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(More customer reviews)TOSHIBA D-R2 - TAKE 3 (note: trying to change stars to a 3 or 4)
It's been quite the epic saga with this machine, however now that I've figured it all out, I'm happy to share the information so if you buy one, you'll know how to make it work for you w/o wasting time & money.
When I first got it, I loved it - great interface, really easy, all the inputs & outputs I need - everything was better than I'd hoped, especially for the low price. I burned many discs only to find most were unreadable, even though they'd recorded & finalized just fine. So I was furious & hated it.
I called Toshiba & they said that they can only guarantee the thing works with the brand of discs they list in small print on p. 9 of the customer manual: Panasonic, which are not available on a spindle & are not cheap, and a brand I'd never heard of or seen in a store called Taiyo Yuden... there might be a third, but I don't think so. I was outraged by my limited options & ranted & railed, until I did a searched for Taiyo Yuden & found a company called "Meritline" where I could buy them super cheap - actually cheaper than anything in the big box stores. I ordered 100 and they arrived the next day (I'm in same state as company). They work great! Hooray!
CONCLUSION: I think it's irresponsible and disrespectful of consumers for Toshiba to make and sell a product without making it's limitations MUCH MORE CLEAR - burried on p.9 doesn't cut it. This info should be presented so YOU CAN'T MISS IT... and frankly selling a product that only works with a tiny handful of brands is pretty uncool. By burning to the "wrong" discs (some minor brands called, uh - Memorex & Verbatim), I wasted a lot of time and $ on blank media. I've lost respect for the company on those grounds. However, now that it's working, I'm very impressed with the machine itself. Toshiba needs to get it's packaging & consumer info department up to the same standard as their engineering dept... and the engineers need to make this thing work for more brands.
IF YOU BUY THE DISCS THEY RECOMMEND, YOU'LL BE FINE.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba DR-2 DVD Recorder/Player with Simultaneous Play and Record
Note: Toshiba D-R2 Progressive Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive is no longer being manufactured. You may want to consider purchasing the newer Toshiba D-R4 Multi-Drive DVD Recorder instead.
The D-R2 DVD player/recorder from Toshiba combines a versatile digital video recorder with a high-end DVD player. You'll enjoy a stunningly realistic picture and warm, natural sound from your DVD library as well as programs you record. The D-R2 is a powerful addition to your home theater.
The multidrive recorders on the D-R2 allow you to record onto DVD-R discs or rerecordable DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs. DVD-R copies of recordings made by the D-R2 will play on almost all DVD players and DVD-compatible computers.
Toshiba's time slip playback feature allows you to watch a program that is being recorded from the beginning while the rest of the show records. You can also use the time slip feature to pause a live broadcast that you are recording, and then resume watching it from where you left it, whenever you want.
Setting up a recording is simple, and will seem comfortably familiar to VCR users. The D-R2 uses Gemstar's VCR Plus technology, which lets you select the programs you want to record by name, without having to worry about setting the right time and channel. You can schedule up to 32 different shows with this timer recording feature.
The programs that you have recorded are logged in to an adjustable menu that displays the date, time, and channel that you recorded. You will also see a still-video image of the show you recorded in the menu. You can rename the listings and create chapters within the recordings that allow you to easily skip to your favorite scenes or to dub a cleaned-up copy of the show you've recorded onto DVD. The easy-to-use menu also features a live action window that lets you monitor the program you are currently recording or playing.
In addition to high-quality recordings, you'll get the most out of your DVD library. The D-R2 utilizes Toshiba's ColorStream Pro progressive-scan video technology to yield vivid colors, clean resolution, and reduced onscreen distortion. Digital cinema progressive scanning, or 3:2 pulldown, reproduces your DVDs in theaterlike clarity. While the D-R2 is compatible with both analog and digital televisions, you will get the optimum effect by linking the player with a high-definition-compatible television.
In addition to playing a full range of DVDs, the D-R2 plays CDs and MP3 audio files, so you can enjoy your favorite music. You can also view digital JPEG photos from CDs created in your computer with the D-R2.
The D-R2 features rear-panel composite audio and video inputs, and RCA inputs on the front panel to connect your camcorder for dubbing onto DVD. An additional digital IEEE1394 FireWire jack is included on the front panel for an instant connection with digital camcorders. The FireWire connection automatically synchs up with your camcorder and creates a customized onscreen menu for dubbing.
What's in the Box DVD recorder unit, remote control, owner's manual.
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