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Quality DVD Internet Base - Toshiba RD-XS34 DVD Recorder with 160-GB Hard Drive
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List Price: $499.99
Our Price:
Your Save: $ 499.99 ( 100% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Toshiba
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Batteries Included: 1
Batteries: 2
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Toshiba
EAN: 0022265411698
Feature: DVD recorder and Personal Video Recorder with 160 GB hard drive; measures 17 x 2.5 x 13.25 inches (W x H x D)
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Toshiba
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Model: RD-XS34
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Toshiba
Studio: Toshiba
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Features
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DVD recorder and Personal Video Recorder with 160 GB hard drive; measures 17 x 2.5 x 13.25 inches (W x H x D)
Interactive Program Guide provides an easy to read listing of the television programs available to view or record
Records to DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW; plays CD-R/RW and MP3/WMA digital audio formats
One set of component (Y,Pr,Pb), 1 S-Video, and 1 RCA video outputs; Firewire input for connecting to video camcorders
High-speed dubbing from the hard drive to disc without any deterioration of digital signal
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: I absolutely hate my Toshiba DVR
Comment: I have owned this product for 3 years. I cannot stress enough how much I hate it.
1) It won't register any cable channels above 71. Toshiba blames Comcast for a "lack of compatibility." Comcast says it's Toshiba's fault. Either way, the problem is not fixable. I ended up renting a Comcast DVR six months after purshasing the Toshiba DVR. It works great!
2) This is one of the least user-friendly units imaginable. It is NOT intuitive, and the confusing manual is little help.
3) The on-screen TV guide routinely loses all listings. It just says "No Listing" for every channel. So, if you record a program, it will name it using the date and time the show was recorded. That makes it almost impossible to find the show when you look for it a few weeks later. (There may be a way to rename the programs, but see point 2...)
4) More on the on-screen TV guide: it displays the channels in no particular order, and it does not list them by number - it lists them by icon. So you need to know what channel the peacock is, etc. I called Toshiba Customer Service - no way around this.
5) Yet more on the on-screen TV guide: when you turn the unit on, it defaults to the TV guide. Until you press the "Guide" button on the remote to exit the guide, many other buttons/functions will will not respond.
6) There's no "Exit" button on the remote. So, trying to get out of a particular screen, function, etc. feels a lot like turning over countless rocks looking for a prize.
7) When you insert a blank DVD, it has to "think" about it forever. It leaves you in limbo tapping your foot while it flashes "Loading...Loading...Loading..." It arbitrarily rejects about a third of the blank DVDs I insert, claiming, "Check the disc. It may be damaged." Eject the disc, re-insert the SAME disc, wait again, and finally it claims, "A blank DVD-R is inserted." No duh!
8) It will ONLY record on DVD-Rs. It will NOT record on DVD+Rs. However, my parents' Bose DVD player will only play DVD+Rs. Again, I contacted Customer Service - they verified that only DVD-Rs will work in the unit. So if I want to burn a DVD for my parents, I have to use the Toshiba to burn it onto a DVD-R, then use my computer to burn THAT onto a DVD+R.
9) When you decide to burn a DVD, you enter the Edit Menu. This displays all of your recorded shows - without the program titles. It gives you a list of numbered thumbnails. This means I usually have to click through the list, repeatedly trying different thumbnails: "Nope, not this one...is it this one? Nope. This one? Nope. Ah-ha! Thumbnail #109 is the show I want to burn." (I then write "109" on a scrap of paper so I won't forget, while I repeat the process to look for the next show I want to put onto the disc. Learned that trick from experience....)
10) More on the edit menu: you can't enter the number of a thumbnail and go straight to it. You have to click sequentially through every thumbnail. So if you're on thumbnail #50, and you need thumbnail #100, be prepared to sit there pressing the arrow button 50 times.
11) Unless the channel number is 3 digits long, you must hit Enter after you input the channel. With you usual cable box, you can hit 52, and after a second it figures out that you're not going to enter any more digits and it goes to channel 52. The Toshiba will NEVER figure that out. This is a small thing that gets really annoying after the 100th time or so.
