two machines, capable of recording to DVD+RW/+R format and offering standard audio and video ports along with a FireWire input so you can hook up your digital video camera and transfer your film. The Philips DVDR75 DVD recorder features progressive scan for sharp pictures and quality sound including VCRPlus® for timer programming and up to six hours of video recording per side.

The Phillips DVDR75 DVD recorder allows consumers to transfer videotapes and broadcast programming to DVD. The Phillips DVDR75 DVD recorder also features i.LINK™ for digital copying from camcorders, allowing consumers to digitally preserve family moments.

Its big brother, the Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder, offers all of the features of the Philips DVDR75 DVD recorder.

Unlike the Philips DVDR75, the Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder uses a sophisticated Motion Adaptive System (DCDi by Faroudja) that corrects visual artifacts and optimizes the video image. Progressive scanning as described earlier creates a picture that uses twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture. This yields higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.The Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder 's progressive-scan video playback is more impressive than the Philips DVDR75.

So far there really is no machine that has all the features to make DVD recording seamless. The Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder, gets most of it right. This DVD+R machine has an important feature: an electronic program guide (EPG). The Guide Plus EPG lets you browse upcoming shows and schedule recordings by pressing a button. The DVDR80 has excellent video processing during playback and plenty of inputs.Philips's menu system uses horizontal and vertical cursor movement. Navigation can be a little slow. Both the Phillips DVDR75 DVD recorder and the Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder’s options are straightforward enough so that beginners shouldn't have much trouble (you can always read the helpful user manual).

You’d think by now manufacturers would realize that we need finger friendly remotes. Although the Record button's placement far from the central area cuts down on accidental recordings. The remote on the Philips DVDR 80 DVD recorder has many of the same-size keys so again you have to fumble around for the feature you want. Believe it or not there are no dedicated controls for forward and reverse scanning, so you must hold down Chapter Skip instead.

You can also use the Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder like a VCR, burning televised programs directly to disc using the handy Guide Plus (onscreen TV program guide). Recording functions include safe record, one-touch record (OTR), track append, track divide, track erase, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, disc write protection, favorite scene selection, index picture screen for instant content overview, and Selectable Index Pictures.

You need cable to use Guide Plus (if you have satellite you’re out of luck). To activate it you enter your zip code and a few details about your system, then leave the recorder connected to cable overnight. Many of the entries on the guide didn't match the channels themselves, so they have to be rearranged until everything matched. When you hook up the Philips DVDR 80 DVD recorder to a digital-cable box Guide Plus might load sporadically.

If the EPG loads it is a pretty impressive feature. A grid appears that contains your entire channel lineup in an inset window. When you select a program, you can schedule it to be recorded once, daily, or every time it comes on. The guide listings extend a week into the future; you can sort upcoming shows by name or theme. An IR blaster can change channels on your cable box automatically, and VCR Plus makes manual-timer recording easier.

The back panel of the Philips DVDR 80 DVD recorder has a single A/V input and output, both with S-Video; a component-video output; and an RF input and output for the cable. The Philips lacks dual A/V ins and outs. The Philips pair of digital-audio outputs (optical and coaxial) and its component-video input are more valuable than multiple jacks of the same type. In front, behind a flip-down door, you'll discover another A/V input with S-Video and a FireWire jack for digital camcorders.

DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing.

Phillips DVD recorder decks records on write-once DVD+Rs, which are somewhat less compatible than DVD-Rs, as well as on rewritable DVD+RWs. The seven recording modes can fit 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, or 8 hours of footage on a single-sided 4.7GB disc. But as recording length increases, video quality decreases. The simple DVD menu created on each disc consists of customizable thumbnail images and basic information about the contents. You can easily insert chapter stops on nonfinalized discs, or the recorder can do that for you in 5- to 6-minute intervals.

The Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder provides consumers with quality picture and sound performance. Point and click programming through an on-screen TV guide that allows for programming. In addition you can create copies of home videos through the i.LINK™ digital connections from your camcorder. The Philips DVDR 80 DVD recorder also features a disc manager that allows viewing of recorded discs. There is a combined eight hours of recording time and index picture screen and favorite scene selection.

You can get the latest pricing on this Phillips DVD recorder at Amazon here. They are a good barometer of what you might expect to pay for this machine.

You can look over the Philips DVDR 80 DVD recorder operating manual by following this link (give it a moment to load) The Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder user manual

The user manual gives you an idea of what this DVD recorder can do. If you're interested in this machine and live close to a major electronic retailer I'd suggest that you visit the store and have a salesman show you the DVD recorder in action.

Compare the store's price on the Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder with the price from above. If you can save $30 bucks or more I'd stick with Amazon. They are usually offering some incentive and you can usually avoid the tax too. The Philips DVDR80 Progressive Scan DVD Player / Recorder at Amazon.

In my opinion Philips makes the best machines. One of their best machines is the Philips DVDR-80 DVD recorder.