DVD-recorders have lost most of their relevance. Between DVRs and online video services like Hulu, couch potatoes can already record their favorite shows, and archiving seems less and less attractive now that everything is released on DVD or available ...

Relatively inexpensive ; performs basic DVD recordings without a problem ; upscales DVD to 1080p ; supports most recordable DVD formats, including dual-layer discs

Mediocre recording quality below the XP level ; upscaling performance could be better ; no flexible recording feature ; does not support DVD-RAM discs ; does not include a USB port or SDHC card slot ; lack of IR blaster makes it annoying to schedule ...

The Toshiba D-R410 handles basic DVD-recorder functions at a budget price, but you can get better features and performance from Panasonic's DMR-EA18K, if you're willing to spend a little more.

The FCC has pushed back the DTV transition several times already, but it looks as if over-the-air analog TV signals will actually end on February 19, 2009. That means owners of analog TV will need to pony up for a DTV converter box if they want to ...

The Dish Network DTVPal is a great DTV converter box with a best-in-class electronic program guide and should be your top choice, unless you value the simplicity and superior remote of the RCA DTA800.

Although CNET did not review the DirecTV HR21, we did review the HR20. The two DirecTV satellite DVRs are basically identical aside from coloration (the HR21 is black while the HR20 is silver) and the fact that the HR21 lacks a built-in ATSC tuner, so ...

DVD recorders with hard drives used to be the poor man's TiVo. Sure, they lacked the finesse and eye-candy of a true TiVo, but you didn't have to pay a subscription fee and you could burn anything right in the same unit. Fast-forward to today and you ...

Quick Take: While CNET did not review the Dish Network ViP722 HD DVR, we did review the ViP622. The two HD DVRs are identical but for color (the 622 is silver) and storage capacity. The ViP722 can store any combination of as much as 55 hours of HD ...

Generally lighter selection of local HD and sports channels than cable ; annoying interstitial pay-per-view page ; defaults to "all episodes" for EPG-initiated recordings ; uglier EPG and menu system than TiVo HD and DirecTV ; no built-in networking ...

Digital-audio players (DAPs) are well on their way to becoming the de facto device for every listening scenario: in the car, at home, on the go, and all the in-betweens. Satellite radio manufacturers have understood the importance of modularity from ...

The Audiovox XM Xpress offers a decent starting point for newbies who want to try out XM satellite radio; it's basic, inexpensive, and easy to use.

Set-top DVD recorders have gone from being an exciting innovation to being one step less boring than VCRs, and even the addition of upscaling technology can't save them. But although it may not inspire rampant gear lust, Samsung's DVD-R135, with its ...

Relatively inexpensive ; HDMI upscaling to 480p, 720p, and 1080i ; flexible recording length ; FireWire input ; DivX support ; solid disc compatibility ; adjustable length commercial skip

No support for recording on DVD-RAM or dual-layer discs ; HDMI performance isn't as good as that of some stand-alone players

The Samsung DVD-R135 is a relatively inexpensive and stylish DVD recorder with HDMI upscaling, but it's not quite as good as the competition.

Editor's Note: This review has been updated and its rating has lowered slightly, from its initial publication. We lowered the rating because we recently experienced operational bugs including dropped audio and video. We have also published a note ...

Operational bugs include occasional dropped video and audio, crashes, and missed recordings ; lacks true 30-second skip function ; no picture-in-picture ; generally lighter selection of local HD sports channels than cable ; no aspect-ratio control ...

The DirecTV HR20 is easy to use and offers plenty of features, but its operational bugs make use more of a headache than with other DVRs.

If you asked dedicated TiVo fans to design the ultimate version of their favorite DVR, they'd probably say, "Give me all the great features and excellent interface from past TiVo models, but add dual tuners and the ability to record high-definition ...