I have two DVD Recorders - a Philips and this Goodmans. I have a long-standing 'relationship' with my Philips (LOL).
I bought a Philips first. It was rather big from what I can recall. But it developed a fault within a year - it wasn't reading new and blank discs. So I returned it and ordered ... Read review
No Setup - Just put your batteries in and off you go. Our remote controls are generic ... more
replacements 100% guaranteed money back if not entirely satisfied. Put-Batteries-In-And-Go (This remote has been made for this Tv / Dvd / Freeview box etc, only,so no setup required, no codes to put in) Specifically manufactured in our factory for this make/model. Every remote control is tested before it is dispatched. Our remotes are NOT universal - so you do not need to set them up or put codes into them, just put your batteries in and off you go. Each remote is generically made for the specific DVD / TV / Freeview.
Postage & Packaging:£3.00 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
No Setup - Just put your batteries in and off you go. Our remote controls are generic ... more
replacements 100% guaranteed money back if not entirely satisfied. Put-Batteries-In-And-Go (This remote has been made for this Tv / Dvd / Freeview box etc, only,so no setup required, no codes to put in) Specifically manufactured in our factory for this make/model. Every remote control is tested before it is dispatched. Our remotes are NOT universal - so you do not need to set them up or put codes into them, just put your batteries in and off you go. Each remote is generically made for the specific DVD / TV / Freeview.
Postage & Packaging:£3.00 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Easy to use, MP3 playback, Slim Disadvantages: Slow, Limited
...of doing this with the Goodmans was tricky. I selected to insert the index picture, but what was displayed wasn't where I'd paused the recording - it was slightly before. No matter how many times I'd tried, it just wouldn't appear as I wanted. And ALSO it took a LONG time to do this - and at one point, I had to unplug the unit because it had 'locked'.
next...
most dissappointingly of all, the EDIT function is only availble to ... ...not sure what make/model. The Goodmans currently says 6:20am - it's actually 5:55am! This makes timer recordings a bit difficult and annoyingly tedious if I have to keep altering the time before making the recording - what happens if I go away and want to record throughout the week?!
next...
this may be a fault with my actual machine but as I can't return it I'm stuck with this unless I get the machine 'seen to'. It doesn't ... more
I have two DVD Recorders - a Philips and this Goodmans. I have a long-standing 'relationship' with my Philips (LOL).
I bought a Philips first. It was rather big from what I can recall. But it developed a fault within a year - it wasn't reading new and blank discs. So I returned it and ordered another Philips but a different model. Again, it developed a fault within a year so, again, I returned it and I ordered a Sony to try but I found it too complicated to use so I returned that too. I ended up re-ordering the last Philips model I tried and -touch wood - it's still going AND it's been over a year now! It has it's slight faults that I can live with... but I'm not reviewing the Philips.
I wanted another recordable DVD player for a different room, so I tried the Goodmans... I wish I hadn't! I bought it, but didn't set it up and use it straight away because we were in the middle of moving. Unfortunately, by the time I'd tried and and realised I didn't like it, I had had it longer than the Home Approval Policy allows, so I wasn't able to return it, like I had done with the others - so I'm stuck with it!
What's wrong with it? Well, I'm used to Philips, so I have something to compare to...
What's GOOD with it, is it's nice and stylish actually. It looks good. It's quite easy to use with an easy-to-read manual. Easy installation.
AND... it has MP3 playback ability. My Philips doesn't have this so I was quite disappointed. Whenever I want to listen to a certain CD, I have to use the Goodmans. No other piece of equipment I own has the ability to playback MP3 (my stereo is older than the MP3 technology, but new enough to incorporate mini disc).
But... compared to my Philips, it's slow. When I have left a disc in my Philips and I want to eject, I can press the eject button and the Philips ejects - no problem. When I do the same with the Goodmans, A) I have to power on the recorder first and B) if I press eject before the disc is properly read, SOMETIMES the unit displays 'ERROR' and I have to unplug it to reset it. But i still have to power up first.
next... I noticed this the other day. I had two recordings on one disc and I wanted to erase the first recording but leave the second one on the disc. I tried to erase the first recording but the unit told me that I had to erase the second recording first before I could erase the first recording! This IS actually possible on the Philips! Why isn't it possible on the Goodmans?!
next... it's tedious to select chapters. You need to press GOTO on the remote, select the CHAPTER box and then input the chapter number that you want and press the ENTER button. The Philips has a lovely 'T/C' button: 'T' for title and 'C' for chapter. All I have to do is press this button twice and then input the number of the chapter I want to skip to - it's so much quicker.
next... I've tried to insert an Index Picture for my recording. For those of you who don't know what I'm on about... When you insert a disc, the display (on the TV) can show you what the recording is i.e. you can title it if you so wish. And a picture can also be allocated. Pause the recording and if you select to insert an Index Picture - the Index Picture becomes the image that's paused on your screen. My experience of doing this with the Goodmans was tricky. I selected to insert the index picture, but what was displayed wasn't where I'd paused the recording - it was slightly before. No matter how many times I'd tried, it just wouldn't appear as I wanted. And ALSO it took a LONG time to do this - and at one point, I had to unplug the unit because it had 'locked'.
next... most dissappointingly of all, the EDIT function is only availble to use on DVD+RW discs. If I have a recording of home movies taken from my video camera, I cannot use DVD+R discs as I cannot insert charpters and make other manipulations of the disc. I must use DVD+RW discs.
