1 comments about Insignia NS-DVDVCR DVD-VCR Combo.

1. This only received light use over the 4 months I have owned it since Christmas, and it was working perfectly fine the day before it stopped functioning. I think it was only left running all night once, and other than that was mainly used on weekends for a few hours at a time. (One or two tv episodes or a movie or so.) One day, it just reads "Unknown Disc" and nothing can be done to fix it. Lovely, plus its JUST out of its 90 day manufacturer warranty. Lovely.

5 comments about RCA DRC8312n DVD Recorder/VCR COMBO.

1. recorded just five disks.
   Then, it "freezes" on future recordings. Requires removal of power cord to "reset".
   Many features, but the basic ones do not work.
   I have two other DVD recorders that work well. The RCA does not.
   
   ***UPDATE*** after six weeks in RCA authorized repair, and four follow-up phone calls, they seem to have fixed the problem.



2. I bought this unit for the same reasons most of the previous posters have. For the record, I did not buy this unit from Amazon (I bought a refurbished model from another vendor). However, I will tell you that If I had paid $260 for it, I think I would be a lot more upset than most of you are. I'll try to separate my comments into pros/cons.
   
   Pros:
   1. Plays store-bought DVDs, VHS tapes, and CDs well. Plays homemade music CDs and MP3s well. Picture/sound quality is very good (I am using S-video and the Digital Optical sound output).
   2. Multiple inputs on front & back, including DV and S-video in on the front of the unit, which is convenient.
   3. Multiple outputs on back which will work with a variety of TVs or receivers.
   
   Cons:
   1. Darn thing doesn't record DVDs! (Which is the main reason I bought it!). Instructions recommend using media from "reputable" manufacturers; I am using HP DVD+Rs, which I consider to be from a reputable source. I have not tried media from another vendor yet, so will try Sony or Verbatim before I abandon all hope of being able to record. I have the same basic problem as everyone else -- except my unit will only record for about 30 seconds before it freezes. Sometimes, I get a loud high-pitched audio tone when it freezes, and sometimes it says "Unable to Record - Media may be Dirty" message, suggesting I clean the media and try again. These are brand new DVD+Rs straight out of the box, so I don't think that is the problem. I tried cleaning the unit and also resetting the unit back to factory defaults, but this has not fixed the problem. The freeze does require me to unplug and re-plug the unit, as others have experienced.
   2. DVD/VCR on-screen menu is not very intuitive.
   3. Using the remote to navigate the setup or DVD menus is worse -- whoever designed the hardware should be horse-whipped.
   4. The unit itself is not very attractive (my wife thought it looked like it was from the 1970s).
   5. Manual and supporting documentation is awful (Xeroxed copy of original manual that is blurry and has 5 pt. type that is hard to read); plus, you REALLY have to look to find a customer service number to call for assistance.
   
   Again, I bought my unit for $85, which makes it fine for a simple DVD/VCR playback machine. I'm a little hacked that it doesn't record DVDs, but will try different media as mentioned earlier.
   
   Basically, I think all electronics these days are throwaways anyway. I had a top of the line Sony DVD player (not recorder) that lasted a little over a year (just out of warranty, of course) before it died. I bought a top of the line Toshiba to replace that unit, and it died after a little over a year (sound familiar?). So, I went low-rent and bought this unit, and it will probably die after a year (if not sooner). My advice is to find the cheapest unit possible that fits your needs, regardless of brand. When it dies (and it will), toss it and get a new one.



3. Mine works great. You just need to make sure you record on the correct discs. Awesome deal!



4. 
   When I receivee the RCA unit, the user manual was a big disappointment. It was small, and the printing was so small you have to use a magnifying glass.It was printed in mexico.
   I ordered manual which I hope will be a much better copy. I ordered it on Aug 20 and still havent received it. So I havent had a chance to use the RCA unit to date until I receive a satisfactory manual.



5. As noted by a previous reviewer there are problems with jamming, freezing and skipping unless you record on certain speeds.
   I liked that the time automatically set itself after power outtages. Unfortunately although it did reset the time it often lost a day or set to am instead of pm, so programs that were set to timer recordings did not record.
   
   It works ok for playback of rented or store bought movies but is not very reliable when it comes to recording tv shows to disc. The VCR part takes forever to rewind a tape. I paid a lot more for it than it's selling for now. I noticed not long after I bought it that the store where I got it from was no longer selling them new, they only had a few "refurbished" ones. It seems too many people had too many problems with this model.
   
   I have had it less than a year and am getting rid of it this week because I'm sick and tired of going to watch shows that I have recorded and finding that either the disc is still blank (even though the red light came on and the freaking thing said it was recording) or turning it on only for it to say "disc problem" I have thrown so many brand new fresh out of the package not a scratch on them discs because this monstrosity insisted their was a "disc problem" Do not waste your money.

5 comments about Toshiba SDV393 Progressive DVD/VCR Combination.

1. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS OF NOISE OR POOR QUALITY WITH THE TOSHIBA SD-V393. I HAVE ONLY USED IT A FEW WEEKS BUT SO FAR - SO GOOD! I DO AGREE THE REMOTE CONTROL IS VERY SMALL.
   
