Sony RCD-W1 CD-R/CD-RW Digital Recorder

• Records CD-R and CD-RW discs
• Plays audio CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs
• Dual deck with 4x high-speed dubbing
• 24-bit digital-to-analog converter
• 1-touch synchro start/record

Considering the fact that you can burn music to CD at all is a great thing in itself. There are some features that I would liked to have seen on this machine. Not being able to erase a goof from a CDR kind of sucks. The 3 seconds of silence that automatically adds a new track is only good if you are recording a record that has at least 3 seconds of complete silence in between songs. Otherwise it does require alot of monitoring. Another feature that would have been nice is volume balancing on synchro recording so one song doesn't sound so much louder than another. I do 4 track recording so I'm used to sitting in front of the recorder for hours to get the final result. There's only so much a machine can do when making a compilation CD the rest is manual work. I guarantee if someone gives you a CD that was done with a completely automatic system, it will have mistakes. Have some patience and this machine will give you good results.

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I'm one who tends to put some thought probably more than is the average into purchasing electronics hardware, expecting that I'll get years of service out of the purchase. So, what I tend to look for when it comes time to replace a piece of gear are (a) reputation of the manufacturer, (b) performance specifications, (c) "build" quality, and (d) apparent absence of built-in planned obsolescence.

For the most part, this approach has worked very well, and electronics gear (including music reproduction components) tends to last me for many years. I don't need to be "the first kid on the block" when it comes to gear, and don't consider myself a "gearhead." This has certainly been the case for the CD players I've owned over the years. While my first CD player (one of the "first" generation models actually acquired in Japan before they were on general sale in the U.S.) had many flaws (a price I paid for being an "early adaptor" to the technology) and needed replacing after only a few years, I've had only one component-level player since that time, prior to acquiring this Sony RCD-W1 unit. And that one, too, was a Sony.

Considered solely on the basis of its specifications as a single-drawer CD player, the Sony RCD-W1 would probably be considered too pricey, but not extravagently so. Its specifications, and particularly its 24-bit D/A converter, are splendid, its features and display are fine, and the build quality is rock-solid. Strictly as a player, I find this unit to be measurably better than the older Sony unit it replaced: smoother, almost "silkier" sound, and an improved ability to play discs that the earlier unit choked on. Chalk THAT ability up to overall improvements in playback head optics and error-correction systems. And the second drawer, when not being used for dubbing, is perfect for multi-disc playback; its playback performance is indistinguishable from that of the main drawer.

But I also have upwards of 200 LPs (the barest of residues of what was once a few thousand LPs) desparately needing transfer to a better, more permanent (and more convenient), medium. So the ability to "burn" CDs from these LPs is of more than passing importance to me.

In principle, this (copying of LPs onto CDs) can be done with a computer burner, provided that one has an extra RIAA-equalized preamplifier not doing anything else; something that I don't happen to have. There also don't seem to be any preamplifier-type low-level input devices available as computer peripherals to take the place of an audio-component preamplifier, although peripherals that accept line-level (i.e., microphone, tape and tuner) inputs to feed into a USB port ARE available.

So I've got it figured that the Sony RCD-W1, as an audio component, is just about perfect for dubbing LPs onto CDs (a project that is yet to take place, but one for which I don't anticipate any particular problems). And, since this Sony component will also write to (rewriteable) CD-RWs, the question of "wasting" CD-Rs as "interim half-steps" before cleaning up the files on a computer never really arises: Those LPs needing signal clean-up will get that clean-up after being copied to CD-RWs, after which their cleaned-up WAV files will be copied to CD-Rs. Time-consuming, but not wasteful of materials.

I should also mention in passing that this component does a fine job of straight copying of CDs, either at "normal" speed or at 4x speed. Great for making "compiliation" CDs and for extra "fair use" copies for the car or the Discman.

In summation, there are definitely cheaper pieces of audio hardware out there that claim to do the same thing, but I've come to rely on the Sony name for the audio playback quality that suits my listening needs. And now the integrated convenience that fits my LP dubbing requirements. This is one fine piece of audio hardware, designed for excellent audio performance and built to last.

Bob Zeidler

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This is a great product for burning CD to CD, however, I want to copy from LPs to CDs. I borrowed it from my brother-in-law whom misplaced the "User Guide" and I haven't figured out how to make that feature work without it. Suggestions on where to locate it or excepts (instructions) from someone' copy can be forwarded to: gen_pur@msn.com. Thanks for the help!

Toshiba SD-P1400 7-Inch Portable DVD Player

• Plays DVD, CD, VCD, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, WMA, MP3, and JPEG formats
• Lightweight, portable 7-inch LCD screen with versatile DVD player
• S-video and composite-video inputs, RCA and coaxial digital audio out
• Surround sound, stereo speakers, two headphone jacks
• Measures 7.9 x 1.1 x 6.4 inches (W x H x D), weighs 3.2 pounds

When I decided I wanted to buy a portable DVD player, I did months of research to find the best player at an affordable price. This Toshiba model ranked high overall, especially compared to other models selling for a higher price. I haven't had any problems so far, it plays both DVD+R and DVD-R discs, no problems with video or audio. I've also played a PAL DVD from Europe on it with no problem. (For those who don't know, in the US/Canada, TV shows and movies are all in NTSC format, while most of the rest of the world uses PAL format. Unless you have a converter, you can't show a PAL format video on your tv. But not a problem with this portable player! Also, I believe this is a regionless player. Also a bonus if you have any foreign dvds to watch!)

I use my player daily at work to listen to DVDs, CDs and MP3 CDs and even after well over a year, I have yet to have a problem. I've found it to be a durable machine, despite all the bumps and knocks it has taken. I've read other reviews that said the volume levels weren't loud enough. Through the speakers that may be true, but with a $10 pair of headphones from Walmart the volume was more than adequate, even on a plane. The dual headphone jacks are handy when you have 2 people who want to watch, the screen is bright and clear, and it's lightweight enough to put in a backpack or carry on. The battery life is great, charges up in a couple of hours and it lasts for 5 6 hours. It was a real lifesaver during the last 4 hurricanes here in Florida. If you're in the market for an affordable, dependable machine, this is the one to buy.

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I bought this dvd player few weeks back and last weekend was true test for it. We had a long trip to LA and had very good experience with it. Here are the good things and not so good things about it so far.

Goods

1) Very good battery time. The battery has been lasting for quite long. I did not check the actual usage time, but it lasted on and off two one hour dvd and had charge left. I bought a power inverter for the car so that I can keep the battery charged.

2) Very clear and sharp picture.

3) I like the color combination and general style of the player. My 21 month old daughter likes the sharp color and design.

4) Plays mp3 ! The interface to play mp3 cds is great and quite intuitive.

5) Have not tried yet, but plays dvd-rw/r. Which is a big plus since lots of my daughters tv shows are burned on dvds.

Not so good:

1) Sound from speaker is poor. But then again you probably already knew that from other posts. However, the sound for headphone is also poor. I connected output from headphone to car stereo and often I had to really crank up the volume on car stereo and the dvd player to get decent volume.

2) It seems to be tempermental with older dvd and vcd/cd. A few of the dvds I tried to play were borrowed from public library. Those were a bit scratched. Sometimes the player played them fine and sometimes it just refused to play at all. It also for some reason still unknown refuses to play my original Matrix dvd. So in general it has problems reading DVD sometimes.

3) Does not play SACD, dvd+rw/r

4) Does not come with carrying case. Most other companies bundle a carrying case, but not this one. I bought one from walmart for 15$ which seems to be ok if not great. I wish they would suppply a carrying case for it in future that will truly fit it.

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I recently purchased this player from Best Buy. The good things about it: Slim design, easy to use, very good picture and just the overall look of the player. Bad things: bad speakers and easily lost battery cover. As for the speakers, another reviewer said they're bad because it's portable and they can't make great speakers for such things. Check out the sound on some of the tiny Sangean digital radios you can buy here on Amazon; remarkable sound quality and the speakers are even smaller than the SD-P1400! In the end, I think you'll do yourself a big favor by going with the Audiovox D1501: fantastic sound and picture; a bit more bulky but you can save yourself over $100.00. And a FULL 12 month warranty on both parts and labor.

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I picked this dvd player up at a best buy about a week ago, and I have to say i was somewhat impressed with it.

First lets discuss the screen. This screen is very high quality for the money you pay because Toshiba has made laptops for many years and has experience im making lcd screens like this one. The picture quality is very sharp and can be fine tuned to your taste.

Next are the speakers. Many people conclude that these speakers are very low quality and too quite to use. While i would not deem them worthless, i would agree that they are very quiet and have no bass. But again there is a reason for this. Portable dvd players are made to be just that-portable. For something to be portable, it has to be small and for something to be small, it has to have small components. The reason for lack of sound quality and volume is that these speakers are small to make the dvd player small nand portable. As for me, this is not a problem as my family in the car would not appreciate hearing my movies and i would be using headphones anyway.

The dvd player itself seems to be very dependable, although it is somewhat noisy (again, headphones would keep this from being a problem too you as they would cover up the noise). Also, you have to make sure the disc as all the way on the spindle, as sometimes only two of the three push-pin thingys are holding the disc in place and it pops out when you start up the dvd player.

From what i've seen, the battery is compitant, although it is hard to review that because i have not actually used it for all three hours and timed it and i have only charged it once. Also, this player comes with all the cables you would need to hook it up to a tv/vcr or to get power too it. The remote is comveniantly small and has all the controls you would need, save the volume control because that is a little wheel thingy that you turn to adjust the volume.

Really the only complaints i have with this dvd player are minor-low sound quality,somewhat noisy spindle, and a few other things. At first i was planning on getting the polaroid but decided this one was worth the extra 50$ or so, and i am glad i made that decision after reading some of the reviews on the polaroid. Toshiba is a much more reliable brand with lots of experience in this type of electronic device.I would definately recoment this dvd player over any of the other ones in its class. Feel free to email me at Litdbo@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

We bought this DVD player primarily to entertain our (toddler) son on long family vacations, but we didn't feel that spending $500+ dollars for a "top of the line" one was worth it. For the price ($250) this DVD player did the job. The battery lasts for the promised 3 hours sometimes more and recharges quickly. The screen is nice and clear and big enough. The speakers, as it's been pointed out aren't that great, they kind of remind me of an old transistor radio, no matter what setting you put them on (what do you expect for 2" speakers). But the sound is excellent through headphones (I've used $60 noise cancelling headphones and $5 off the rack at Target headphones and both provided excellent sound). The DVD player plays both prerecorded DVDs (even the Lion King that someone else said they had a problem with) as well as the DVD-R's that I've burned on my home computer. As it's been pointed out, the spindle is kinda loud during fast forward or chapter skipping, but who really cares, I'd rather have a noisy spindle than lug a 10 pound quiet DVD player around the airport? Haven't had any problems with skipping or restarting even though it's been bumped around a bit (we are talking about toddler use remember). We haven't used the remote yet as the player is usually within arms reach, nor have I hooked it up to another TV or audio device. My first thought when pulling it out of the box was that it didn't seem very sturdy but it's small, easy to trasport, and durable. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I haven't used all of the functions. For a basic unit this one seems to stand up to the toddler test!

