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).

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

...

(not counting the 30 or so digital music channels that both receive).

Go over to avsforum.com and search for DVDR3576H/37-the first two links will tell you all you need to know about this unit! I did a lot of research there, and sat on this purchase for a few days trying to decide whether or not to open the box or return it after I found it didn't have an HD tuner-finally decided to take the plunge and so far it's a pretty darn impressive little piece!
I'd probably give it 4 stars if it had some kind of channel guide (like Comcast DVR), but I understand units with TV Guide feature are "iffy".

PROS
Size-smaller than the VCR it's replacing
Picture quality (not HD but pretty darn impressive)
Nothing like TV Guide/Comcast cable guide to show what's on/tell you what you've recorded (although all your recordings appear as multiple windows/snapshots so you can probably tell what the recording is-if not, just scroll up/down/sideways to the multiple snapshots and the program starts playing immediately in it's small window-think it's 9 windows per page, multiple pages depending on how many recordings you have)
Passes HD signal through to TV with no apparent degradation (got the incoming cable going to the DVDR-VCR-HDTV)
160GB Hard Drive with many recording speed options!

CONS
No TV sound button on the DVDR remote (a pain to reach for the TV control just to adjust the sound level-a universal remote (lighted?) with at least rudimentary TV controls (or just a volumne button!) would be nice.
Button labels pretty darn small! The old eyes ain't what they used to be-could have made the remote bigger with bigger print/buttons? Color-coded buttons might be nice (different color for hard drive functions etc).
No channel labeling! My Sharp TV doesn't have it either, but my Toshiba Regza TV does! With all the channels available now, it would be nice if you could label the channels (as on my Toshiba TV) instead of remembering channel 105.1 is ????
A dual tuner would be nice (would allow you to watch one channel while another is recording)

BTW...got it at Sam's Club for $249-apparently the regular price?!