Gateway AR-230 DVD Recorder

Pros: Record time, quality, fairly easy to use.
Cons: Has some surprises, no hard drive.

Why I have a Gateway AR-230 DVD Recorder / Player Over the past few years, I have watched much of the tv I watched after it has been recorded. At any given time, I will have programmed to record two to five shows. Well, as you can imagine, ...

Pros: Freature rich, on-screen display, durable, inexpensive
Cons: None

Background: Two weeks ago, one of my friends purchased the Gateway AR-230. He told me that it was a great purchase and highly recommended that I purchase one. Three weeks later, I bought my own. This device is feature rich and even that is an ...

Pros: Picture quality, ease of use once firmware is updated
Cons: Manual, hassles at the start

I read the many negative review of the AR-230. However, had a chance to buy an open box at a Country Store for $249 and could not resist. I knew I could return it in 15 days. After the first day, I was ready to send it back. Could only get the ...

Pros: Relatively inexpensive; easy to use; OK as VCR replacement.
Cons: No VCR-Plus timer; Timer inaccuracy; Tuner recordings (see review); choose blank disks carefully.

I bought this unit as a replacement for my VCR, and in that context it works fine. Initially I had problems similar to those mentioned in "billtomlinson's" review. However switching brands of blank DVDs seemed to have solved this. I now use Ritek 4X ...

Pros: The only positive I can think of is it's stylish...
Cons: There are TOO many negatives to list!!

To ANYONE who is even thinking of buying the GATEWAY AR-230 DVD Recorder, DON'T. It worked normally for about the first 4 months, then it would no longer record on time and it no longer recognized NOR recorded on the DVD+R media disks I recorded with 4 ...

Pros: None
Cons: Bad product. Horrible customer service.

Don't ever buy anything from Gateway! I saw this recorder on the today show and bought 2 units. One for me and one for my 86 yr old dad. My dad almost NEVER used his. It's as if Gateway had a "self destruct device" set in each of them to go off in 2 ...

Pros: reasonable price, firewire plug in, can record TV
Cons: See above...it just doesn't work

I bought mine in Jan '04, it would not finalize DVD R's, so I upgraded the firmware per their tech support, still didn't work, returned to store and switched for a new one, that one worked fine until June, then it wouldn't recognize it had a disk in it ...

Pros: Simple to use, low cost, plenty of manufacturer and non-manufacturer info on the web
Cons: Avoid the first model of this R0. Manual skimpy in regards to creating DVD's.

I wanted to make DVD's from home movies, and using high quality DVD R discs, I have had not a single failure. A 2 hour video fits on one disc, start the VCR and DVD recorder, and I run both till they end. This is not the unit for editing, fancy layovers and effects. For $150 new, this has been a great device. I tried making DVD's using software with Windows XP- that was a real pain. This is not.

Pros: Picture Quality, sound Quality
Cons: Everything else: UI, reliability, stability, usability, DRM, stupid chrome/silver facia

This unit would be great if it went through more Quality Assurance Testing at Gateway.

The player freezes on just about everything. Store bought movies, dvd's made off of the computer, and disks burned by the unit. It even freezes on movie scenes that played back OK the hour before! (no, it is NOT a heat problem. There is ample airflow all the way around the unit.)

The timer does not remember to record recurring recordings (Weekly or Daily recordings). It requires you to turn the unit on, go into the timer setup, and make sure the "Status" column reads "READY" ... if it doesn't, the recording will be skipped.

Recording from old home movies on VHS to dvd, you'd think it would not put a copy protection scheme on there. But there is no way to take the files off the dvd and burn it onto another with Nero. The files are encrypted. How dumb! I hate DRM!!

This unit is going to be offloaded to ebay for some other poor guy to play with. I've had it

Pros: The e-mail response was very fast, the same or next day.
Cons: No support for product, no recommendation on where to go. Fast, worthless response

Tried to get Tech Support on recorder not reading CD's, was advised that the problem seemed to be a hardware problem, and Gateway no longer repaired the recorder, and I had to find a local repair shop. I agree with other reviews, I will never buy any Gateway product again.

Pros: Good array of inputs and outputs; relatively simple to operate
Cons: Poor documentation, hard to read front panel display, unreliable recording

I have had this recorder for almost two months. I was attracted by the price and the fact I had purchased two Gateway computers with good success. However, I am greatly disappointed in this product.

First, the manual is terrible. Few examples or diagrams and in one case very misleading. The manual implies that you can set the Overwrite flag for individual titles, then record over them. The truth is only one title can be set for Overwrite at a time and then only applies to manual recording, not timed recording. Not a big problem since individual titles can be erased, but it doesn't say much for Gateway's technical writers.

The bigger problem is the recorder frequently does not playback recordings reliably. About half the time the playback will not start at all and in other cases, it starts but stops part way through. To add to my frustration, Gateway customer service has been no help. I am taking unit into Gateway store for service, but I am not optimistic.

For potential buyers, I would advise buy something else or wait until gateway works out the bugs.

Pros: Inexpensive...
Cons: You get what you pay for...