   A.P.



2. This was one of the best gifts I've ever received. The buttons make sense; both DVDs and videotapes play perfectly. I've had mine for a year and a half. I see that other folks have written that they have had problems, but I have had no problems at all. Although I primarily use it for DVDs,I really love this machine, and would recommend it to anyone who still has videos, and who hates complicated buttons and/or directions on their remotes.



3. unit takes time to react to a command. At first I thought something was wrong with the product. It wouldn't rewind or fast forward immediately from when I pushed the button. But other than the delay of "thinking" of what to do, the unit performs fine.



4. I've read several online post and a lot of complaints are being made about the Toshiba DVD/VCR combo SD-V393. A lot of these models have stopped working after only a little over a year of use. I bought this product in December 2005 from Sears. I thought that the power connection was loose but realized the DVD/VCR had died. Previous use of this item was great but I feel that buying a product that will only last a little more than a year is not reliable.



5. The DVD/VCR combo was a gift for my sister. She has an older TV that needed
   a built in receiver. The combo works great and she is especially impressed
   with the sound. The only negative was that it was a little complicated to
   install. Once it was working it was great. It arrived in a timely manner and she is very satisfied.

5 comments about Samsung DVDV5500 DVD/VCR Combination Dual Deck.

1. Nice little setup. I believe it cost me $99.99 at the time in Circuit City, one year and six months ago. Samsung has emerged. WATCH OUT SONY!



2. I am sorry that I cannot give this irem a review as when UPS delivered it, I refused delivery not due to product, but I needed a DVD/VCR sooner rather than later. I was able to find this same item locally, so purchased it. I tried notifying Amazon but was unable to do so. I am sorry and trust this will not be a problem



3. I love this player. Have had it for at least a year now with no problems. Will buy Samsung again, if ever necessary.



4. This unit is cheap junk. I had two of these and the dvd player stopped working after about 2 years, and both units were used very little.



5. I work at a school, and we ordered about 20 of these for classroom use. Not long after the warranty ran out, they started dropping like flies. Currently 10 of them quit playing DVD's, and we're just waiting for the others to go that route too.

No comments about GoVideo DVR4100 DVD-VCR Combo.

5 comments about Toshiba MD9DL1 9-Inch AC/DC TV-DVD Combo.

1. I recently purchased this tv because my daughter, her husband, their two young children and I were going on a 3,000 mile car trip. We stocked up on DVD's, put the tv and the kids in the back seat of my minivan, and had a glorious trip. No complaints from the kids! I now plan on taking it to my gift/sandwich shop so that my customers can enjoy the DVD's as they sip their coffee or eat lunch.



2. I bought this system for one reason and one reason only: Entertain the kids in the car. I really did not care about the picture or sound quality. I just wanted something small to fit in the car and that I could easily haul around. To my surprise the picture is crystal clear and the sound of the system is awesome. You can probably find cheaper systems, but you cannot go wrong with this one. I would not trade my TV/DVD combo for anything.



3. We bought this set for a 36 hour family trip. We have a van so I wanted a little larger screen so the kids could see in the back. When you compare the price with portable players or built-in decks this was great.

   We set the TV between the driver seats in our Chrysler Town & Country. I had to remove the passenger side arm rest so it would fit. I built a small stand to raise the TV up about 16 inches. The screen was very clear.

   During our travels it never skipped. One nice feature is the resume play mode. When we would stop for food or gas we would turn the power off the TV. Then when we were back on the road we would simply hit the power button and it would resume where we left off.

   One concern I had was heat. (With it sitting between us) That was not a problem, but we did have air-condiditioning on most the trip.

   It only has one headphone jack. We have 3 kids. So I bought a headphone splitter. Because of the rounded case around the headphone jack I had to modify the headphone jack with a grinder to get it to fit.

   All in all this television did everything I asked of it and more and kept the kids happy for about and an hour and a half at a time.




4. I bought this unit like-new...with the intention of using it in my SUV on weekend trips. It has turned into not only a great system for my car (even hooks into my car stereo via the easily accessible headphone jack), but a great 2nd TV/DVD for my small house.

   The unit works great, the controls intuitive, and a plus for "folks like me who tend to lose stuff like remotes" is that the DVD menus are navigable via the controls on the unit.

   In-Car, I havent noticed any DVD skipping while the car was in motion. Sound quality on the unit's speaker is adequate for an enclosed room, and played through my car speakers via the headphone jack, it gives the impression that I'm in a state of the art theatre.

   If you're in the market, this TV/DVD combo is perfect.




5. I've had one for a few years and the dvd is gradually working less. I get a "no disk" messege when I put in a normal dvd and it take at least an hour of trying to get it to work. The tv part still works

5 comments about Magnavox 17MD255V/17 17-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with DVD Player.

