Philips DVDR3576H/37 160GB Hard Drive ATSC DVD Player and Recorder

...

system, but it's really not that hard to do manually. It records HD signals as SD (standard definition). Of course, to record in HD will require much bigger hard drives.

The listing of programs ("Titles") that you have recorded are clearly shown and easy to navigate to. But it is best to put a rudimentary title on the TV programs right after you record them. Otherwise all you have is the date, time, and channel of the recording. You have to add titles by a clunky texting method, requiring multiple presses of numbers 1-9.

Playback
I use an HDMI cable between this unit and my TV. Playback from the hard disk is a joy. Access is immediate. The unit remembers where you left off watching last time on each program individually. You can manoever around the recordings with an (adjustable) 30-second skip forward/backward button, or with an adjustable-speed fast forward/rewind, or with a chapter-jump ("next") which uses the (optional) 10-minute auto-chapters that are inserted.
Playback from DVD is fine, but loading a DVD is slow (perhaps because it can handle so many different DVD formats).

Aspect Ratio
Fiddling with aspect ratio (4:3 vs. 16:9) is a hassle that we will be dealing with for years. This unit, unfortunately, records digital programs as 4:3, even when they are transmitted as 16:9. Translation: when displayed on a 16:9 widescreen TV, you get black borders at top and bottom AND at the sides. This is satisfactorily fixed by zooming the picture on playback. I found it best to zoom from my Sony TV, as the zoom on this Philips is limited and clunky. You have to cancel the zoom the next time you watch a 4:3 program, however, and you can't see the Philips' "information" display when in zoom mode.

User-friendliness
Most functions are well thought out and the software is good. But you will have to read the manual.
The remote control has the buttons needed, but several important ones are badly laid out. The STOP button is tiny.
Since it's a multifunctional device, you have to tell it what component you want to use. If you have been watching a TV show recorded on HDD, then insert a DVD, if you just press "play", it will resume playback of the HDD unless you press "DVD" first. It's not smart enough to realize you want the DVD now.
The 122-page instruction book is detailed. It is fairly well written. Mine is very well-thumbed and dogeared. To get the most out of this complex unit, you will need to read it carefully.

Editing
For copying from old VHS tapes or home DVD's, I find it best to record first onto the HDD. Then use "deleting a scene" to remove unwanted sections. The software for this is pretty user-friendly. Then transfer the cleaned-up version to DVD. You can in theory record directly to DVD from VHS, and delete unwanted sections on the DVD directly, using "Hiding Chapters" but this is clunky (first you have to define the section as a chapter), and these deletions, and added chapter headings, were ignored when played back on another unit.

Downsides
It can't record HD programs.
It's slow to load a DVD.
The remote buttons are poorly laid out.
Widescreen format shows must be zoomed on playback to fill a 16:9 TV screen.
Titling tracks is tedious.
DVD edits may be ignored in other DVD players.

Summary
This is a really fine and extremely versatile unit, at a bargain price. It is a leapfrog into the digital age. Finally here is a device with the versatility to fully supplant S-VHS VCR's.
The next step will be when this kind of device is upgraded to record HDTV on its hard disk AND to record Blu-Ray DVD's. Don't hold your breath.

(This review is based on the predecessor model, DVDR3575H, similar except for the tuner).

Philips DVDR3576H/37 160GB Hard Drive ATSC DVD Player and Recorder

...

system, but it's really not that hard to do manually. It records HD signals as SD (standard definition). Of course, to record in HD will require much bigger hard drives.



The listing of programs ("Titles") that you have recorded are clearly shown and easy to navigate to. But it is best to put a rudimentary title on the TV programs right after you record them. Otherwise all you have is the date, time, and channel of the recording. You have to add titles by a clunky texting method, requiring multiple presses of numbers 1-9.



Playback

I use an HDMI cable between this unit and my TV. Playback from the hard disk is a joy. Access is immediate. The unit remembers where you left off watching last time on each program individually. You can manoever around the recordings with an (adjustable) 30-second skip forward/backward button, or with an adjustable-speed fast forward/rewind, or with a chapter-jump ("next") which uses the (optional) 10-minute auto-chapters that are inserted.

Playback from DVD is fine, but loading a DVD is slow (perhaps because it can handle so many different DVD formats).



Aspect Ratio

Fiddling with aspect ratio (4:3 vs. 16:9) is a hassle that we will be dealing with for years. This unit, unfortunately, records digital programs as 4:3, even when they are transmitted as 16:9. Translation: when displayed on a 16:9 widescreen TV, you get black borders at top and bottom AND at the sides. This is satisfactorily fixed by zooming the picture on playback. I found it best to zoom from my Sony TV, as the zoom on this Philips is limited and clunky. You have to cancel the zoom the next time you watch a 4:3 program, however, and you can't see the Philips' "information" display when in zoom mode.



User-friendliness

Most functions are well thought out and the software is good. But you will have to read the manual.

