Rating: 
Summary: The Best DVD Recorder on the Market
Review: I just can't let the last review go by without comment, especially given some plain errors in fact.>>On VHS input, it suffers from signal drop, skipping over dropped out audio and video.<< Video tape is far from the archival medium of choice, what with the ease at which the tape or its metallic coating can be affected. The quality of the tape, and thus recording, will deteriorate over time even if obvious damage to the tape cannot be seen by the naked eye. Now, the Philips DVDR985 will skip over dropouts in audio and video - but the cut it makes is clean. I thus have a clean DVD copy of a videotape without having to watch all the defects and glitches in the original tape itself. It would be wise to also ensure that your VCR is in good working order and its heads are clean. But no DVD recorder will be able to bring back video or audio that has become damaged over time. I have recorded several hours from various VHS casettes with very fine results. You won't get a recording that looks like a DVD from a VHS source, but all but the most hard to please users will be more than satisfied. >>Also, be aware that this unit while it will play some DVD recordable formats it doesn't write to, it WON'T play pressed DVD-ROM, e.g. the DVD movies you buy in a store! The video keeps skipping, with no audio.<< ... I have been playing all sorts of pre-recorded DVD Video discs,... and all play with remarkable sound and picture quality (of course your TV and sound system will affect performance, but saying it won't play DVD movies from a store is pure BS). It's an excellent player, incorporating the Crystal Clear Pro Progressive-Scan system with a sophisticated Motion Adaptive System (DCDi chip by Faroudja). This is well known to produce superior results. I am far happier with it than my previous highly rated Panasonic RP91K player. >>Also, DVD+R, the write once/read many (WORM) DVD disc format, is only just now coming out, and, the entire DVD+ format is more expensive than the traditional DVD- format used in most other recorders. The DVD+ format was made to capitalize on a market without standards yet, so, don't be pulled into it.<< ...Microsoft has just put its backing behind the DVD+RW format so I hardly think that issues of expense or standards will be issues for too much longer. I have already played DVD+RW discs recorded on the DVDR985 on a Panasonic portable, my HP DVD+RW drive, and a standard Pioneer DVD player all with impressive results. ...If there is any DVD standard I'd put money on, it is DVD+RW. ... In addition, this player has an iLink firewire input missing from some other recorders so you can connect digital camcorders. You also get both optical and coaxial digital outputs for digital receivers. To sum up, this is the player to get if you are looking for a DVD Recorder for your home entertainment system. Sure these units are ...[pricy], but most newer technology usually is. This is a great DVD recorder and a superb DVD player. By all means get this most highly recommended item if you can.
Rating: 
Summary: Archiving old Camcorder Video Tape.
Review: I purchased this item from Amazon recently with the intention that I would archive video some of it over 12 years old to DVD+RW. I thought that this was a good first step to getting my old camcorder video into a computer later for editing. I will wait for a time to see how the DVD standards shake out before purchasing a DVD recorder for my computer for a final archive to DVD. So far I have made two DVD's using an older S-VHSC camcorder. I have used the S-Video input on the DVDR985 and I believe the video output quality is excellent. I observed this product demo'ed at CES in Las Vegas this spring and was very impressed. I believe the price tag is quite reasonable considering it's capability. Daryl Olson
Albuquerque, NM.
Rating: 
Summary: Philips DVDR985: Wait on it
Review: Unless you have a lot of money ... and want to go ahead and get it, I would recommend holding off on this unit. I have tested it and returned it because of several things that are wrong with it, but, could easily be fixed in future generations. If you just want to record from cable/UHF/VHF, then, you shouldn't be disappointed with this model. I found no problems with recording from cable or in its audio and video quality. However, copying from VHS input, the main selling point for me on DVR's, is where I started to dislike this unit. On VHS input, it suffers from signal drop, skipping over dropped out audio and video. If the VHS tape was damaged, then, I could understand, as it's a tracking problem. But, this happens in certain specific areas of certain tapes, but, NEVER exactly in the same spots, just the generalized area. Plus, I tested two different VHS inputs, a Philips DVD/VCR combo and a Go Video VHS. There was still signal drop from the Go, but, this just amazed me, there was MORE signal drop from the Philips! The input and output sources were devices from the SAME company, yet, the results were worse. Also, be aware that this unit while it will play some DVD recordable formats it doesn't write to, it WON'T play pressed DVD-ROM, e.g. the DVD movies you buy in a store! The video keeps skipping, with no audio. Also, DVD+R, the write once/read many (WORM) DVD disc format, is only just now coming out, and, the entire DVD+ format is more expensive than the traditional DVD- format used in most other recorders. The DVD+ format was made to capitalize on a market without standards yet, so, don't be pulled into it. If you just want a cable signal recorder, then, if you can spare the money, this unit is a good choice. I'd wait until they work out the bugs in it, though, before buying it myself.
Rating:
Summary: What a fantastic machine!