next... it doesn't keep time! Saying that though, I think this is a general thing with DVD Recorders. My Philips used to skip ahead 30 minutes and then skip back sometime later. Funnily enough it doesn't do this anymore BUT someone else I know has a time-keeping problems with his DVD recorder although I'm not sure what make/model. The Goodmans currently says 6:20am - it's actually 5:55am! This makes timer recordings a bit difficult and annoyingly tedious if I have to keep altering the time before making the recording - what happens if I go away and want to record throughout the week?!
next... this may be a fault with my actual machine but as I can't return it I'm stuck with this unless I get the machine 'seen to'. It doesn't record properly full stop! I left it to record a cartoon for my little girl over Christmas. When I re-entered the room 30 minutes later, the machine was off! It had turned itself off. This fault is one that I 'live with' with my Philips BUT it doesn't occur while recording, just playback. My partner experiences my Philips spontaneously turning off during recording but as this doen't happen to me (weird!) I assume he's doing something wrong! Further to this disadvantage, my Goodmans quite often displays WRITE ERRORS. I've tried several new and blank discs, so I'm putting this down as a fault with the machine rather than with the discs. I've had the Goodmans for a year now and I think only ever once or twice has it made a successful recording BUT this, too, may be a fault of my particular machine.
(I really need to get my Goodmans looked at but it's affording it! LOL)
In the manual, it's always nice to have a table displaying all the possible ERROR codes that could appear on the display, with a short narrative on how to remedy the situation... the Goodmans doesn't have this!
As you can see, I really don't like my Goodmans much! It was a 'bad buy'. I've given the Goodmans and overall rating of average. If it wasn't for my experience with a Philips AND my Goodmans was in top working order, I think it would be a good little starter machine to introduce me to the world of DVD recording. But, as it is, I'm no novice.
When it comes to recommendations, yes the Goodmans is one of the cheapest on the market... or at least it was a year ago when I bought it... I would recommend it as a sort of budget-buy, but I wouldn't recommend the Goodmans to those people who are wanting to use it all the time and get the most out of their DVD recorder.
For compartive measures, I bought both my Goodmans and Philips from the Littlewoods Catalogue. The Goodmans was £179.99. My Philps that I've used to compare with is the DVDR610.
Advantages: Cheap, lots of features, easy on eye Disadvantages: not alot really switching to scart can be an inconvenience?
...saw something like matsui or goodmans - quick hide, even though my dad had a lovely 14" matsui box for over 5 years in the late 80s.
WHY I BOUGHT IT
First of all I bought it because it was cheapish and had all the features of the other more expensive models.
I went through the usual lineup toshiba sony samsung kenwood and usually if I saw something like matsui or goodmans - quick hide, even though my dad had a lovely 14" matsui box for over 5 ... ...This DVD REWRITER is a GOODMANS brand one I'm not too familiar with but I have noticed that electrical goods by them tended to be a slightly lower quality or looked a bit more boxy rather than the sleek up to date designs of your sonys etc. I noticed with this dvd rewriter and it was sleek looking and would fit in with my setup easily, it was cheap, and most important of all had all the features I required and the extras the more expensive brands ...
floater 06.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodmans GDVD301R
Advantages: Excellent value, easy to set up and use, looks great Disadvantages: Flatly refuses to make the coffee in the morning or do toast
...so easily avoidable! Thank you Goodmans you've saved me from a long and painful death! PERFORMANCE
Well, I've been using this recorder regularly for over a month and had no problems at all. I've even managed to transfer some old VHS tapes onto DVD!
One other plus point is that it's quiet when running. I only mention this as a friend who has a Phillips DVD Recorder came round the other day and said that his was much louder and that you could constantly ... ...As I mentioned there are some picture quality issues when recording at SLP setting. To be honest though I think you'd get the same thing with much more expensive players so I wouldn't let it put you off. VALUE FOR MONEY
Well, I have to say I can't fault this player in terms of value. It looks good, it's a sensible size and it does everything that you want it to do. It's got all the features you'd expect from a DVD player - chapter selection, zoom, ...
timparlow 07.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodmans GDVD301R
Advantages: cheap and cheerful Disadvantages: cheap and cheerfull
...of the way...
The Goodmans GDVD301RP DVD Recorder is a slimline DVD Recorder featuring:
One touch recording.
Records upto 6 hours of TV
Easy to use on screen displays
Supplied with disc to get you started.
2-channel Dolby digital output. DVD+R, +RW recording format. Record from VHS, TV, satellite. 1 touch recording. 8-event timer. 5 quality settings gives 6 hours recording. Plays DVD/CD/JPEG picture CD. Compatible with DVD, DVD+/R, +/R, +/-RW, ... ...stock.
I think these will be snapped up fast for xmas!
Cannot really give a review of the Daewoo as a do not have it yet...and Ciao don't list it anyway.
Decisions decisions...do I risk the Goodmans (with a possible 'pause' issue....or save £20 and risk the Daewoo? ...
davideggett 11.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Goodmans GDVD301R
Advantages: simple to use, does the job, mp3, kodak picture Disadvantages: confusing remote control!
this dvd recorder is great for recording from the tv and camcorders. it is very inexpensive and quite straight forward to use. the picture qualty is good and there are a range of other features including playing mp3's and kodak picture cd's. it's very easy to install and from there all you need to do is hit the record button! however there are a few other things you can do with it but the manual and the odd layout of the remote control make it very ... ...very good quality picture and there is a feature on the dvd recorder which enables you to lock the disc so it cannot be recorded over. a great feature if you're recording children growing up or your favourite film. another feature is the disc finalising, once you have finished recording you can finalise the disc so it can be played on any other dvd player. ...
chelle1984 27.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Goodmans GDVD301R