I should have read these reviews first before I purchased this unit. Overall it's design is a good idea but the quality of construction is poor. Everything works, but I'm experiencing a problem with the tuner. Some channels are blurry with a lot of garbage being displayed. When I bypass the unit and connect directly to my television using the same cables it looks normal. There must be a reason why they have an adjustable tuner feature in the Setup menu. Doesn't seemed to help this problem. I'm going to send this back to Gateway before my 15 days are up.

Pros: none
Cons: to many to mention

After returning my first one which didn't work at all here are a few comments on it's replacement.

Undependable. Sometimes it works but most of the time it doesn't. Destroys disks. While in the middle of playback it will freeze up and you have to restart it. VERY DISGUSTING!!!! The disks you record will playback sometimes and sometimes they won't.

Customer service is terrible. It took me 3 weeks and about 4 hours of telephone time to get the first one returned.

Stay away from this recorder and this company.

Pros: Give a minute, I'm sure I can think of one! Sorry!
Cons: 15 words don't cut it, it would take a book!

Gateway should be ashamed of itself putting this product on the market. It seemed affordable but given the fact it has literally eaten and spit out every type of DVD Gateway said would work, it has cost me a ton. Gateway's support on this product is disgusting. I was treated like this was the first time I turned on anything electronic while the fact is their tech's had to know all along this machine was junk and does not work as presented.

I'm now told to send it back at my expense and "IF" this machine is defective, they will send me a new one. Why would I want another one?

Pros: lasted for 15 months before it died
Cons: doesn't record well, dispenses white discharge, erases pre-recorded DVDs

I purchased the AR-230 R2 with the latest firmware updates already applied 16 months ago. I dealt with the fact that it would only accept about 1/5 of the +R discs I tried to record on. I got over that, because at the time $160 delivered for a DVD recorder was a great deal.

After 15 months of owning it, DVDs would come out of the machine with a white film -- some odd machine discharge.

Over the past month, it will no longer record -- I went through (wasted) 25 DVD +R's before giving up! And, to make it so much worse, it actually formats over previously recorded DVD's -- making them unplayable and useless! I've lost two DVDs, and that was enough!

My warantee is for one year, not for 16 month. Called and spoke to three people at Gateway, but they didnt care.

When I asked how to return it for recycling, "Mike #KS191" told me to "throw it in the trash." Great work, Mike.

I should have known better. A piece of junk -- start to finish. DON'T BUY THESE ON THE RESALE MARKET. AND, DON'T BUY GATEWAY'S JUNK!

Pros: None.
Cons: Poorly designed - unit can not be programmed without using remote.

Purchased this recorder after Christmas from website which stated it was in stock (it wasn't)when Gateway was offering $50 rebate. After delayed shipping, unit would not function (no menu would appear on screen to program the unit). After 3 emails and 2 phone calls, I finally got permission to return the unit for credit (Gateway has a no questions asked policy to return if unsatisfied within 15 days). I'm still waiting for the credit. The rebate form also never was mailed as promised.

I've been buying products on line from various companies for years. Gateway is by far the worst company I've ever dealt with. Avoid buying any Gateway product.

Pros: good when it works
Cons: it doesn't work

I was interested in a DVD recorder and started looking into them. I went to a variety of electronic stores, and most of them did not know what they were talking about when I asked them about connecting certain devices to the recorder. I went to Gateway and found everything I wanted in a DVD recorder with a great price attached to it.

I bought my AR230 not even two months ago. When first using it, I was COMPLETELY satisfied. The AR230 was capable of recording practically ANYTHING: from other DVDs, tapes, camcorders, etc. The quality was excellent-especially for the price. I had no regrets...until now.

I rarely used the AR230. Now the darn thing won't record ANYTHING nor read ANY disc. Its useless-literally. I can't do a darn thing with it except see what time it is. I figure just buy a more expensive DVD recorder and be satisfied with it. Don't waste your cash.

Pros: DVD quality picture.
Cons: Doesn't work and they will not fix it or acknowledge that it does not work.

Sure the manual is poor but that's not the major problem. I had the AR 230 for two weeks with declining success. At first it would not record and play back about 20% of the time. Later on the success rate reversed. Now it records about 25% of the time. Sometimes, you think you're recording but you're not. It doesn't play back. If it's a non-rewritable, the disk is unusable forever. If it's a rewritable, it wants to format the disk.
I can't use this machine like a VCR if I can't be sure it's going to record A VCR picture isn't as good but at least it records 100% of the time.
I sent it back to Gateway for repairs. They sent it back to me with a note

Dear Customer.
After our extensive testing process, you unit has passed all functionality tests. No problem was found
Thank You
Gateway

Stunning! What am I going to do with this piece of landfill? What do they mean by 'you unit'?

Pros: Nothing good to say about this DVD recorder.
Cons: Poor quality in every sense of the word,customer service a joke.

Shipping was delayed for a month with no notice from Gateway. When I did receive it in less than a month I had to ship the DVD recorder to a repair service that is used by Gateway out in CA. From the very beginning the recordings were very dark...too dark.After a few uses the recorder would not finalize disks, it rendered them useless.