The remote control has the buttons needed, but several important ones are badly laid out. The STOP button is tiny.

Since it's a multifunctional device, you have to tell it what component you want to use. If you have been watching a TV show recorded on HDD, then insert a DVD, if you just press "play", it will resume playback of the HDD unless you press "DVD" first. It's not smart enough to realize you want the DVD now.

The 122-page instruction book is detailed. It is fairly well written. Mine is very well-thumbed and dogeared. To get the most out of this complex unit, you will need to read it carefully.



Editing

For copying from old VHS tapes or home DVD's, I find it best to record first onto the HDD. Then use "deleting a scene" to remove unwanted sections. The software for this is pretty user-friendly. Then transfer the cleaned-up version to DVD. You can in theory record directly to DVD from VHS, and delete unwanted sections on the DVD directly, using "Hiding Chapters" but this is clunky (first you have to define the section as a chapter), and these deletions, and added chapter headings, were ignored when played back on another unit.



Downsides

It can't record HD programs.

It's slow to load a DVD.

The remote buttons are poorly laid out.

Widescreen format shows must be zoomed on playback to fill a 16:9 TV screen.

Titling tracks is tedious.

DVD edits may be ignored in other DVD players.



Summary

This is a really fine and extremely versatile unit, at a bargain price. It is a leapfrog into the digital age. Finally here is a device with the versatility to fully supplant S-VHS VCR's.

The next step will be when this kind of device is upgraded to record HDTV on its hard disk AND to record Blu-Ray DVD's. Don't hold your breath.



(This review is based on the predecessor model, DVDR3575H, similar except for the tuner).

Philips DVDR3576H/37 160GB Hard Drive ATSC DVD Player and Recorder

...

system, but it's really not that hard to do manually. It records HD signals as SD (standard definition). Of course, to record in HD will require much bigger hard drives.





The listing of programs ("Titles") that you have recorded are clearly shown and easy to navigate to. But it is best to put a rudimentary title on the TV programs right after you record them. Otherwise all you have is the date, time, and channel of the recording. You have to add titles by a clunky texting method, requiring multiple presses of numbers 1-9.





Playback


I use an HDMI cable between this unit and my TV. Playback from the hard disk is a joy. Access is immediate. The unit remembers where you left off watching last time on each program individually. You can manoever around the recordings with an (adjustable) 30-second skip forward/backward button, or with an adjustable-speed fast forward/rewind, or with a chapter-jump ("next") which uses the (optional) 10-minute auto-chapters that are inserted.


Playback from DVD is fine, but loading a DVD is slow (perhaps because it can handle so many different DVD formats).





Aspect Ratio


Fiddling with aspect ratio (4:3 vs. 16:9) is a hassle that we will be dealing with for years. This unit, unfortunately, records digital programs as 4:3, even when they are transmitted as 16:9. Translation: when displayed on a 16:9 widescreen TV, you get black borders at top and bottom AND at the sides. This is satisfactorily fixed by zooming the picture on playback. I found it best to zoom from my Sony TV, as the zoom on this Philips is limited and clunky. You have to cancel the zoom the next time you watch a 4:3 program, however, and you can't see the Philips' "information" display when in zoom mode.





User-friendliness


Most functions are well thought out and the software is good. But you will have to read the manual.


The remote control has the buttons needed, but several important ones are badly laid out. The STOP button is tiny.


Since it's a multifunctional device, you have to tell it what component you want to use. If you have been watching a TV show recorded on HDD, then insert a DVD, if you just press "play", it will resume playback of the HDD unless you press "DVD" first. It's not smart enough to realize you want the DVD now.


The 122-page instruction book is detailed. It is fairly well written. Mine is very well-thumbed and dogeared. To get the most out of this complex unit, you will need to read it carefully.





Editing


For copying from old VHS tapes or home DVD's, I find it best to record first onto the HDD. Then use "deleting a scene" to remove unwanted sections. The software for this is pretty user-friendly. Then transfer the cleaned-up version to DVD. You can in theory record directly to DVD from VHS, and delete unwanted sections on the DVD directly, using "Hiding Chapters" but this is clunky (first you have to define the section as a chapter), and these deletions, and added chapter headings, were ignored when played back on another unit.





Downsides


It can't record HD programs.


It's slow to load a DVD.


The remote buttons are poorly laid out.


Widescreen format shows must be zoomed on playback to fill a 16:9 TV screen.


Titling tracks is tedious.


DVD edits may be ignored in other DVD players.





Summary


This is a really fine and extremely versatile unit, at a bargain price. It is a leapfrog into the digital age. Finally here is a device with the versatility to fully supplant S-VHS VCR's.


The next step will be when this kind of device is upgraded to record HDTV on its hard disk AND to record Blu-Ray DVD's. Don't hold your breath.





(This review is based on the predecessor model, DVDR3575H, similar except for the tuner).