Belkin AV22305-12-WHT HDMI to HDMI Cable - 12 ft in White

The HDMI cable is great, I use it for my macbook pro, with an adapter, and the picture is lovely. I don't regret getting it, and it's not too pricey either. Much cheaper than store prices for graet quality. 4 stars.

Can't believe I almost spent $170 at Best Buy for a very similar cable! This cable works great for what I needed. I used it to connect my HDMI Apple TV to my HDMI Visio TV. Download speeds are fast and without slowdown. Delivery was as promised. I would highly recommend this company and its cable.

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This is a great quality cable by Belkin. I use it personally to connect my PS3 and TV. However i have also tested it on my computer monitor and my desktop and it works great as well!

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Cable works great for HDMI uses. I use mine for my Apple TV. The price on Amazon makes local stores look like thieves!

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I've had problems with this product connecting my TV to my Apple TV. The contact points always seem to be loose. I frequently have to plug and unplug the cable to get it to work properly. Belkin usually makes good stuff, but this doesn't appear to be a great product.

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Pegasus ST09 9-Inch LCD HDTV with ATSC Tuner, Gray

• HDTV Tuner Inside
• Full TV Feature that can be used with Cable/Sattelite/Air and Other Deviced such as DVD Players
• Travel Friendly
• Wide Screen 9-inch display
• Audio/Video input, S-Video input, External Antenna Jack, Earphone Jack

This small set meets our needs perfectly. It was purchased to replace our trusty 5 in B&W analog at the time of the digital conversion. We use this set only in the bathroom in the morning to watch news and sports while getting ready for work, so we are not with concerned with receiving scores of channels. It took about 9 days to arrive using the free shipping option. The set was well packaged and unlikely to be damaged with routine handling. Setup was a breeze following stepwise instructions (with pictures) on a quick setup card. After the digital conversion the auto scan quickly picked up 14 over-the-air channels (which included all 6 major channels in this area) using only the provided very small HD antenna. The antenna cable connects at the top of the set rather obtrusively; this could have been better designed. We have not tried a cable connection for comparison. Reception for the major channels is good. The picture is clear and sharp, far better than our old 5 in analog set, but it is far from the quality of our 46 in Sony LCD. The picture varies somewhat from channel to channel, some being a little dark and the next a little too light with a washed-out appearance. This can be corrected fairly well using the brightness and contrast controls which are easily accessible via the full function remote. The sound is adequate for this small set and the way we use it: in a bathroom, with the water running. We did not set our expectations unrealistically high.

We highly recommend this 9 in digital TV for use in a kitchen, bath, workshop, etc. for over-the-air reception in a tight space.

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Although its 9 inch screen is larger than LCD TVs in it price range, the picture quality is poor and very dark. No amount of adjusting will help. The sound from the tiny speakers is actually worse than the picture. I do NOT recommend this product.

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We receive over-the-air only. We live in Houston and have strong signals. Reception with the little antenna that came with the TV is very poor. Reception with rabbit ears is still poor but better. Reception with our large attic antenna was good.

The digital converter box we purchased for our other TV receives all stations strong with rabbit ears, so I was disappointed that the TV only picked up about half of the stations using the same rabbit ears.

Also, I don't know what is HDTV about it. Especially since the resolution is only 640 x 234.

Anyway, the picture is decent and it's a decent little TV if you've got a strong enough signal or are just using it for a monitor.

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The Pegasus ST09 9 inch LCD HDTV delivers high quality picture quality and sound for a very low price. My wife has it set up in the kitchen,connected to the portable antenna included with the purchase and she gets all of the over the air channels....crystal clear with very good audio. We'll be taking a road trip next week and will take it with us. This was a great buy.Pegasus ST09 9-Inch LCD HDTV with ATSC Tuner, Gray

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First I would like to respond to several negative reviews. When programming for available channels make sure the antenna is located where it is receiving a strong signal---just a slight rotation can effect the signal. Take your time, get it right the first time, remembering that digital transmissions are very directional. I used the small antenna that came with the TV, then tried a larger set of rabbit ears----could not tell much difference (I live twenty miles out of Phoenix, AZ where most of the transmitters are located). For my location I can get just about all of the channels that are available, about the same as other TV's in the house that I put rabbit ears on. Realizing that this is a hand held portable TV I find the picture to be as good as any small screen with this resolution. Tried hooking it up to the rooftop antenna and I got everything. I get an excellent picture, bright enough to watch outside, I will have to agree that the sound is a little "tinny" but, what should I expect from a unit this size. There is an earphone jack for private viewing. This TV is loaded with features such as, on screen program guide, program info, time, etc....I have a 12v adapter that will allow me to use it for camping and emergency use. Have seen same size TV's at B&M stores for almost twice the price, this is a true value! I would think that if you are considering this TV, try one of your digital TV's on a set of rabbit ears to see what the signal is like in your area. Hope this provides a bit of info. that might be helpful in your decision.

Mount-it! MI-803 Triple Shelf Wall Mount - High Gloss Black

• Three Glass Shelves
• Load capacity: 66 lbs./30 kgs (22 per shelf)
• 8 mm tempered glass
• Color: High gloss black
• Easy installation and sleek design to complement your wall-mounted TV

If you've been looking between this unit and the Cheetah version, wondering whether to risk the off brand to save a little, go for the Mount It! version. It seems to be the same unit. Same gold flecked finish on the aluminum body, same high quality glass shelves.

Unit feels sturdy and well built once assembled. One thing to note, with the glass shelves and somewhat large body, it does weigh a fair amount. About 25 lbs. That plus the components is gonna add up, so I highly suggest mounting it to a stud, which would be a good idea for any wall mounted shelving unit.

Glass Shelf Dimensions: 17.5" by 13.75"

Large enough for all of the components I had to throw at it. Be sure to measure yours before purchasing though!

One helpful tip for installation: Thread your hdmi / power / whatever cables you have BEFORE mounting it. That will save you the trouble and frustration of having to fish for the lines after its mounted.

Overall, very satisfied. Lowest cost 3 tier unit I could find, yet still very pleased with the quality.

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I ordered this mount for my parents. We mounted their TV with VideoSecu Mounts Flat panel TV Mount Fits Sharp 36" 37" 38" 40" 42" 46" 47" 48" 50" 52" Cantileve Swivel Black color Wall Mount Bracket 1VH and it looks great. On the top shelf we put the Directv box, on the middle shelf we put the Sony Blue-Ray Surround Sound receiver, and on the bottom shelf we put the Wii. Lots of cables running up and down the track system, we fit two CAT6 cables for the Directv box and blue-ray player, power cables for all three components & TV, all the speaker wire for the surround sound, two HDMI cords, RCA cables for the Wii, optical audio cord, cable line, and others. All the cords fit perfect. It looks great. I guess the only negative thing I could say about it is the Sony BD Surround Receiver is huge, and it sticks off the end of the glass a little. But with everything being black, it's hard to notice and everything still looks great. No one has shelves much bigger than these that I could find anyways. All in all, I would recommend to anyone looking to mount their components to the wall.

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I was a little nervous about this shelf because I saw reviews saying it wasn't big enough to fit some electronics. One reviewer noted that his Direct TV box fit along with his DVD player and other items. I was worried about my DTV box because it was the biggest item.

Unfortuneatly my box does not fit. Depending on what receiver you have you may or may not have the same problem. If I swap my HR 24 living room box with the HR 21 box in the bedroom (where the shelf is located) it would fit great. The HR 24 is a few inches shorter. The HR 21 HDMI cable hits just below the shelve's circular opening for the cable so I may prop it up on something and see if sliding that cable end into the hole gives me the extra 1.5 inches I need or I may just let it hang off the end.

It feels very sturdy and is good looking but I do wish they had made the shevles about 2 inches wider from the wall so that more things would fit. (My older DVD player for instance would have the same problem as the HR 21 box but I upgraded that shortly before getting the shelf.)

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Looks great/hides cables/very professional only problem I had was if can't catch a stud in the wall and you use the white wall anchors that come with the kit they stripped out when trying to attach to the wall. Had to hit Home Depot and get ones with a bit better quality.

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Overall, this unit works very well. it was easy to assemble, and looks very nice on the wall. Clean lines, very minimalisitic. Could have used a bit more room for the wires, but i was able to put in the TV wires, Blu ray wires, Wii wires, and wires for the wii remote chargers.

4 CH USB 2.0 DVR PC Digital Audio Video Security Camera Surveillance Recorder

This is not a cheesy DVR. Construction and materials look and feel top notch. I set up a small camera system for my home, (3 cameras). I had no problems getting the software to work with windows 7. When I plugged in the USB connector, at first my computer did not recognize the devise, it said "unknown devise" or something to that effect. After restarting and plugging it back in, then my computer saw the devise as "QQDVR" and windows installed the drivers for me. I tried other DVRs in the past, like the one from Sharx Security that installs into a PCI slot and had to return it because it was not compatible with Windows 7. This one works great with windows 7. Other great features include 4 channels video with their own audio jacks, so 4 channels audio/video (4 BNC Video jacks,4 Audio RCA jacks). Frame rates are great even with all three cameras running. Cameras are independently fully adjustable. Setting up the remote surveillance feature was easy and I was able to monitor my property as well as motion record while I was on vacation 1100mi away from home. I was able to monitor from my laptop at the hotel I was staying in. This DVR takes up no space in my computer case allowing my computer to run cooler because there is no warm/hot, air blocking PCI card in my PCI slot. This would also be a great product for someone who wants to use it with their laptop. Note: When you configure the software, you will be asked what signal type your cameras are, your choices are "PAL" and "NTSC", if you are in the United States choose "NTSC". Don't select "PAL" I did this by mistake and I had no signal. Also, if you put your computer into "sleep mode", that will disable the DVR software temporarily until you do a restart and open the program again. When I record, I disable my "sleep" function. If you get confused installing the QQDVR, someone posted a video on YouTube explaining the install.