Review: Just received this beauty four days ago and I have just finished completing transferring 8 hours of TV series off my Tivo onto two DVD+RW discs using this recorder (the series were tivo'd at "medium quality"). So, yes that means I recorded using the "EP" mode of the DVD recorder to yield maximum time. I have found the picture quality to be superior to the copies that I have made off the same Tivo onto VHS tape at the "SP" speed of my JVC VCR. So far, I have had no problem playing these two discs recorded at "EP" mode on the DVDR985 on three other regular play-only DVD machines (a Pioneer, a DaeWoo, and a Sony). The only flaw is that the digital frame that the Philips captures and uses as part of its titling feature for the show quivers and is not still as when seen on the Philips that it was recorded on. Test recordings I made of the recorder at the highest two modes were PHENOMENAL! Archiving any video at either the "HQ" or ""SP" modes looks great! Finally, the ease of use is fantastic! The biggest problem I've had is when I give names to the recordings on the DVD+RW disc. Then I have to use the arrows on the DVDR985 remote to cycle through letters and numbers; if only a alphanumeric keypad were available! I'm still exploring its features but so far have been very impressed with what I have seen! Highly recommended! Look around, for good prices can be found!
Rating: 
Summary: Disk Error!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I have had this unit for a year and a half now. I have installed every firmware patch that comes out I'm not up to ff12x I have forced down to remove all patches and reinstalled them. Sometimes the machine works sometimes it does not get the good old message "Disk Error" if you look at the disk you see rings light then dark looks like a bullseye target. I have changed several times the brand of blank +R disk I would use but I still waste 1 blank for every 1 I burn. What has worked to help is now if I want to burn a disk I burn to a DVD+RW if that gets a disk error then I can erase it and start over. Once I do get a good disk I then have to put it on the computer and burn a copy of it to a +R disk. This has helped but I agree with everyone else Philips should recall this piece of crap machine. I went out the other day and bought an Aspire DVD+R machine.. returned it the next day it was worse than the Philips. I just ordered a Philips DVDR75 from Amazon I sure hope it is better than the 985 has been. I should have learned my lesson buying a Philips but I guess I did not.. At least the DVDR75 only costs about half what the 985 costs me when I got it..
Ok Last chance Philips....
Rating:
Summary: Dead after 12months
Review: This recorder, which I paid a bundle for, worked fine for a while. Now it is a boat anchor. Also during its good days, I found it very bulky to use, removed it from the living room and put in the bedroom because of how it interferes with normal tv viewing. It sort of takes over your system,must be on all the time and interferes with normal operations. Anyway, now it is useless. It just says "No Disc", no matter what I put in there, commerical disk, blank dvd, even lens cleaning dvd "No Disc" I talked to Philips support whose only suggestion was to send me a dvd that had new firmware on it but of course it would not be able to read it, so its useless. Other than that, I am supposed to find some way to pack it up, pay to ship it off somewhere and pay lord knows what ungodly price to have it fixed. No thanks. I can't seriusly recommend it and would in fact try to discourage anyone from buying it due to my experience. Perhaps you would have no problem with it, I don't know. I just know I wasted $600 on it a year ago, deeply regret having purchased it and will never buy Philips again because of it. I am now going to buy a Sony.
Rating:
Summary: DVDR985 The Philips Frankenstein
Review: I call the DVDR985 "The Philips Frankenstein" because Philips went around advertising this sooo enthusiasticly when it first hit the market { it's alive,it's alive!!},then almost a year to the day from when I bought it the machine turns ugly.I had grown to love this recorder since 95% of the discs that I make are PAL and at the time that I bought it,it was the only recorder that I could find that recorded in PAL or NTSC.At first I thought it wasn't feeling well or that it had acquired a refined taste for only a certain type of blank disc.I consulted Philips and tried everything that they advised.Nothing helped.Then I started to think that it was just plain cruel and mean spirited,AND then it died.I turn it on,it works for FOUR SECONDS and then it turns it self off. Now that it is a monster Philips acts as if they want nothing to do with it.The only right thing at this point is A RECALL!!!!How can we{the consumers that Philips has SCREWED} go about getting this monster that Philips has spawnned recalled? P.S.I only used this unit for about 12 hours a month on average.DO NOT BUY THIS UNIT UNTIL PHILIPS PUBLICLY ADDRESSES THE ISSUE!
Rating:
Summary: Died after less than one year
Review: We purchased this item last year, and used it about 6 hours a week, and last month, it stopped working! After paying top dollar for it, I would have expected it to last longer. I was very disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Run from Philips DVDR985
Review: The engine has been replaced THREE times in two years and is now crapped out again! (For emphasis): FOUR machines have failed in two years!!! This product will break down, count on it.
Run from Philips!
Rating:
Summary: Bad Machine
Review: Bought it new...used it once.....two years later it will not recognize DVD+R. Terrible surprise. My Panasonic machines are still going!
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