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 enlarge | Brand: Toshiba
Category: CE
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  43 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 16.2
Dimensions (in): 13.1 x 16.9 x 2.2
MPN: RD-XS35
Model: RD-XS35
UPC: 022265412039
EAN: 0022265412039
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| Customer Reviews:
 Disappointing. July 31, 2006
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I have only had this DVR/DVD Recorder for a few days, but so far I have found it not particularly user friendly. I haven't used the DVD burner yet, so I'll only review the DVR part at the moment.
I was really only looking for a DVD Recorder, but I love the DVR supplied by Cox cable and thought it would be great to have one in the bedroom. The fan noise was a big concern since it was going in the bedroom. So far, the fan has NOT shut off even with the unit in Standby mode. I don't expect that it ever will. It's pretty loud, but a very consistent white noise. I would say it is softer than a bathroom exhaust fan, but louder than a ceiling fan on its highest speed, if that helps anyone. I use those examples since those noises are also in the same proximity. I will say that the fan noise is better than the noise from the cable DVR, which is a chattering noise from the hard drive since it is always recording and is much more annoying in a quiet room.
The interface is very clunky compared to the cable DVR and ease of use in not even in the same continent as the cable DVR. The TVGOS is terrible in my opinion because viewing other channels in the guide actually changes the channels in the guide, so you can't watch a program and surf the guide to see if something better is on. That's the way it works on the cable DVR and we have become very spoiled by that function. I also have not found a way to bring up info for the program currently being viewed in an unobtrusive way except to go all the way to the guide. You'd think the INFO button on the remote would work that way. Like I said early, we have become very spoiled by the cable DVR and I could go on an on about what functions it does better than this unit, but I don't have the time. One more thing I will say is that I also don't like the inability to rewind live TV on a whim. You have to remember to hit the Time Slip button when you start watching so you can rewind back to that point in the future.
Finally, a reviewer complained that the audio was really low on the TV and I had a similar problem, but I believe the TV is the culprit. I often find the audio low even with the volume turned up and believe it to be caused by the auto sound level feature on the TV (the one that keeps the sound at about the same level when you change channels or over an zealous advertiser comes on. If I turn the TV off and then back on, the sound level is back to normal. Now I just make sure the unit is on before turning on the TV (btw, it's a Samsung 32" LCD HDTV). I hope this helps.
I will try to remember to update this review as I use more features. At this point though, I can't say I'm very happy with this purchase. From reading reviews of other manufacturer's similar units, I do believe that this unit is about as good as it gets in the mid-price range DVR/DVD Recorders, so I can't say that there is anything better.
 No Complaints Yet! - Updated 03.07.07 July 11, 2006
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This was a birthday present to myself so, I had the unit barely a month.
[Update 03.07.07 - Almost a year later and still going strong!]
My unit gets cable directly from a wire coming out the wall, no cable box. (I have a funny story how that wire was a really good antennae...) That said, the TVGOS worked within 24hrs, I've had no problem since. Very nice to have a week's teeevee listings and not need the teeevee guide in the paper. The TVGOS allows searching for shows by alphabetical, keyword, genre or just scanning the grid for listings.
The manual is more like a magazine, I would advise you to work with this machine frequently, and keep the manual nearby. I didn't have much problem with the language of the manual, and everything is pretty much laid out straightforwardly. My only criticism re: the manual is that it could use an index.
This is not the most intuitive machine in the world, it is complicated, and it'll be a while before you get things doped out. The unit provides a handful of indicators of it's activity at any given moment, and indicates whether you are working with the HDD or the DVD drive. One thing that is good is that there are usually a few methods and menus to do similar actions.
To date, I have recorded shows using the TVGOS, recorded shows just by hitting the "Rec" button on the remote and I have recorded shows from one of my VCRs directly to the HDD. At present, I have started to record to DVD-RAM discs in order to not used the HDD extensively. You can edit on either disc drive (Update 03.07.07 - provided you use a DVD-RAM disc). I have also loaded DVD-RAM discs from my old DVD recorder, though programs from those discs must be loaded on to the HDD to do any editing. I have copied back and forth between discs and copied edited programs to DVD-R/RW for finalization. This can be done in a "high speed" mode or in some cases you have to do it in real time.
The deal is that you have an "Original" program that you set edit points within, and then edit together the "chapters" that you wish to make your final program which the unit calls a "Playlist". If you are satisfied with the playlist, then you make a copy and the "Playlist" becomes an "Original". DON'T delete the "Original" before making your "Playlist" an "Original" or you will have nothing.
Re: The Program Editor Mode
I find it a little clunky. You can set edit points with four rocker switches on the remote which set the points forward or back at various speeds. CAVEAT! The edit points wind up being a little sloppy on the finished discs, they don't wind up exactly where you want them, they kind of wind up maybe a few frames earlier than you have set them for. YMMV, I like to take out the commercials and leave a little more dark space than most broadcasters provide (Usually less than a second!) so you may wind up with the last frame or two of the end of a commercial.