Well, I thought this was going to work, but I keep having problems getting more than one camera to work at a time, and the program could be more user friendly. I can't get it to minimize and then come back to full screen, which means I can't use my computer for anything else once I launch the program. I've been working with computers since 1980, and have used DVR security devices for over 10 years, but all I can say is that you get what you pay for. If anyone else has had experience with this USB DVR device, I would love to hear from you.

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Aiptek Pocket DV II 1.3MP Digital Web Camera

I bought this camera because I needed to post pictures on the web. I also wanted to video tape some things I had built in action. The camera works perfectly for this. It's also small and cheap. It fits on my desk with the nifty tri-pod thingy, and that also makes it easy to set something up and shoot while you aren't at the camera. The compact flash storage is great, get a 512 mb and never worry about memory. I have a 32 and got about 80 pics on it when I was at the NYC auto show. This camera also has adjustable focus. You can take close ups (16 inches) or infinitely far shots. Just makes sure you remember to use it (I forgot at the car show and about 40 of the above mentioned 80 pics came out blury). The pictures at their native resolution aren't always great, but if you scale them down and tweak them a little they are perfect. The video mode is my favorite feature. I can carry this around and video tape random things, which is great. It's small, so people always are impressed with it and think it is much more expensive then it is... and if you like to show off that is always fun :-P The menu system is very easy to use, so you won't get lost in it and accidently delete everything. You can plug it into a TV and use the TV as the LCD screen, but it will be a bit blury. Connection with a computer is very easy, but most of the included software isn't great. Just download some free stuff like "The Gimp" and you'll be fine. The price here is even cheaper than when I got it. I payed [a fair amount of money]and it was worth that, and it's cheaper now so I'd say get it before it's gone! You will NOT find a better digicam at this price, and never with these features. Video, stills, audio, compact flash, and it has an LCD screen (though it's not the best, it's still there which is VERY helpful). Well, this isn't my best written review ever, but I think I got my point across. Buy this now, it's awesome!

I have loved this digital camcorder from the first time I used it. For the size it is, it is an awfully good camera. It has many features, like a video recorder, voice recorder, digital still camera, and can be used as a webcam. This product takes very good pictures, if you are in good lighting. If you aren't the pictures may be hard to see. Seeing as there is no flash you have to have light in the background. If you want to be able to take for than 16 pictures at a time I suggest you get a compact flash memory card to hold them on. Also same thing for movies, to take a lone movie you have to have a memory card, there isn't enough memory built into the system to be able to take a long movie. Another thing is the battery runs out fast, if you goes low while you are using the camera your pictures may not be saved. So make sure you watch the amount of power in the batteries before it is to late. I guess you can say you get what you pay for seeing as this is an inexpensive camera. Overall, this camera is great if you have good lighting, a memory card, and long lasting batteries.

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Overall this digital camera is great for novice users. The camera is very easy to use because of its well-labeled parts and simple menus. With all of the features and for the price, the pictures and movies are great. The only problems that I have found are that the camera has no flash, there are beeps when turning it on that will not shut off in any menu, and without a memory card it does not hold very many pictures. In the end, this is a great, cheep camera for low level to mid level users.

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Like it---get a set of Ni-Mh batteries and a large memory card and enjoy. Don't leave the screen on always--ALL digitals will eat batteries driving the screen full-time.Does need good lighting. A small modification lets it do GREAT macro (close-ups)--I can fill a frame with an ant!.Took pic of screw threads (10-32 size screw). No, it's not a $300.00 resolution camera, but you didn't pay $300.00 for it either. I keep mine in the car.If it breaks, I will buy another--have really used mine.

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I've taken a few good shots. It has a lot of nice features, (Video works good)but wish it was easier take good pictures. The ones that did turn out looked good.

Has a manual focus where you basically have to guess a little bit. Hard to tell if it was in focus until it's on the PC.

No flash and does not take good pictures in indoor or dim lights.

Used up the provided batteries first day. Got NIMh next day.

Internal memory only stores about 10 12 pics, that are lost if batteries are removed, so get Compact Flash ASAP.

Had some strange lockups where I had to remove batteries to reset camera.

LCD can be difficult to see in bright sunlight.

So if you get this, get the NIMh and CF card (You will need these for your next digital camera anyway), take a LOT of outdoor pics and you will have a few good enough to frame.

Veho VCC-005-HDGUM Gumball 3000 Edition Muvi HD 1080p Mini In Car/Action Camcorder

After purchasing this item for use in Law Enforcement, I was 100% satisfied. This recorder comes with a wireless remote which allows me to begin video recording and/ or take photos of whatever is in front of me without messing with small buttons which may not be accessible in a unexpected or high stress incident. There is no software needed so you are able to play or edit the videos on any computer with basic programs. The clips and attachments are high quality so I don't need to worry about it flying off in a physical altercation. I will also be using this in my personal life for high definition video recording of mountain biking and family sporting events. I recommend this personal video camera to anyone looking for a compact, sturdy device for work or play. The ONLY complaint I could have is I wish the user manual was a little more descriptive but after a few minutes of playing with it, I figured it out with no problems.

I bought this as a helmet camera for Rollerblading. It works surprisingly well both video and audio. At 1080p resolution you can even read license plates on passing cars. It's more stable than I thought it would be; playback is smooth and sound is good. I didn't like the mounts provided so I made my own from 1/16"x1 1/4" aluminum flat bar and stuck it on with foam tape. The remote works well; the person who couldn't get it working probably didn't read the instructions, they have to be paired just like a Bluetooth earpiece.

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This personal/wearable camera is probably the best on the market right now. I say this after researching for quite some time. And, it serves as duel purpose for me.

1.) I use this camera at work everytime I have interactions with the public, and I'm sure one day soon it will be a career saver for me. In a day and age where everyone has a camera phone to video things they see from their perspective, you need a camera to show things from your perspective, and to video from before an incident occurs. With the included 8gb memory card you don't have to worry about, "do I have enough memory to start this video before ____ hits the fan?" Just start it and stop it from the included remote control.

2.) Sports, particularily off road mountain biking. WOW! It takes amazing video. I can mount it anywhere on my bike, and I can check and make sure I've got the angle I want with the video screen on the back.

The options are endless with all of the mounting kits it comes with. Daytime video is better than you can imagine, and surprised me beyond what I thought it could do. Nighttime video is very much above average, a little grainy when looking into the darkness, but better than expected.

The only change I would like to see is to make the battery removeable. Then you would have the option to purchase an extra battery and change it out if the internal one became low. Now I say this without due cause.... I have yet to have the battery run out on me in an 8 hour shift, but at the same time I'm only recording approximately 2+ hours of footage in this 8 hour timeframe.

Also, It is about twice the size of most wearable cameras, but the video quality definitely makes up for the size concerns.

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I've had this now for a few weeks. Before I get into the pros of the device, let me state a few of the issues I have with it.

My first issue is with the remote. It's awesome that the unit even comes with one at this price, so kudos to Veho for that. However, when the camera is in time lapse mode ( for example, shooting still pics every two seconds ), you cannot properly start or stop this mode from the remote. Using the shutter button on the camera itself does what it should and starts and stops the picture taking mode. The remote seems to want to take one picture and stop. Although sometimes it will actually go into time lapse mode! So it is inconsistent. This is unfortunate for me because I purchased this specifically for the continuous still shooting mode and I need to be able to start and stop it with the remote! ( I've tried a variety of remote button 'press' combinations and I haven't found any that work consistently. )

Another issue with the remote is that apparently Veho thinks it's disposable. From what I've read on their site and other places, the battery is soldered in there and it works for 2000 uses or so and then it dies. When mine dies, I imagine I'll try to solder a new battery in. If that fails, you can buy a new one from them for 30 dollars or something like that.

Don't expect much help from the manual when it comes to the finer details of camera's features. It is a very simple quick start guide. After that you're basically on your own.

My next biggest disappointment is that when I tried contacting Veho about the remote issue, they never bothered to reply. I did get the 'auto reply' so I know they got my email to begin with.

My last two complaints are: In this version you cannot change the FPS in the 720 video mode, you are stuck with 60fps. On their next model up you have a lot more control over the FPS ( frames per second ) at different resolutions. And finally, you cannot change any exposure or color balance. You get what they give you. Just one auto setting for all situations.

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Now, the good bits.

I'm generally happy with the quality. The video is a bit on the grainy side, but for 30FPS 1080P at this price point, I think it does a fine job. I wouldn't call it 'professional' by any means but it gets the job done. I was pleased that it works just fine with a simple class 4 8GB micro SD ( and it includes one ) I didn't experience any frame rate issues or anything. The video came out pretty smooth.

The still pictures are coming out pretty nice and you can get up to 8MP in size, although the sensor is 5MP, so I'm not sure if there is a true improvement in quality at the 8MP over the 5MP or not. This is something I have yet to test out. What I really want is 12 MP stills.

I've noticed that the sky gets a little blown out on a bright day, but this has to do with the auto exposure. I suppose they have to do this to get proper exposure of shaded areas.

The picture is wide but not too wide. It doesn't have too much distortion or anything.

The Gumball version comes with a lot of nice mounts & accessories. It's pretty impressive in that department. You get helmet mounts, a window mount, another mount, straps, velcro, a case, a lanyard and so forth, all very nice quality stuff. Combine that with the camera, the memory card and the remote, and it's a great value. I need to buy a mini hdmi cable to test the hdmi out on it.

To sum up, for the price, I'd buy this again. However, if money was no object, I'd buy the latest and greatest GOPRO 3 for 400 bucks. It has wifi now and it even does 4k, and shoots 12MP and it comes with a better remote. However, the GoPros still do not have what the Veho has standard, and that is a small color lcd screen! (GoPro, this is your main weakness! imho) That is well worth the price of admission. It helps a lot to be able to see the menu and delete pics, clips and so forth.

Should you get this? I guess that depends on what your specific use for it might be. But if you're on a budget, I think it's a good place to start. Good luck and have fun.

p.s. One thing the Veho has that is cool is a standard camera threaded hole for a tripod mount! I don't think the GoPro even has that.

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The camera works great and the angle really is a very wide lens, and any distortion due to the very wide angle isn't really noticeable at all. The angle is clearly well over 120 degrees. Excellent camera to use while driving too as a dash cam. The video quality is good, but wish I could have 1080 and 60 fps, but you can either do 1080/30fps or 720/60fps. Either way it is a very good camera for the price.