The repair service has had this thing for 2 weeks and claim they never received it from me. I have delivery confirmation. Customer service says daily that they will email the service and get back to me. I have received no call from Gateway at all. I don't expect to get one. Do not do business with this company. Their products will not work as they are advertised and customer service will not help you. Your money will be better spend elsewhere even if you have to pay more.

Pros: None.
Cons: Works like you built it yourself in your garage!

Purchased it. Owned it for 4 days. Went crazy! Recording is inconsistent. If it's not really important for you to rely on your recorder, then purchase Gateway. Returned it and purchased Pioneer DVR-310. Pioneer works like a dream! DVR-310 great recorder - HIGHLY recommend it.

Pros: It's good at collecting dust.
Cons: Bad Graphics, minimal options and does not successfully burn your DVD's!

I bought this Gateway AR-230 DVD Recorder through HSN because it was a great value, and I really wanted to transfer all my home videos to DVD. I bought this unit in January 2004, and I have yet to successfully burn a DVD. It is the most frustrating thing ever. The older units need a firmware update, and after 20 calls to Gateway they finally informed me of this fact. Just today I called and spoke to a very rude woman to obtain assistance with the download, and they refused to help me.
Without the firmware, the DVD will not successfully burn and will not be able to be viewed on other DVD players. Besides the inability to actually create DVD's, the graphics are poor and I don't think the unit offers enough options. Beware of this product!
I wish I had bought a Sony or similar product from a better company.

Pros: ease of use. video quality
Cons: manual

I got an AR230 about a month ago. could not get component
video out to my TV. Called tech support and they helped
me with my problem. Can't have S-video cable connected
and get component video out. I have converted 6
VHS tapes onto DVD without any problems. I have used
both +R and +R/W discs and both seem to work fine. I have
also set up and recorded from cable without a hitch.
Have only used SP mode.

need to add longer title length can only do 8 characters.
need to add a 3 hour mode.
need a better users guide.

Pros: front a/v inputs, including firewire. Good value.
Cons: One needs to know the correct blank media to purchase so there's no dollar waste.

Great picture quality and intuitive programming. Most people with novice knowledge will be able to operate the unit out of the box without the manual (which does come in handy though a lot of the time). Front a/v inputs, including a firewire (not found on comparably priced units), makes recording very convenient. No turning the unit around with a flashlight to try to find the right connections. A little picky on the brand of DVD+R/RW blank media it uses. Overall, though, a unit that is solidly built.

Pros: None - except being a fine coaster maker.
Cons: Problems start a few months into owning the product. Poorly designed.

This product has broken for the second time and created multiple coasters out of my brand new DVD+RW disks. What a pity. This could have been a good product, but it is junk. Get something else.

Pros: Easy to set up and pause acts to "EDIT" recording
Cons: Gateway customer service needs some serious HELP, (from management)!!

I'm making fantastic firewire recording, finally!! The instructions for recording described in the User Manual are incorrect. Why Gateway has not acted to correct this is LAME!! Use the "Pause" button to interrupt recording THEN use the Stop button to end the session. Then bring up Disk Tools and select Finalize to close the session. DVD+RW do NOT have to be finalized!! I've only recorded using Firewire, the quality of the playback is very good. Any questions, rickspencer4@comcast.net

Pros: Price, ease of use, DV inputs, choice of outputs
Cons: Manual leaves out a few important operational details.

I bought the AR-230 for one specific purpose: to transfer all of my old VHS "home movies" to DVD. It does an excellent job and is very easy to use. I was a bit concerned about negative reviews, but Gateway's price of $149 made it worth the risk. Gateway is now shipping the AR-230 R2 with the latest firmware updates already applied. I've had no problems whatsoever and haven't wasted a single disk.
I work in TV production and I've use much more expensive DVD recorders with more features. Yes, you can get better picture quality with the Sony machines that cost $500 wholesale. But if you're starting with VHS tapes, the higher quality is largely wasted and the Gateway is a better choice.
Read the manual before you start recording DVDs. Understand that you have to finalize DVD+Rs. If you invest the time in learning how to use the technology, this machine will serve you well in many applications.
It's a great value for the money and mine has shown no indication of the complaints listed in many of the reviews.

Pros: Price Set Up Guides
Cons: Poor(er)quality of signals, picture regardless of input via tv signal, S-video

PRO's- There are many, easy to set up
Great walk through on screen guide(s)
Front inputs for component and Video Cameras
Fine Tune TV Signal setting
Composite out to TV
Nice Remote Control
Great Price
CON's -Less Quality on recordings from video/tv source's

Pros: None
Cons: Doesn't work anywhere close to as advertised. Horrible support.

Won't accept half the brands of blank +R discs available. If you can find a brand it will accept, appears record fine, then hangs up, and the disk is now corrupted, and un playable. Hangs up on playback. You can skip to the next chapter which works, but will then stall a couple of chapters later. Absolute, utter, piece of crap. Gateway techs are unhelpful at best, with an attitude of "Yeah that happens sometimes, too bad."