Chili DVD-6100 XS

Advantages: low price, AV DV USB SCART connections, play all R/RW format
Disadvantages: only writes + R/ + RW media, reliability issue

...In Jan 2006 based on a friend's recommendation and bought it from Maplin in Swindon for £199.99. It has progressive scan, time shift and a variety of connectors: USB, firewire (DV), Scart in, Scart out, RF in, RF out, S-video, RGB components connection, separate audio connections + a optical cable connection. The USB, firewire and one component connection are at the front for easy (regular) access. The recorder can officially record to +R/+RW media. Unofficially it can record to -R media too. All was good and I wrote a good review for it until in Sep 06 the DVD writer stopped working. Took it back to Maplin for repair (their first port of response). Eventually got a replacement back (same model). The replacement was noisier when out of stand-by and also prompted to 'wake up' all on its own whenever I switched on the TV or change... Read review

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Advantages: good price, all kinds of connections available, play all R/RW format
Disadvantages: only writes to +R/+RW media, manual needs some clarification

...-link this recorder to another video recorder via the Scart or other component connections to transfer video tape e.g. early wedding video tapes to the hard disk and then to a DVD. Setup is easy with auto-tunning and manual is easy to navigate. Once the time and date is set, it can automatically update itself from the TV channel. The recorder can play +/-R/RW media however can only officially record to +R/+RW media. Unofficially it can record to -R media too as I have done it a few times (no failure so far) when I run out of +R media. The on-screen manual is easy to navigate except that one description in the printed user manual needs to be clarify: there is no 'disk oper' button on the remote control or the recorder after you have finished recording onto a DVD media. The trick is to press the up arrow to go up a level/page and then press the right... Read review

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Advantages: record_play most DVD media, play DivX/MPEG4, DVD to from HDD
Disadvantages: No multiple selection for DVD writing from HDD, no USB port

...In Jan 2006 bought a Umax Chili DVR9200HX recorder from Maplin (it is no longer available anywhere in the UK) and it broke. Got a replacement and that failed too. Finally got a refund after lots of phone calls. Eventually settle for this one which is of a similar spec or better. The price is cheaper than the 9200HX - £170 from eBuyer inclusive of VAT and delivery. This is reasonable priced and is easy to set up and the manual is well written. It has a easy-to-use Guider menu for direct access to DVD/HDD functions. The content menu for DVD/HDD shows all videos, pictures stored and you can select which title to play or which picture to display. It can play and record all the + and - DVD media and got most of the essential connectors - AV DV SCART except USB (useful for my camera or even pen drive DVR9200HX got this). It can play... Read review

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