Panasonic PV-D4743S Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo , Silver

• DVD player/4-head hi-fi VCR combination unit
• Progressive-scan DVD video output offers flicker-free images on high-definition or HD-ready TVs
• Record a program and watch a DVD simultaneously
• Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound outputs (for use with compatible AV receiver and speaker system)
• Plays DVD-Video, VHS tape, CD, audio CD-R and CD-RW, and video DVD-R

First off, everyone should know that a DVD/VCR combo machine such as this Panasonic will not allow you to tape DVDs you rent at Blockbuster! Most DVDs have Macrovision anti-copying technology which makes it impossible to copy to a VHS tape without a hacked VCR machine. You can, however, tape your own home-movie DVDs made on a PC.

As with their stand-alone DVD and VCR products, the Panasonic is an excellent machine that's easy to use, buit to last, and offers great video quality on all kinds of TV sets. The remote control unfortunately is a bit more complicated than necessary, but that doesn't distract from the good overall design of the machine itself. The biggest advantage of an integrated DVD/VCR is that it saves space and cables. The biggest downside is if one thing breaks, you have to fix the whole unit. Luckily, Panasonic is known of its excellent quality control, and my first VCR purchased 15+ years ago, a Panasonic, still works to this very day! My family owns a few Panasonic DVD players -I have a big family -and they all work flawlessly, including my first DVD player which I bought back in 1999, at the dawn of DVD age.

Finally, I personally prefer to silver model, because it looks high-tech and looks stunning under my black Xbox. :)

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I first reviewed this product and said it was great. Overall it has been a fine unit, but it seems to everheat once in a while during a long DVD session. From time to time the movie will freeze up, and then jump forward or backward, very annoying. Considering how inexpensive the unit is for VCR and DVD, it was still an OK value, but the overheating seems to be a fatal flaw.

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I didn't have any problem with this product. The setup is easy. It has all relevant input/outputs (although I used it only to connect both vcr and dvd to the TV). DVD has progressive scan and DTS. You can use it as a cd payer and it also can play MP3 CDs (although I didn't try it yet). My only complaint is related to the remote. I use it as universal remote (it was easy my tv is also Panasonic) and it's very easy by mistake to do something, for example, with VCR when you really working with TV. Happened to me already quite a few times. But all in all, this shortcoming is not enough not to recommend this unit as simple and reliable vcr/dvd combo.

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I wasn't planning to write a review for the Panasonic PV-VD4743K but after reading the review by "An electronics fan", I thought that it was appropriate to say something in defense of this unit.

First of all, when you write a review, it would be nice if the review were actually about the unit in question and not some other unit you bought on another occasion. "An electronics fan" buys another unit then spends his entire post in some crazed rant against Panasonic.

So what did Panasonic do, according to "An electronics fan"? Panasonic listened to his complaint several times, tried to help troubleshoot his problem, sent him to a certified tech repair center, and then when no one could figure out why his tapes were the only ones having problems, Panasonic offered to replace his unit with a re-conditioned unit (basically a new unit), and he still whines and complains about his situation. I guess some people are never happy. But either way, his review of another unit is totally inappropriate here.

Anyway, as far as THIS model is concerned, it's an excellent unit and performs perfectly for its' class. I highly recommend it.

I have a degree in Computer Science from U.C. Berkeley, so I'm not usually intimidated by technology. But this remote is just impossible. Lots of tiny, identical buttons with microscopic labels. You can only use the remote using reading glasses in a strong light. Many of the controls are non-intuitive even when you find the right buttons. The manual is strikingly unhelpful; one of the worst I've seen.

I actually bought a universal remote but this deck wouldn't respond to it at all.

(Rant: user interface design is a well-understood discipline, so why is it that user interfaces seem to be getting worse rather than better?) Anyway, I returned it and got a JVC XVC33U, which is much easier to use and has a vastly better manual.

Toshiba W714 Hi-Fi Stereo VCR

• 4-head hi-fi stereo VCR with front and rear AV inputs
• 19-micron video heads deliver a clearer picture in EP play mode
• V3 chassis with unique flying preamp design gives superior audio and video performance
• Onscreen programming with icons for quick and easy programming
• Auto setup with channel memory , auto clock set

This is a very good VCRs. This is another unit I saw while shopping. Visiting audio and video stores with the kids continues to be a regular weekend pastime with us. This machine replays VHS tapes giving one of the best pictures on the market today. The picture was very good. The color alignment looked good on both the Panasonic Super-flat TV and especially the Sony Wega TV sets. Resolution was excellent. Usually a good TV set makes VHS tapes look bad. That was not the case here. For controls and features I like the jog shuttle on the remote control. It also has digital tracking which is a must-have now days. Front and rear A/V inputs are also a feature that is a must-have these days.

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This is one of the better VCRs on the market this year. It plays back tapes with very good imaging having one of the best pictures around. The 19-micron video heads record and playback a sharper picture in the EP mode. Pre-recorded tapes play back with an excellent picture too. How good a picture looks is what it is all about but it also has automatic head cleaners, superfast rewind, and an auto clock set feature.

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Easy setup and operation. Great picture! I'm amazed at (the value) these days in a VCR. I remember seeing these "high-end" features (jog/shuttle, hi-fi, etc.) 8-10 years ago at 10 times the price. Good job Toshiba, and Amazon!

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I bought this VCR...through Amazon.com....There is not an extended warranty offered. My first mistake. The VCR worked for about 3 weeks. When it worked, it was great. I loved everything about it. All of a sudden no picture, just audio. I went to the Toshiba site and found a repair shop that Toshiba recommends. To make a long story short, this is the 3rd time it's been in the repair shop. They told me they replaced the board. Sounds bad. The repair shop STILL has it from the 3rd trip in March of this year. Now I'm back waiting with Toshiba to get a new VCR. The repair shop tried to pawn a used one off on me. Toshiba was very nice at first, now I'm left hanging by the manufacturer. I have an older Toshiba that still works great. That's why I bought another Toshiba.This VCR was a lemon for me. I read the customer reviews, most weren't good, but I purchased anyways.Even more reason to read the reviews.Save your money and possible headaches on this one folks.

Purchased this unit in Nov 2001. The picture is above average to great, depending on the tape (even on purchased tapes) and the flying amp does make the stills and slow motion a whole lot better.

There is one problem that I have noticed that also affect others who use the linear timing track on the tape. The quality control on some purchased tapes is so poor that this tracking track is too weak for the player to hold track and the picture cuts out very often. An example is the tape with Tommy Lee Jones called U.S.Marshals. It will play on some VCRs but not this unit. Although, other tapes play fine in this machine.

I have noticed that when this tracking problem occurs, playing the tape in Fast Forward does allow you to see the movie (no sound) but the picture is OK.

So I guess you need two VCRs to keep the bases covered.

Overall, it is a good machine.

Roland R-05 Studio WAVE/MP3 Recorder

This is one of the simplest, most reliable, most versatile machines I've ever used. Fancy displays, lots of lights, pop ups, features, options? Nope almost none, in fact.

But if you want durable, reliable, simple, high quality recording in a variety of wav & mp3 formats, this machine is for you. It does what it does, easily, every time.

I've recorded music in concert halls and living rooms. I regularly record 2 hour lectures it all fits into a $10 SD card and txfers to computer immediately via the card or cable.

I suppose someday there will be a better machine.

I have an R-09 and now a R-05. I like them both. I think the R-05 had some excellent improvements.

1. The battery compartment is a much better design, easier to access and change batteries.

2. mini usb jack and sd card slot now on outside of unit not within battery compartment.

3. SD capacity supported is now 32GB rather than 4GB

4. input level and volume controls are now on front of unit rather than the sides.

5. Power on/hold switch better design, easier to feel.

6. Smaller, stronger more attractive form factor.

7. 'Set'/Record button is no longer labeled 'Rec'. Was confusing.

Operation and software is logical, a good carryover. Record quality is outstanding.

My wife has the R-09 now. I have the R-05. I find it to be an elegant recorder.

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This is my first MP3 recorder, so I don't have much of a comparison but for what it's worth this is a great product. I wanted something of good quality and easy to use, and this product definitely fits the bill. The microphones are high quality and very sensitive. You can also hook up an external microphone but I have not tried that yet. Transferring to computer via USB is super easy and convenient. I also like the fact that you can edit the recordings on the unit itself and add reverb. I have Cakewalk Home studio so I can import the files and add other effects if desired. The unit is very portable and can be attached to a tripod which is a nice feature. The batteries last a long time. Would highly recommend this product.

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I am not much for an audio technical genius so, I will keep this simple.

This is a great little recording unit. My wife and I use it to record our weekly podcast. We put it on the table, hit the center button once, check the levels and hit record. The unit can record in both WAV and MP3 formats at multiple levels of quality.

The on-board condenser microphones pick up more than you might imagine and are great for on-site recordings in order to pick up the ambiance of the recording location.

The unit is also great as a recorder for productions with an audio mixer. Simply connect the line-in to the main out of a mixer and adjust the recording level. It is great for that because, unlike a hard drive, there are no moving parts to "crash". You might need to replace a SD card after extensive use but, other than that, the solid-state recording almost never fails except due to user error.

There are 2 minor gripes that I have. The windscreen that came with the unit is a bit small and flimsy. I don't use it anyway but, it was disappointing to see.

The other issue is that the AC adapter for this unit is only available in a few places and is pricey. The fact is, I use this mostly at home and would prefer not to waste the AA batteries.

Speaking of which, the battery life in this unit is outstanding. Depending on your frequency of use, one set of AAs will last you a LONG time, especially if they are the lithium ones, designed for digital devices.

This a great recorder at a great price and I highly recommend it.

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I've had this product for 24 hours now and used it at a live Karaoke session last night. I was sitting closest to the speakers and the recording was amazing. I know the first thing anyone is going to think about this is.. But it is $200.00.. As I told others, you get what you pay for. At first, I bought a different unit for 1/2 the price and it had major problems for live band and Mixer recording. The split feature works well so I can split the recording without having to hit stop and record again... It is so small, It fits in my shirt pocket..

Pro's for me:

Amazing Sound: nuf said.. The recordings seems true and clear. No detectable hormonic distortion, compression noise or anything that I've heard from cheaper recorders.

