Philips DVDR615 DVD Player

Pros: built in RF modulator, component and Firewire inputs, design, format, price, simple recording
Cons: poor playback, terrible remote, limitted editting, noisy fan, no digital in/only coax out.

I have been eyeing this recorder for quite some time now and finally got my hands on it since it was just advertised at CircuitCity for $100 after rebates. After another coupon I had I ended up spending about $80, which for a brand name DVD recorder ...

Pros: Price, format compatibility, Ease of Use
Cons: More Menu options would be nice

I purchased this DVD recorder because I was looking for one that recorded to the universal DVD+ format and was told to keep away for now from the DVD- formats because they might go the way Beta went in the 80's. I chose this model because it not only ...

Pros: Nice looking box. Works well once firmware upgraded. Lots of I/O ports. Creates great DVDs.
Cons: Bad remote, problems with on screen display, editing video chapters can be tricky

Just picked this unit up at Circuit City for $100 (with rebates) after a horrifying experience with a Coby DVR-R1100 unit. I bought it because it was a good name brand with all the inputs I wanted, for a good price. In three days, I've filled up four ...

Pros: I-link , records great, good price
Cons: remote, pop screen with every chapter change, and manual

If you are looking for a basic dvd recorder that does a good job this unit should do the trick. But 1st let me clear up some thing about the model numbers , there are 2 units with the dvdr 615 model number a dvdr 615/17 and a dvdr 615/37 which I have and ...

Pros: Pricce, brand, recording is excellent.
Cons: Little difficult to use

I have not had any problems with this recorder as of yet.
I bought it for the name brand and the price.
I have not had any luck with any of the DVD players I have bought. I have bought expensive and the cheapest of cheap and still to no avail, I am without a DVD player. I saw this one at Circuit City and for the price and name I got a deal. I like the instrument itself. It has recorded very nicely and can have no complaints so far, but I will purchase the extended warranty....not because of problems with this player, but because of past problems I have had just period.

Pros: Component video input and high quality recording.
Cons: Tiny remote control.

I bought this unit for a very specific purpose. I have Time Warner cable with a HDTV "Tivo" like set top box. The only functional output to transfer recorded programs from the internal hard disc to a DVD recorder is the set of component video outputs.

The only reasonably priced DVD recorder with component video inputs is the Philips DVDR615 (there is a Sony at several times the price of the Philips). The Philips does this flawlessly and I have not lost a single disc. The recorded quality is excellent and assisted by its choice of a variety of program lenghts which optimizes quality. I usually select 2 or 2 1/2 hours for most movies.

Using it is a bit complicated, so I keep the Quick Start guide always handy. As mentioned by others, the remote control is extremely small.

Pros: Thin, sleek exterior design Good picture quality with firewire (i.link)
Cons: Ruins blank disks User un-friendly menu's and remote control

I bought this thing because the one I originally ordered (a LiteOn LVW-5001) could not be found once I got to the store. I got this one home, tried it, and it ruined the first disk I ever tried to record. It managed to record the next 2 or 3 successfully and then ruined about 4 more disks in a row before I finally took it back. This thing is horrible. Do not be fooled by the sleek design. I exchanged it for a LiteOn LVW-5005 which seems to be working just fine so far. I'm very disappointed with the Philips product. It was my first purchase from them and will probably be my last.

Pros: Does What It needs to be done, Still Works, Easy To Use.
Cons: Need to buy TDK,Sony,Philips,Mitsumi Brands Only!

With DVD Recorders still being pricey today, I went on Craigslist and gave this unit a shot, for $50 with Monster Cables what can I lose....

WOW!

Component IN and OUT for a Unit made in 2004, this is amazing as units today (2007) are still struggling with Composite video. Plugged in my Set-Top Box, and put a Memorex DVD+R , the unit recorded right on it, but it couldn't read the disc, and gave a DISC ERROR message. Called Philips Care (thankfully I have a Philips Flat Screen, and a DVD Player from Philips)
they gave me great support, and it didn't record properly because.

UNIT ONLY ACCEPTS DVD+R (+RW) (-R/-RW NOT ACCEPTED)
PHILIPS>SONY>TDK>MITSUMI BRANDS ONLY!
Other Brands will not work.

So I went out to a CVS, Bought a 15 pack of TDK +R's, paid an Arm ($13) for it, well it worked!, Going to J&R to get the 100pack for ($25)

Records Quick, Finalize Disc takes 1-3minutes.
The Menu's aren't cute, but heck it works fine..