1. The DVD player on the model I bought (32 inch) was faulty from the start. Took in the disk my son picked out "special" when we bought the t.v. and will neither play it nor eject it. Customer service gave me the number of an authorized service center 30 minutes from me. It's hard to believe that yesterday I didn't have a television and today I've got one that needs servicing. If you are in the market for expensive hassles (with a bonus of disappointed youngsters), then by all means, rush out and GET THIS T.V.!



2. We bought our TV about 18 months ago and enjoyed it very much - until last week when the DVD player stopped working. I was annoyed, but reconciled to getting it repaired. I called Magnavox to get a referral to an authorized service representative. I was told there is no authorized repair for the unit, only replacement. However, the representative said I would receive a discount for a replacement unit. It would only cost me $499! UNBELIEVABLE! I never imagined that I had purchased a disposable TV. Magnavox will get no more of my money. I would rate this item zero stars if that were possible.



3. This is the same TV as you may see by Philips, Magnavox, & Initial, just with different logos on the front. I've had two of these TV's, and the DVD player has failed on both of them. I talked to the Initial customer service manager multiple times, and he insisted that they have a "less than 1%" return rate... LIES. Look at the number of people saying the dvd player has quit in just days to months of use. If it was a 1:100 defect rate, then the odds of me having two separate units that both fail would be 1:10,000!!!! Give me a break and don't lie to your customers! Paying shipping back to the company was expensive, and then... the last replacement's DVD player again failed after 13 months. Unbelieveable. I'm just waiting for somebody to start a class action suit for a terrible product, so I can send this junk back.



4. The DVD player gave out after 4 months, and will be expensive to fix. I am also disappointed with the remote control, which drains batteries quickly. I've bought batteries for the remote 3 times since I bought it 4 months ago.



5. I purchased this tv for our boat. It got very little use since we only spend about 30-35 days aboard. It quit working the second summer (not yet a year old). I thought it would still be under warranty. When I called Magnavox, they told me the warranty period was only 90 days. My reply was "Magnavox must really be proud of this piece of work". They told me I could exchange it for one that had been refurbished for only $400 plus. If a brand new one won't last a year (probably less than 75 hrs total use) how long do you think one they patched up will last. I was reassured however that it would carry the "full" warranty. Wow! Another 90 days. I called several TV repair shops to see if I could get it fixed. They all had the same answer: There are no repair manuals or wiring schematics available from Magnavox. I will never buy another Phillips or Magnavox product!! Circuit City should point out the fact that a junk product like this is only warranted for 90 days. If I had known at the time, I would not have purchased it.

5 comments about Sony RDR-VX500 DVD Player/Recorder with VCR.

1. This was recommended by a friend, and I was able to pick up one used on the cheap. Sony's never break. My house is full of their products, and this new one is a great addition. If you're like me, I had a huge pile of camcorder tapes I wanted to copy to an easier format. Using an cam tape adaptor, you simply put that in the vcr, push one button and it dubs to DVD! It doesn't get easier than that. As far as the transfer, there is no drop out in quality of pic or sound. Very crisp resolution. You can also i.Link direct from the front face plate to record DVD's or vcr tapes.



2. Can I give it a ZERO? You know how some companies do a lot of things..? Take Sony. They make walkmans, TV's and a lot of other things.. Having purchased Sony products before, I didn't have to many reservations about this DVD-recorder. After all, it's a Sony, right? WRONG! I have had nothing but unsatisfactory service with this item. I should have waited until "ALL" the "BUGS" were fixed, or at least reduced. The problems I have experienced are,
   1.) The Player will not finalize the dvd.
   2.) Takes a long time to "Process".
   3.) Does not read all dvd's. I mean, isn't this one supposed to be compatable with just about everything?
   Anyway, to make a long story short, BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK.



3. their DVD records refuse to record a sat. picture - because of that idiotic macrovision chip technology.
   
   AVOID ALL SONY RECORDERS. They refuse to record.



4. I have been having trouble with the dvd recorder aspect since the first year I bought it. It made loud clunky noises during finalization, and then about half the time lost the data. I used the warranty and sent it in to be fixed. A couple months later, the recorder was unreliable again.
   
   Now the warranty is expired, and I just lost all the data of a program I spent 3 hours recording (and won't be airing again). I've had it. This dvd recorder/ vcr combo is out.
   
   Note I gave it two stars because the dvd player and vcr player work.



5. The main thing about this burner that distinguished it from the others was the ability to play VHS from the Component outputs. That feature is very handy for a pro-editor, like me, who wants to get the best image possible from the inferior VHS format. This feature also has allowed this deck, now that it has been retired, to be easily used by family members who aren't so tech-savvy (both DVD and VHS play from the same Component-Out, so there's no need to change inputs on the monitor).
   
   Other than that, I have to agree with many of the others here. The 8x disk limit is a major sore spot for me, as well as the poor dependability of burned DVDs in general...

1 comments about Remanufactured Philips DVP620VR Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo.

1. The dvd/vcr combo works well, but the remote that is necessary does not work.

1 comments about Refurbished Philips DVP3150V Philips Progressive Scan DVD Player/VCR Combo.

1. unit operates fine but it is fairly complicated to operate having to use seval options to just playback.