Battery Life: 16 hours recording, confirmed with power saving turned on. (peak and red recording lights turn off)

Immediate Recording (Setup and Start): The cheaper units go through an "Initialization phase" when you hit the record button. The R-05 is immediate. When you press the REC button, it automatically pauses for level adjustments and start of song queueing.

Options: Too many to list; Very well done and well thought out for recording live instruments / voice / etc.

Sensitivity and Direction I noticed pattern that I could use to dampen back group (audience) sounds. This is useful when your primary interest is the music.

Power Saving Features: Lights can be turned off automatically when you want to conserve power.

Ease of Use: Very simple and easy to use.. Well thought out interface.

Cons:

V1.03 is required to use NI-MH batteries.. If you have V1.02, it will show the battery is dead within an hour of use. After the update, I have tested it so far for 3 hours recording with 1 bar drop..

The aluminum case is only a shell, it is mostly plastic with what amounts to a phone case around it. If it is dropped, it will respond like plastic so don't drop it.

While corners were cut to bring a very good recorder to be affordable at this price point, I would highly recommend the R-05 to anyone who wants a recorder that works exactly as advertised.

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Panasonic DMR-E80H Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with Hard Drive , Silver

• Built-in 80 GB hard drive
• Hybrid VBR (variable bit rate) technology lets you record up to 6 hours on a single-sided DVD-RAM disc
• Time Slip lets you watch from the beginning a program whose recording is still in progress
• Progressive-scan video output for film-like images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
• Plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, music CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 CDs

First of all, kudos must go to Panasonic for insisting on sticking to the far superior DVD-RAM technology for re-recordable discs since the discs physical surfaces are fully protected and the data is apparently better organized.

I have to say that I absolutely love this device!

Record to HDD, then burn what you want to keep to DVD-R or the far superior DVD-RAM, and finally erase what programs you don't need.

The only limitation is that the DVD-RAM's will only play back on Panasonic DVD players, however, the DVD-R recordings in my experience will play on all modern DVD Players.

The remote control has been fully perfected as opposed to the one they had for this model's 40 GB predecessor which was a horror show.

I liked the look and design of the earlier 40 GB unit a little better and it also had a few more plug in ports for memory sticks and the like, but this one is far more functional in terms of button location, ease of use, and the remote control.

Realistically, you have to use SP or XP speed for best visual clarity so the 106 hours of storage it claims to record at EP speed is not something you'd really be using.

However, with the HDD to DVD-R or DVD-RAM transfer capability (It does this at higher-speed rather then playback speed) you can record, transfer, and wipe.

The next model should have more drive space but this will do nicely for most of us for now.

I will never record to VHS EVER again!

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This is a great recorder, the HD space of a Tivo (but no channel guide, bummer), together with the DVD-R/RAM disk read/write capability of the panasonic recordersa perfect match.

Correction for the posted specs:

the E80H model (w/ hard drive) does NOT have a digital Firewire input, and does NOT have coax digital audio out (optical only.)

The E60S (no hard drive) and the older HS2 model (smaller harddrive, more $$) have firewire input.

This player does play MP3s, and will actually also play DVD-Audio disks (but I think only in stereo , not 6channel sound.)

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This is a dual review, for the Panasonic DVD-R Recorder DMR-E80H and the Toshiba sd-h400. Hopefully it can help those deciding between the two. I had done the research and was on my way to collect the Panasonic when the video store I had called told me they were just unloading the new Toshibas. It was a hundred plus less than the Panasonic and included TIVO. My fiscal side took over and I figured I'd give it whirl. I have an extended digital cable box and the Sony KP57WV700 57" HDTV that I was going to interface this with, pretty straightforward system.

Here is the simple layout of what I wanted to do: 1. cable in to digital cable box, out via component cables [red, green, blue] to HDTV [this produces the best signal and HD channel output on the TV]. 2. cable in to Toshiba/Panasonic for recording basic cable Ch. 1-98. 3. Video [composite?] out from digital cable box to Toshiba/Panasonic to record HDTV or whatever channel is on, on the digital cable box.

First off neither the Toshiba or Panasonic boxes has component in, so they couldn't receive the best signal from the component out on the digital cable box.

The Toshiba touts and comes with Tivo basic, which gets you 3 days advance programming via their guide, chasing playback, etc. This was the first experience I had had with a Tivo product. The setup for the Toshiba took a long time [multiple phone calls and data manipulation], and compounding things it was required that a phone line be utilised for the connection. A bad thing if you don't have a jack around, so I had to string one across hallways in ungainly fashion. Not good. I should say, you can buy a wireless USB adapter if you want, or a USB Ethernet connector to get your updates if you want.

Second hit against the Toshiba/Tivo, and this is what bothered me the most: they do not allow recording / timer recording from a second video input source unless you upgrade to the Tivo Plus service. This bit of info is nestled in the middle of the manual during extended setup. So for my set up which had cable signal in via RF and composite video in from the digital cable box, it meant I couldn't record as line in from the digital cable box.

Finally, the recording quality of the Toshiba ranged between three levels, taking their appropriate chunk of the HD. The Panasonic offered more flexibility here with more levels and their times. Tivo also is constantly writing to the HD to maintain their `manipulate live tv' functionality.

The DVD playback output between the two was comparable, you can choose between progressive and interlaced if you have a TV that supports it.

So I took the Toshiba back and got the Panasonic which I should have done I the first place. It has a much more professional finish, there are no fourth grader designed graphics/buttons on it like the Tivo. The Panasonic allowed me to hook up three more video inputs and record against them and do timer recordings on them. Bingo. The picture quality is very close to source using the second to top recording mode which gets you 36 hours of record time, 104 for EP, 74 for the next, and 18 for the top of the line. The Panasonic also has the time slip functions that let you watch a prior recorded item from the HD if you're currently recording, and it lets you watch the beginning of a recorded item *while* it's recording. Nice if you show up for the program 10 mins. late. It also records to DVD-RAM and DVD-R if you want to dub your VHS tapes or something you watch on broadcast TV, but that's a secondary feature to me so I didn't get too into it.

And so, for my setup, the Panasonic was the superior choice I should have exercised the first go around. Be alert to the limitations of the Toshiba if interested in it. I'm definitely enjoying the functions and features of the new Panasonic and can recommend it highly.

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I've written some tips based on the reviews here and the problems that I've had. I hesitate to write them, because it makes the Panasonic DMR-E80GH seem so complicated. It's true that it is more complicated than a plain DVD-player, but it does so much more!

1.) The Panasonic DMR-E80H has a hard drive similar to a computer. So it helps to treat it like you would a computer. Get a high quality surge protector and plug the DVD player into it. If you turn the DVD-player off or unplug it, wait a minute or so before you turn it back on or plug it back in. You want to allow the hard drive to power all the way down before you ask it to power back up. I unplug it (and all my home entertainment equipment) during thunderstorms, just like I do my computer. Sometimes the DVD player needs to finish what it is doing before it will respond to a new command from the remote or a button on the machine.

2.) There are two important buttons: HDD (hard drive) and DVD. Whichever one is active will be lit (on the DVD player). So, if you press a button on the remote and you don't get the expected response, check to see which one is lit. For example, if DVD is lit, then pressing 'stop' then 'enter' won't stop a program from recording to the hard drive. So you have to push HDD first, and then 'stop' then 'enter'.

3.) Consider keeping the old DVD player hooked up for children.

4.) For DVD-Audio, the default setting is typically stereo 2.0, and you must go into the set up menu of the DVD *disc* to change to 5.1 or DTS.

5.) For playing some DVD-Rs, I've had to go into the DVD *player* set-up menu and select 'disc', then 'DVD-video mode', then select 'on'.

What I like:

Panasonic DMR-E80H has a higher quality picture than our previous two DVD players, one of which was progressive scan. The recording quality is much better than TiVo. I like the fact that it has several inputs. I have inputs from my vcr, two cable boxes, and TiVo. I love the editing functions (which TiVo lacks). When my brother-in-law was Iraq, he wanted news programs. I recorded a news show every day, edited out what he wasn't interested in, and mailed him the discs. He loved it!

I've used the cheapest DVD-R's that I could find locally (not on the internet). They work fine. I recorded a program related to work and passed it out to everyone at work. The discs played on everyone's DVD player. We've had no problems with compatibility (yet).

If you push play twice, it plays at 1 1/3 speed. It still plays the speech, which we can generally understand. This is great for watching something when we're in a hurry. Unfortunately, this only works in HDD mode, not on DVD's.

What I don't like:

It doesn't change the channel on the cable box like TiVo does. Once I wanted to record a program and I pushed the record button. Well, about 10 minutes later, it stopped recording the show to record a previously programmed show. It doesn't warn you (like TiVo does).

I highly recommend this DVD-recorder. I love it.

I had been waiting for DVD-recorder/HDD combo to come out for over 2 years. I had been following the market in Japan since DMR-HS1 and when HS2 came out, I almost bought it. The only thing that held me back was the 40GB HDD that some people seemed to be saying wasn't enough.

So when this DMR80E came out in Japan, I couldn't wait for it to come out here. And as soon as I found out it was out, I ordered it and have had it for 3 weeks.

This was exactly what I had been waiting for!

We record shows regularly and had been using VCR which was really irritating me for the following reasons:

searching for the right location in tape

tapes not long enough (I even used those 10hr tapes

but when I'm out of town that wasn't enough to

hold all the shows)

rewinding (imagine how long it takes to rewind that 10hr tape)

need to worry about overwriting

can't figure out what's in the tape unless i play it back.

All these problems are solved with the HDD.

I guess Tivo/Replay is the same and I did consider buying one previously, but I just couldn't agree to the subscription based business model. I know which shows I want to record, so why pay monthly fee (or ont time lifetime fee) for the service? And how many times would the thing really record shows I like that didn't know about??? Besides I have enough stuff shows to watch regularly that I don't need the machine to tell me about other shows.

Anyway, the DVD-RAM/R is handy for shows that you want to keep around. You shouldn't leave stuff on the HDD if you don't want to lose them. So the other reviewer concerned about the warnings should not be because ANY HDD based electronics has potential data failure against power outage.

Regarding DVD-R compatibility warning, I think that can also be said true for any DVD-R drives because some older DVD drives don't read DVD-R disks properly. Most recent models should be ok, but I think there's always that risk. Oh, be sure to turn on the DVD-R compatible mode when recording if you want to play it back on other players.

One note is that if you want to record stuff from HDD to DVD without re-encoding (ie loss of quality), you need to use the fast copy mode. You had to turn on the DVD-R compatibility mode in order to do this.

RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder HD Camcorder (Black)

I bought this RCA camcorder two weeks ago and am generally pleased with it. I chose it over the popular and highly rated Flip and Vado camcorders because the RCA also takes still photos. It doesn't hurt that it is also costs less. I've taken some very nice HD videos and beautiful stills with it. I've also taken some not so great videos and photos with it, generally due to inadequate lighting or shooting into the sun. This camcorder, and probably any pocket camcorder, is best used in good light. That doesn't mean you need to shoot outside in bright sun, but that helps. Good indoor lighting works too. As the light decreases the video will soon get grainy and that becomes very obvious on an HD TV. But in low light all is not lost. I took some low light video (one lamp on in my living room) using the low resolution WebQ mode that looked pretty decent on my computer. The digital zoom is okay but, as with any digital zoom, you lose resolution with it so it is best used sparingly. The sound is generally good but sometimes seems to be kind of low when played on my computer. But that is not really the camera because I have converted videos to a format that can play on my Linux laptop (DivX video codec and MP3 audio codec) and the sound comes out much louder. (I didn't do anything to intentionally boost the audio.) The audio also comes out louder when I used the RCA Memory Manager software to convert the video for emailing. Additionally, when I try to play the raw HD videos on my PC using Windows Media Player, the video and sound are out of sync (but are in sync when played on through a TV). The videos also play well using the RCA software, but they only appear in a small window. I think that my PC or WMP just has a problem with the raw format. When I convert the video to the DivX/MP3 format, everything plays fine. (I used the free version of Any Video Converter to convert my videos, but there are other free software programs out there like Handbrake or Auto Gordian Knot that can convert videos.) The RCA's 2 inch display is viewable even in bright sunlight but it may get a bit washed out.

I had no problem with the RCA Memory Manager software. It loaded easily but required two updates (one for the Memory Manager software and one for the camera firmware). The software automatically looks for updates so you don't have to check the website for new software. The Memory Manager software is only for the video, not photographs. It provides basic video editing capability, frame capture (so you can make a still photo from the video) and conversion capability so you can make a smaller file to email. There's a little more it does but I haven't had the need to try it yet.

This device doesn't take the place of a "real" camcorder or digital camera (this RCA has no flash) but it works well enough as something that is extremely portable so you can take it along to capture events that you otherwise wouldn't. It's more than just a toy but it is fun to play with. For example, yesterday I used it to video and photograph my family at the beach, playing mini-golf, and visiting a lighthouse and the videos and photos all came out very nicely indeed. For a cost of 100 bucks, I definitely think I got my money's worth.

I bought this camcorder for a road trip, and I bought it specifically for these features:

-Charges by and Connects to Computer by mini-USB. This makes it compatible with other charge/USB cords I had for other devices (like my cell phone) and meant I could charge the battery in the car while on the road. Don't underestimate buying products that use mini-USB!

-Instantly recognized by Mac OS X without any special software. Tested it on both Tiger and Leopard. I was able to easily pull the media I wanted from the camera.

-Storage on micro SD made it cross-compatible with my phone and my other camera; I can just switch out the memory cards.

Unlike other reviewers, I didn't have any issues with the controls or ports on this camcorder. The controls are very easy to use and precise.

However, the quality of video and sound is not truly HD. You can expect slightly better than normal camcorder quality. I think that's pretty good from a device that fits in your pocket.

For capturing memories quickly and easily, this is a fantastic product. For making high-quality films, you should probably buy something that isn't a pocket-sized camcorder.

Buy RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder HD Camcorder (Black) Now

This little camcorder is a GEM! I really am amazed at how good it is. Very light weight, great battery life (like 3 hours) , and excellent video quality.

When I took this guy out of the box, I read the quick start guide that came with it and quickly learned several things.

1. It needs to be charged before use (even though when I turned it on, it was at 75%).

2. The power on/off switch is a sliding switch on the right side of it. It's kind of springy, and you just slide it down and release it.

3. It has three resolution modes, and you need to just switch it to HD (720P!) and not look back. (Left side of camcorder).

After it was fully charged, I plugged it into my PC and Windows detected it, and asked me if I wanted to install the Memory Manager software. I said yes. It installed Memory Manager and immediately told me there was a new version. Cool! RCA made some improvements or something, so I let it update it. After it installed it again, it told me that the camcorder it self also had an update. Wow! I let it update the camcorder. It was very simple!

I have been playing with the Memory Manager software and it is very slick! It lets me edit and cut videos into a larger (or smaller) video and save them. I can even splice different resolution of videos together. I can also use it to create a smaller size video to email to friends, or upload to Youtube! This thing is SWEET!

I did find out that you HAVE to install the RCA software... Apparently, it installs a "special" video codec, and without it, you are not going to see the videos. Once you install the RCA software, you can also use Windows Media Player to view the videos! Again, WOW!

I bought an 8 GB micro SD card for mine. I get like 4 hours of HD video.

OH yeah, it also is a 8 MP camera!!! You have to be patient at first when you learn how to use it. You press the camera button once, and it puts it in camera mode. Press it again and it takes a photo. Just hold it still, as there is a shutter delay. Photo quality is awesome. To go back to video mode, you press the big red record button. Real simple to use!

A+ RCA! Great job!!!

Read Best Reviews of RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder HD Camcorder (Black) Here

I've had this camera for a few months now, it replaced an older model Flip that I gave to a family member and was half the price of the HD Flip.

If you're a technical person who doesn't mind messing around with .avi files, then by all means get this camera. The included software is horrible, you're better off just copying off the .avi files, playing them in VLC and editing them in whatever you like, on the PC or on the Mac (I've worked with them on both).

Video quality is pretty much on-par for this type of camera, great for quick, cheezy family videos, but you won't be winning an Oscar for cinematography with this camera, nor any camera in this class. Audio quality is on-par too. I did not have any buzzing or other camera interference as others have mentioned.

I did have a problem with a 4G SDHC card that the camera simply would not recognize, but a 8G card by another manufacturer works just fine. The battery gives out (about 2 hours of continuous video shooting) long before the card fills up.

Charging is quirky, it will work off of full-powered USB ports, probably draws 1000mw, so your 500mw ports won't work. Has problems on some of my laptop ports, but works fine off a powered USB hub. You can not replace the battery, once it is dead you'll probably replace the camera.

You'll probably never use the low-quality modes, what's the point? Just shoot in HD and be done with it.

The ports are all covered in goofy rubber flaps. Easy to rip-off if you're not careful. They'll keep dirt and water out. The body is plastic, good or bad, that's up to you to decide, I don't mind at all.

It's small, lightweight, and very thin. It has a strap but no mounting points. I found my arm getting tired holding it up for long periods, and you can't stand it up on a flat surface easily.

The playback on the unit itself is good enough for watching in the field.

The sensor is 5mp but the camera interpolates still photos to 8mp, don't know why, I wish it didn't bother and just left them at 5. If I don't feel like carrying my 10mp camera with me along with this, it's good enough for most family shots.

RCA support has been prompt and responsive, but could not answer all of my questions and had a little bit of an attitude.

Advantages over the flip, cheaper price, smaller and lighter, takes standard memory cards. Disadvantages, the software is horrible for non-technical people, no camera mount, can't replace the battery.

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I really wanted to like this camcorder, however, the video quality was so poor that it was basically unusable. If you record in anything but the brightest sunlight the results will be terrible. The design of the camera is nice. Its light weight, stylish and comfortable. Used it for a few days before finally giving up. If you have memories worth recording then they deserve better than this camcorder. Oh, the memory card retaining latch broke the forth time I ejected the card so now its actually completely useless as I can't get a card to latch in anymore. Somehow a fitting end to a disappointing product. Shame on you RCA!

Pyle Home PTCDS2UI AM/FM Radio/CD/Cassette/USB Classic Turntable with iPod Dock

• The USB is not included in the box.
• Phono/Radio/CD player/USB record/CassetteAM/FM Radio - Ceramic stereo cartridge - 2 speaker
• Front loading,single CD, drawer type - Auto return - AC Power
• CD/MP3/CD-R/CD-RW discs compatible - Audio output power: 2.5W(max) - Dimensions: 20.08"X13.39"X8.86"
• USB record - iPod player
• 3 speed turntable 33-1/3, 45, 78 RPM - Remote control for CD/USB

I've been so stoked since I got this, it looks vintage, sounds modern, has every way of playing music that I need. Check out the video if you want to hear itit sounds really clear and full, no distorting or vibrating from the cabinet. It's an old-school lookin' set up with all the perks of modern featuresit's awesome, and I could not be happier with how good it sounds.

Buy Pyle Home PTCDS2UI AM/FM Radio/CD/Cassette/USB Classic Turntable with iPod Dock Now

I purchased this for Christmas this year since I own quite a few records. While not overwhelming, the sound is good from all forms of media (tape, cd, record, and mp3). I have yet to try and pull data onto mp3s on my computer through the USB connection, but I was a bit surprised that there was no software provided with the system in order to do so. All in all, I feel it has been worth the price paid so far.

Read Best Reviews of Pyle Home PTCDS2UI AM/FM Radio/CD/Cassette/USB Classic Turntable with iPod Dock Here

I purchased this a month ago, mostly for the purpose of converting my large collection of cassette tapes to digital. Unfortunately, the weakest part of this system is the tape player. It has a puny motor that won't turn anything but the newest of tapes and there is no reverse button. Also, there is no way to regulate the input level, so some tapes won't make good copies. I found a workaround (using a different tape player plugged into auxillary) but that doesn't speak well for this system.

Also, the record feature does not give a good indication when the recording is actually starting. It took me numerous attempts to get a good recording that didn't cut off the first few seconds of the song.

Sound is pretty good though and recording directly to flash drive is a big help.

The instruction manual is about five pages long with no index. Very difficult to use.

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I ordered this in hopes that it would make my LPs sound great, and it does. My only complaint is that it is very cheap-looking for something so expensive. Even though it works just fine, I get the feeling that the tape player will stop working at any minute and I dislike how the lid on top of the phonograph player doesn't lift very high. This makes it hard to see the speed settings for your records. I had to shine my cell phone light in there just to read it! Overall, the CD player works great, I love the little remote control, and the speakers sound fine, and I have yet to use the USB/iPod features, but I'm sure they're well worth the price of the product.

