DescentBB

i'm in the market to replace our VCR and DVD player with a single standalone DVD recorder thingy.

is there something that can:
- record onto DVDs (plus all the usual features, timeshift etc)
- playback every format under the sun (dvd, divx, xvid, mp3, ogg, etc)
- software upgradable to support future formats.

i don't know where to start. i don't even know the NAME of what i'm looking for.

product suggestions or tips?

What you are looking for is called a DVD Recorder.

It seems like all the DVD Recorders have issues (at least they did when I bought mine about two years ago) so be careful what you buy. Make sure the store has a good return policy. I had a Cyberhome melt down on me and tried 2 other brands and they had problems too. Can't remember the details of the problems with the other brands right now. I sent the Cyberhome back for repairs and it still came back without a fan. I put a computer fan in it by plugging it in the DVD drive but it runs all the time when the main switch is on. So I don't use it for timer recordings much.

This is a complicated topic with 2 DVD formats (+ and -). It seems like DVD Recorder technology is still too new and they haven't got all the bugs out yet. It is a shame since the recording looks much better than a VCR and the discs last forever. Try these links:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=103 (forum)
http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

Hope this helps.

heres a good place to browse, http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php