[Update 03.07.07 - When setting the edit points after any given commercial break, you should allow a buffer of about 13 frames after the end of the last commercial and the resumption of the program. If you don't do this, then you will see about half a second of the end of the last commercial. Nitpicky, yes, but you may want a smoother transition between scenes and you DID want to edit out the commercials...]
So far, I am happy with the machine, I haven't had any of the problems with the fan being loud, didn't even notice it till I had to change some wires and I was directly behind the thing.
[Update 03.07.07 - I did have a problem once with the Program Editor Mode where the time elapsed indicator wouldn't indicate the elapsed time and the window showing the program being edited in progress wouldn't work properly. The time elapsed on the program being viewed wouldn't be indicated on the front of the unit, and a few other features wouldn't operate.
I phoned Toshiba, got a prompt answer from a live operator who had me unplug, then re-plug the machine. I did so and all functionality returned to the machine and I lost none of the programs I had on HDD.]
I made sure to get a 2 year extended service contract though...
One thing: The volume level when using the RCA jacks directly into the audio in of my teeevee is really low. This does not affect the finished product when I put it in my plain old DVD player I use strictly for playing DVDs.
Edit: Another thing: DO NOT (!) use Verbatim brand DVD-RW discs on the spindle, I have moved to Memorex brand in the individual jewel cases, presumably non-spindle discs are manufactured to a higher tolerance. The Verbatim discs typically wouldn't Format, or would Format after 3 tries, but the disc would fail on Finalize mode, creating another drink coaster.
[Update 03.07.07 - I stand my my recommendation of Memorex brand discs, and have used TDK as well to near 100% success, even using those on a spindle.]
 Good value, great video quality, difficult to maneuver November 4, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I researched different DVR units with DVD recording capabilities for a long time (it was getting ridiculous), and I have been happy with this unit since I bought it a month ago. The free TV Guide has worked well, but it did take several days to populate the schedule (not 24 hours as advertised) when first set up.
Major Pros:
-- Great image quality for content recorded on the SP mode (I have not tried anything else).
-- DVD recording from the hard drive is easy and very fast.
-- DVD playback is tolerant of minor disc scratches and disc copies (e.g. DVD Shrink back-ups)
-- Ample inputs/outputs, attractive design, front display control of content and brightness.
-- Ability to record onto hard drive while watching something else from the hard drive.
Major Cons:
-- Non-intuitive remote control with important functions poorly represented amongst a morass of infrequently used buttons.
-- I fear that the flip-up lid on the remote will break if my kids ever get a hold of it (seems too fragile).
Best bang for the buck February 13, 2007
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I had recently had my Panasonic E85H DVR/DVD die about two weeks ago and I was then in the market to remplace. I've found that a DVR is something that I can't live without (OK I can, but why would you?) and I did want a replacement. Given the issues with my past unit and some firmware issues I started looking at the Toshiba and without getting into other choices I'll jump into why I selected the XS35. It has a HUGE hard drive (160 GB), which will store plenty of programs at the highest resolution, it has optical and component video out (so it matched my inputs well), it was significantly cheaper (although listed at $400 it can be had for around $310), and it comes with the TV Guide (like TIVO, but no monthly service fees). The one thing that I felt was missing was a HDMI output (which is on the xs55, but it is a couple hundred more), but the picture quality is excellent on my HDTV (although the signal from the XS35 isn't HD). Regarding past complaints from other reviews I can see and respect there points of view, but there was nothing that would have stopped me from purchasing and no buyers remorse after owning for about a week. To that point there were some who thought that the unit was noisy, I would agree to the point that it does sound like a pc running and I don't think that I would want the unit sitting next to bed as I was trying to sleep, but in any family room setting the noise isn't really noticable. To the point that the unit is too hard to figure out, read the manual (the big 170+ page manual), but after you spend some time with the unit you will find that the unit functions well and have more options than most would use, but the ones you are looking for are there. The remote seems very busy with buttons all over, although different they are well placed and will make sense after a day or so. I've done several records and found them to be of excellent quality (both video and audio) and I do like the navigation as it allows me to choose from what's been recorded, jump to a channel, or set up a recording. DVD playback is excellent as well. Like I said it took me a few days to get over the learning curve, but the unit delivered as promised and I got every dollars worth that I spent. If you are interested in purchasing, I'm not sure if strong demand, low production, or a combination of both has led to them being hard to find. At the time I purchased, all of the electronic stores in the Milwaukee area were out and a couple of the online stores no longer had stock either. I'm glad I purchased when I did and at this time I could not be more satisfied with my purchase.
Very complex but great ! August 6, 2006
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
This DVDR works perfectly well. It's very complex, it takes a little time to get used to its editing menus but the result are perfect DVDs recorded rapidly. I definitely recommend it.
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