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Bought this for my wife and her collection of albums from back-in-the-day. Playback is outstanding and was expected from such a tech vendor like Pyle. They are known for great sound. The ability to dock an MP3 player, play/burn CDs and pop in the dusty cassette tapes are also a major plus.Setup is plugging in the power... Easy to use, beautiful finish which is real wood(not particle board like some others) and exceeds my initial expectations. If you are on the fence about which brand, I will tell you that our family and guests have been enjoying loving it. Enjoy!!

Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

I've done more research on mass-marketed high-definition camcorders than any person with a job really should. After weeks of combing and considering the pros and cons of AVCHD vs. HDV, HDD vs. tape vs. flash, I decided on the HV30, since I was persuaded by arguments about and examples of video quality, especially in low-light. Got the HV30 and, indeed, the picture quality is stunning. The sound, though, was a great disappointment. Since I'm fond of capturing quiet moments the subtle sounds of, say, my four-month-old daughter sleeping the high-pitch whine of the tape motor present in my recordings with the HV30 proved to be a deal killer. (I'm well aware of wide range of solutions to this problem, from external microphones to post-production techniques, but I'd ideally like to avoid carrying around additional equipment and I only have so much time to spend on this hobby I'll leave in-depth editing to those more dedicated, working towards different ends, and/or without family commitments.)

I should have stuck to my gut instincts and bought the HF100 the first time around. After sending the HV30 back (thanks to Amazon's excellent return policy), I purchased the HF100 and am simply delighted. Video *and* audio are pretty darn good if not excellent. Maybe someone can split hairs and demonstrate the "artifacts" present between video recordings of this AVCHD camcorder vs. an HDV one, but I simply can't see a difference when played at normal speed. The difference in sound recordings between this flash-based camcorder and comparable motorized machines is, to my ear, both obvious and dramatic. So if you're sensitive to white noise or if you're interested in minimizing/eliminating sounds from the recorder, think hard about the kind of camcorder you buy and what you're willing to tolerate or accommodate in terms of additional equipment or post-production.

A final note/aside on my own take on the HF10 vs. the HF100: I appreciate the allure of the black-body HF10 in terms of aesthetics, but I actually find the dual flash memory feature to be a turn-off. I'd personally rather just manage a single, removable media card. Seems like a minor inconvenience to deal with both internal memory and removable cards when recording hours of footage before transferring/backing-up to a PC (while traveling, perhaps?). I'd preferably swap and label cards. But this, of course, is a matter of individual preference and habit; I include my thoughts here in case anyone hadn't given this aspect some consideration.

I spent a very long time researching small SD based high def cameras and ended up choosing the Vixia HF100. This after owning a Panasonic SD3 for a brief period last year. After a full weekend playing with the HF100 I am quite pleased with my decision.

My motivation for choosing this camera over the competition was Canon's very wise decision to include a standard microphone input (and manual audio controls). Why other manufacturers are removing this feature from consumer camcorders baffles me since good audio is such an important part of making good video! Canon also includes a mini hot shoe on the top of the device, and there's already a mini shotgun mic available (Canon 2591B002 DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for HF10 and HF100 Camcorders).

In many ways the HF100 is not much different from its competition. It's about soda can sized (although not as tiny as the new Panasonic SD9), has no view finder, and records video onto SDHC flash memory. Flash memory is so cheap right now that spending the extra money for the HF10 (with the on board storage) really isn't worth it.

VIDEO QUALITY & OPTIONS

Excellent and consistent with other cameras in its class. Color quality is rich and perhaps a little over-saturated (as most consumer cameras are) but there are settings to wind back the saturation a bit (like switching into cinema mode). Artifacts are minimal but remember that AVCHD is a highly compressed video format. Those looking for the absolute best quality in a consumer camera will want to look at an HDV tape based solution. There are settings for manual white balancing as well.

Low light performance is so-so.. Gets a bit grainy but you can make adjustments to compensate both in frame rate and shutter/aperture settings. There's also a mini-video light that can be turned on but it won't have room-filling range to it.

The camera has multiple video quality options but you'll want to select the highest quality as it's not on by default. I am getting about an hour of video on an 8 gig SD card in the highest quality mode.

The camera also includes three frame rate options: 60i, 30p, and 24p. All of these are processed at 60i so you'll need an editor that can remove the pulldown for true 24P.

BATTERY LIFE

Like every other camera in its class, the included battery is pretty lousy. It charges quickly but you'll only get about an hour or so of recording time. Canon does make an extended battery which I plan on purchasing soon.

CONNECTIVITY & EDITING

I am a Mac guy so those of you using Windows will have to comment below on your success with it. On the Mac side both iMovie '08 and Final Cut Pro 6 recognize video from this camera even if I'm just popping the SD card into my USB card reader.

If you're coming from the HDV tape-based world, capturing video from an AVCHD camera takes a little longer than you'll be used to. I've found multiplying the original video length times two is usually about the length of time it takes to capture with iMovie on my Mac Pro (I haven't timed Final Cut's conversion yet but will update this review soon). I'm sure this will improve over time as computers and software get faster, but don't expect instant gratification when you're ready to bring some video over to edit.

CONCLUSION

I bought this camera to supplement some of the work I do shooting HDV video on a 'prosumer' Sony HDV camera. If you're serious about producing HD video you might still want to consider an HDV tape based camcorder like the Canon HV20 or HV30. You'll get better and more consistent quality along with nearly universal editing compatibility. Those cameras transfer video back to the PC or Mac over firewire, a standard that's been around for over a decade. The HDV cameras can also run live video back to the PC for editing or webcasting, something you can't do currently with an AVCHD cam.

If, however, you're in the market for a small flash based camera look no further. The inclusion of a mic port along with the multitude of shooting options make this a great choice for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Buy Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Now

This is my first video camera and I am a geek so please pardon me if I get a little technical as I'm the kind of guy who shops simply by comparing specs.

Before this, my only experience with video cameras where those that I borrowed from friends and family over the years to cover the occasional family event I prefer shooting with a still camera. I have been shooting with SLR's for the past 25 years (all Nikons from the FM2 to the D3) so I am biased towards prints presentation and web sharing. This makes me a johnny-come-lately into the camcorder world.

2008 saw the confluence of our first HDTV, Canon's release of an affordable true HD-resolution camcorder, and cheap flash-memory storage. So it finally hit me that *right now* is the time to get into recording life's sweet moments on "tape." (And at 16:9 1920x1080 resolution at that! I'm a geek remember?)

I live in a developing country in Asia where new gizmos are always late to market and priced 30-50% more so the only way to find what I want is to shop online by specs. I've compared and read every user review of all the available models from Sony, JVC, Panasonic, and Canon and the recently-announced and released HF100 sure got everything right on paper! I received my Amazon package 2 days ago and I'm happy to report that this little gem is EXACTLY what I wanted and expected!

These are what I was looking for and which, happily, I got:

1. Flash-memory based recording on SD

I can't deal with tape nor am I comfortable with a spinning drive inside a piece of equipment that I might drop. Sony's Memory Sticks don't fit my world and with Transcend Class 6 16Gb SD cards priced at only $74, the HF100 is perfect for my workflow! (I spend 10-16hrs a day in front of a PC.)

I've decided to shoot all my material using FX mode and a 16Gb card is good for 2hours worth of video. (Side note: the standard BP809 battery is good for only about 1hr so you better get an extra one.)

2. True HD quality

I still have to get myself a HDMI cable but the component-out signal on my LCD is crisp and more than what I expected! To my eye, it's as good as the prosumer-level models that I've been wanting to get but can't justify.

3. Fast focus

The focusing works darn well. It's not 100% but it's very close. And this is from a guy who's spoiled by the fastand multi-point focusing of pro-level DSLR's and lenses.

4. OIS

Generally works, you gotta give it a half-second or so to stabilize and the LCD viewfinder is a great way to balance the unit with 2 hands. Once you zoom all the way to 12x though, I recommend using a tripod esp when shooting for long periods of time (like stage performances).

5. Output files

The files are saved in MTS format and after Googling for half an hour, I was able to download a couple of freeware transcoders and converted a 46-second 89Mb 1920x1080 clip and downsized it into a 16Mb 848x480 XVid AVI which is gentler on my Mediagate MG-350 hard disk media player. I intend to archive all originals on BluRay and downsample the files to make it easier to share, think YouTube, Windows Media Player, hard disk media players, iPhones, etc...

6. Size and build

Yep, it's really the size of soda can and very, very insconspicuous. It has metallic gun metal finish and, although not as aesthetically pleasing as the black HF10, it's better-looking than the pics on the web. The size is a welcome change from the routine harassment I get from overzealous mall security who thinks I'm out to make a quick buck selling pictures of mall scenes and/or architecture everytime I fish out my so-called 'professional' DSLR. I shot all day today and no one even noticed. The build is perfect, like what we're used to expect from high-quality, super-miniaturized products from Japan. For what it's worth, the unit I got is labeled Made in Japan.

7. User interface

I haven't read the manual yet as the basic camcorder stuff is easy. But I concur with the observation that the START/STOP and CAMERA/VIDEO RECORD/PLAYBACK switches could have been designed better. I prefer the Sony approach where a rotating collar representing the different modes rings a big round red button. The on-screen menu can be better but it's liveable. I'm so used to the intuitive interface of Nikon cameras so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that (just) some of the quirkiness of Canon's camera interface design can also be found on their camcorders. For example, there are way too many clicks to get a clip deleted. I also wish that scrolling through the clips is fast as browsing through a digicam's thumbnails.

8. Optics

Based on what I see on the LCD TV, they're great! I'm a wide-angle shooter so my next purchase is a 0.5x wide angle converter, but I'm now hesitating against buying the $50 models as they may not do justice to the camcorder outstanding optics. Information on photographic lens quality such as resolving power, MTF charts, etc.. are readily available online but there seems to be less on video-related optics so I gotta spend some time finding the right one for this.

9. Control layout

I think the layout is okay. The AV jack, HDMI jack, and composite jacks are on 3 separate sides, I hope they can put them all on one side in the next iteration. Oh, the tactile feel, location and size of the photo capture button is awkward. Coming from a DSLR, how I use/misuse this button often results in blurred pictures esp when in dim light. There's just no way of releasing the shutter without causing camera shake. But then again, why use a camcorder as a camera? :P

10. Audio

I think the audio recording is okay, it records my narrative clearly. I haven't shoot enough to judge how audio from the subject sounds like but I will attend a beach wedding in a couple of weeks, so I'll report back on how the wind filter and audio pickup performs in such an environment.

I'm truly happy with this purchase. After 2 days with it and experimenting on post-production workflow, I'd rate this product a 10/10.

