The Toshiba DVD recorder the RD-XS32 --has a hard drive that can be edited

The rugged Toshiba RD-XS32 top surface curves down slightly near the front panel and is loaded with buttons. There’s a basic record/playback controls, these include buttons for switching inputs, changing channels, and selecting either the DVD drive or hard disk. Underneath a flip-up door on the front panel is an A/V input with composite- and S-video connections plus a FireWire port for hooking up a camcorder.

Along with the standard A/V inputs on the back panel the Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) has an output for an infrared (IR) blaster that you can aim at your cable or satellite receiver for VCR Plus+ automatic program recording. The supplied remote control is large to accommodate the vast array of buttons. The main buttons for basic DVD playback are in the center where they can be easily found. This remote takes getting used to because of the over abundance of buttons.

There’s an Easy Navi button that will make menu navigation easy (if you choose to use it). Easy Navi calls up a screen that clearly lists the recorder’s many features. The screen’s top half contains a window displaying the currently selected program, an icon indicating if it’s located on the hard drive or on disc, and additional information like date recorded, program length, and playback time.

The lower half of the screen has a list of functions including TV Viewing, Timer Recording, Play Contents, and DV Recording (to dub footage from a camcorder). Other options let you delete programs, format DVD-RAM or DVD-RW discs, dub programs from hard drive to disc, or vice versa, and access the recorder’s setup menu.

With both hard-disk and DVD-R/RW recording onboard, the Toshiba offers many editing features that the other DVD recorders lack. For example, its playlist editing function lets you cut out and compile a bunch of scenes from programs stored on the hard disk. The same method can also be used to edit camcorder footage.

The Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) video performance was outstanding. The image is noise-free and crisp, and recordings made at the SP preset’s 5-Mbps bit rate were excellent. Progressive-scan DVD playback was also very good .

For a little more money the Toshiba RD-XS32 DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) is the way to go. This machine has a spacious hard drive that you can record to. On the Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) you can edit out the commercials, and record everything to DVD. If you’vre read any of the other review of similar DVR / DVD recorders on this site you’ll remember that they cannot edit out the commercials. For my money this gives the Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) a huge advantage.

The deficiencies with the Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) are:

1) The process of dividing your shots up into discrete chapters for editing on the Toshiba is ultimately clumsy and slow. Using an editing program on a computer is much more efficient.

2) There’s no onscreen electronic program guide, which makes scheduling recordings a chore compared with the Dish Network satellite hard-disk recorder reviewed elsewhere on this site.

3) The Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) is more expensive than many of its contemporaries

The Toshiba RD-XS32 is a fine machine. If you are interested in buying it on line I recomend buying from Amazon. They are by far and away one of the most trusted sources on the Internet. Their pricing is usually competitive. You can find the The Toshiba DVD recorder ( RD-XS32 ) at Amazon here. Toshiba DVD recorder