Get one!

---

2008.05.01 Update

Start up time from stand-by is 1sec. Start up time from dead cold is 6 seconds regardless of your flash capacity (I tried it on 1, 4, and 16Gb) and regardless of how many clips are already in it.

Finalists on my list before I got the HF100 are the Sony HDR-CX7 and the Panny SD9. They're worth taking a look and the reviews should tell you why I chose the HF100 instead.

I've just finalized my AVCHD to DVD workflow and it basically involves transcoding from MTS > AVC (Using DGAVCIndex) > MPEG2/DVD (Using ConvertXToDVD & AVISynth). I don't have a Blu-Ray player yet so I'll figure out that workflow some other time. Checkout www.videohelp.com for all the tips and tricks you'll ever need.

I think my DSLR's will see a lot less action in as far as shooting family is concerned. :)

---

2008.05.03 Update

For easy 1-step conversion of AVCHD files to DVD discs, one probably has to use commercial software such as iMovie, Nero 8, ULead 11, etc...

The geek in me was somehow drawn to open source/freeware software I found via the www.VideoHelp.com forum, specifically as illustrated in this thread http://forum.videohelp.com/topic346331.html.

I learned (over the past few days) that AVCHD recording saves your material as an MTS file which you'll find in the STREAMS subdirectory. MTS files combine the actual AVC video (MPEG4/H264 format) and AC3 audio into a single 'stream.' As such, you need to demultiplex or split up the streams into their individual video and audio components before you can get any transcoding done (conversion from one format to another).

To demux the MTS file, I used a software called DGAVCIndex (downloadable via a link in the above thread) and a utility called AVISynth which acts as a frameserver or translator to a final software that creates your final output. The final software I chose to use are VirtualDub for creating DivXor XVid-encoded AVI files which you can view on your PC. On the other hand, I use ConvertXtoDVD to create DVD discs that I can view on any DVD player out there.

Yeah, that made my head spin too!

Anyways, that's DGAVCINDEX to split, if you don't split you won't get anything done. AVISYNTH to act as a pre-processor for the split files add fade-in/out, resize, sharpen, adjust color, etc... CONVERTXDVD takes that pre-processed files and convert/burn the output directly to DVD.

Those are all freeware but the commercial stuff aren't too expensive either. I just hope that the little explanation helps you better understand/appreciate the conversion process. I heard that it wasn't this easy dealing with AVCHD files as late as a year ago.

Happy shooting!

Read Best Reviews of Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Here

The HF100 is a good camcorder. It takes better photos than I expected, as Canon's camcorders generally take anywhere from terrible to almost acceptable photos, and the video quality is nice and sharp. The image stabilizer is wonderful, low light performance is all right, battery life is okay, and compression efficiency and quality is very good. Let's get more specific.

I'll just go in order of where I started and add anything else I can think of along the way. You don't want to use this camera for still photos. In fact, you'd be better off printing a frame of your video in many cases. Nonetheless, the photos are usable in most situations and the flash doesn't ruin them like it used to. It can make them less-desirable and I have yet to find an easy way to disable it (though there does appear to be one that isn't working for me--yet). One weird thing is that switching to photo mode doesn't let you take a picture right away. I have to press the video record button, let the camera tell me I'm not in video mode anymore, and then I can press the photo button with success. This may not be the case on all cameras and since I rarely take photos these days if not with my DSLR, I don't really care. But it's a nuisance and just bizarre. Lastly, it's sort of annoying to have to switch modes to record/play back videos and photos. There are four modes. There should be two. There are two separate buttons for photos and videos. If I have to switch modes, the video button should work as a photo button as well. It's just weird that they separated the buttons AND the modes. Two separate buttons is how I prefer it, without every having to switch modes unless I want to move between play and record.

I'm extremely critical about video quality, and my first impression wasn't all that positive when I saw the video that came out of the HF100. After I shot in decent light, shot a series of different subjects and lowered my expectations a tiny bit I felt differently. (I'm used to shooting on a Sony PMW-EX1, so expecting that kind of performance out of a consumer HD camcorder was very unrealistic.) The video quality is quite nice. Comparing it to my previous, smaller handheld (Sanyo HD1000), it's slightly sharper but lacking the nice contrast the HD1000 provides. That's fine because it provides a lot more data to work with in post, but at first I felt like the video didn't look that good because it seemed kind of...flat, I guess. Nonetheless, the video quality is quite good--especially after you've spent some time working with it.

Shooting modes are plentiful but not as good as they seem. The HF100 shoots in 30FP and 24FP modes, which is basically fake 30p and 24p. The footage it records is still interlaced, but once you de-interlace it looks pretty close to 30p and 24p footage. But it's not, and you can sometimes tell, and that's unfortunate. But I'm guessing 1080p didn't make it into this camera because it couldn't handle the heat of the sensors in such a small body with very little room for ventilation. The only 1080p camercorder offered at this physical size is a Panasonic, and it's not actually 1080p. It uses standard definition sensors and up-converts the image. If you're looking for the closest thing to 1080p in a small camcorder that you can get at the moment, this is what I'd go with (and did). Sony has a few nice options, too, but I like the images produced by Canon's consumer sensors over Sony's and Canon's cameras use SD cards rather than MemoryStick, which ties you to buying Sony Products or throwing away your flash memory when you switch.

You can fit a lot of video on an SD card these days, even in high definition. The Sanyo HD1000 I used to own fit even more, but the Canon HF100 fits an even two hours on a 16GB card. Even if you don't want to pay for a 16GB and go with an 8GB card, you can still fit an hour. I don't think the battery will even let you shoot for two hours :). Storage that large is more for if you're not going to be able to import between charges.

Speaking of charging the camera, it does so fairly quickly. I think it only takes a couple of hours after the first one. It's never been a problem, though I wouldn't mind if the battery lasted a bit longer. What is a bigger inconvenience, however, is transferring the footage from the camera. The camera MUST be plugged in to the power adapter when transferring or it will refuse to do so. This is very aggravating because it means more cords and that you have to take your power adapter everywhere you want to transfer footage. If you're a laptop user you will not like this. I wouldn't like this as a desktop user either but that may just be me. Anyway, the trick is to get a card reader and use that instead. If you have a laptop with an ExpressCard slot this is especially easy. Either way, just make sure you get a card reader with support for SDHC cards over 8GB.

Moving on.

Coming from the HD1000, which is about as stable as Michael Jackson, the HF100 is wonderful. It's about the best stabilizer you can expect from a handheld camera, and is amazing considering how small it is. No complaints, only praise. It makes your shaky shots look fluid.

And the instant auto focus they promise is, almost all of the time, instant. It's pretty nice.

Low light performance is okay. It's about what you should expect from a consumer-grade camcorder. It's not bad by any means, but isn't perfect. It's done a great job in the majority of the locations I've had it. Unless people complain about the light being too low for their own eyes, the HF100 should do a pretty good job. I'd like it to be incredible and jaw dropping, but it's a consumer HD camcorder. It does very well for that.

Battery life is sufficient, but it could be better. I'd like to be able to shoot for over two hours, maybe three. One and a half (give or take) isn't as much as I'd like, but it hasn't caused problems. Still, I'd like to see battery life--but who wouldn't?

The video compression is hardly noticeable, and if you want to notice it you have to move the camera quite a bit. I'm making all my comments about the highest quality mode, by the way. It's efficient enough to give you about 7.5 minutes of full-quality video per GB of storage. I think that's fair.

As for the sound, it's not bad. I might even say it's good for a built-in mic. I think these mics are getting much better than they used to be, because I remember when they were painful to listen to. Now they're loud, you can hear what you need to hear (in most situations), and the noise you get along with the audio you do want isn't that bad. In fact, I would probably call the sound this camcorder records good.

Lastly, the controls are a bit weird at times but Canon's been known for weird controls. I already mentioned the odd controls for switching modes. Menus are kind of split up in a strange way and the quick change controls, through the little joystick controller on the LCD, isn't as quick and easy as it was most likely supposed to be. If you're shooting in automatic this is all pretty much moot, but if you like to change things now and then you might find the controls a little frustrating. I've been through all kinds of HD cameras over the past couple of years and I think Sanyo does this the best with the HD1000. It uses a system that worked quite well in previous models, but made it more solid in the HD1000. Nonetheless, nothing is perfect. I certainly would not discount the HF100 because of the weird controls. For the most part, they're good. There are just a couple of choices that seem completely bizarre and inexplicable.

Overall, it's a very good camera. It's not the camera I want, but it'll do until they figure out how to do what I want in a mini cam :). Ideally, I'd like something like the HD1000 but with a stabilizer and autofocus system as perfect as the HF100's. The sharper image quality wouldn't hurt, either. I'd like it to do true 24p, or at least 30p, at 1920x1080. In fact, if I could have 720/24p in the HD1000 (currently it does 30p and 60p, which is great) with the Canon autofocus and image stabilization I'd be very, very happy. But for now, the HF100 is a very good option for me and probably a much better option for people who aren't as horribly picky :).

Want Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Discount?

I can't speak to the tech side of the camera, in the end it's about, does it do what I need it to do at the price I'm willing to pay? After reading and reviewing 102 cameras (yes I did), I was more confused than ever. I finally I had to admit my short coming with this type of technology and consult a video/mac (I'm a MAC user) professional with no bias. After hearing what my needs are and I use MacBook Pro (with the Intel chip) he strongly recommended the Canon HF100. the reasons he gave:

Seamless with Mac computers and ALL PC based computers

Works very well will all editing software. (I'm using Final Cut Express)

No moving parts (were are sportsmen and want an HD that is durable (there is a higher risk with a tape drive or DVD camcorder of failure)

Removal of the 16gb SD(separate purchase $140.) Plug it in to a computer and download your video. While you continue to shoot by using a second chip (time saver)

Only 1 second between pushing the rec button and recording.

Lightweight (no hard drive)

The tech stuff and features are outstanding, however, what mattered is it going to perform for me. We took it out on our boat for the day with seas 3-4 ft. The Canon HF100 performed extremely well. The stability in relation to a lot of swells was great, the color (brilliance), longevity of the 16gb SD, the battery (BP-819 not included, Canon includes the BP-809) were also incredibly!

You can read all the tech stuff online and narrow it down based on specs. Sorry I can't help with that. What I can share with you is what happens after you buy it and whether or not it performs. This camera is the new standard. It will perform.

This camera is featured on the apple.com website, confirming its compatibility.