I could write twice this much, but I think this paints a clear enough picture. Honestly, if my Comcast DVR would play and burn DVDs, I would never, ever use the Toshiba. Oh, and the removable RAM storage contraption is collecting dust. I've never been able to figure out how to use it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The good is bad
Comment: I bought the RD-XS35 Jan '07 and had no problems until last month when the TV Guide listing information stopped coming in altogether. The cable co. (Suddenlink) says it's not their problem and Toshiba says it's not theirs either. So, without TV Guide, this fabulous machine is now nothing more than an ordinary dvd player. I'm trying the manual recording instructions I read here from other reviewers. I agree that the instruction manual is poorly translated and difficult to understand. Also, the down button on the remote wore out about 6 mos. ago making it difficult to navigate the on-screen menu. A new one from Remotes.com is $57 plus $8 shipping.
Before you buy: call your cable provider and make sure they support TVGuide online. Even if they do, know that it could change overnight like mine did. The cable co. has their own hdd's they rent and don't care if your third-party hdd doesn't work anymore.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Long May You Run
Comment: I bought my RDXS34 on Dec 31, 2005, almost 3 years ago. Nearly took it back a dozen times the first month I had it, but I persevered, and am really glad I did. It is a workhorse, and still is going strong (knock on wood). I give it 5 stars, though I do understand the frustration expressed in a lot of these postings. I had a heck of a time trying to decipher the manual, which as some have said, WAS poorly written, cause it did leave out instructions on several things, including how to manually record. So, I did what the paper with the stop-sign said to do, I called the 800 number. Every time I had a problem. When I had trouble getting through, I kept trying. Mostly I got through after a few tries, if not on the first try. The techs at Toshiba were very helpful, and the dozen or so times I was tempted to return it to the store (or throw it out the window!), instead I called and got the answer that wasn't in the manual (that I could find...). Yes, you can set the manual recording speed, thru the Setup key. In Setup, under "DVD recorder operation", choose "user record quality", then choose the bit rate by using the "frame adjust" arrows. I choose LP as both HDD and DVD defaults, which gives more than a decent picture quality, and allows, upon transfer to disc, up to 4 hours and 13 minutes to a disc. SP cuts that in half, so I use it only when setting a manual recording for a movie or a special event that runs under 2 hours 7 minutes, total after editing. I change it rarely, only when I want to manually (pressing record) record something in SP using pause to edit out commercials. Afterwards I have to remember to change it back to LP, or everything I record by thumb will be in SP, and being a news junkie, that's Not Good!!
If like me you have no patience to wait endlessly for TV Guide to upload, YOU CAN manual record by pressing the TV Guide button and using the r/l arrows to move to the "schedule" subheading, then press the Menu button next to the TV Guide button, which will give you your recording options ("new manual recording" or "new manual reminder"), then just enter the date, time, channel (and you can set the recording speed you want, regardless of what you've got in the setup menu, it overrides that), etc, then set your cable box accordingly or use the link that comes with the unit which, when placed properly, will send the signal to the cable box to change the channel at the appropriate time. I prefer to set the recording timers on my cable box (a Scientific Atlanta) cable box, that way the box doesn't have to be on all the time, and I find it more reliable, as sometimes, mysteriously, the signal has not been accepted properly, and, for instance, channel 421 becomes channel 1 and I'm stuck with a useless recording of my cable company's advertising channel (DRECK!! And, in FRENCH!!) But this is a rare occurrence, it just happened one time too many on something I really wanted to see, so I don't rely on the link anymore.
Also, sometimes I put in a disk to copy to which has a few episodes of something already on it, but is not finalized, and the recorder won't read the disk, and It gives the message that disk is dirty or defective, or that "this operation cannot be performed with prerecorded content". I discovered, by researching online at CNET, a helpful posting by someone who said his did this a lot, and that usually opening the door and reclosing it, and holding the power button while the disc is reloading will reset the machine to read the disc properly. Most of the time this works. One caveat, though, make sure your HDD is not more than 80% full, or that it doesn't have a lot of older titles (none over 7 weeks is my standard), which can destabilize the hard drive, before attempting this. I have never lost content by doing this, but it is possible to completely wipe out the contents of the hard drive doing it. By then of course, it is only a matter of time before it flushes while performing a perfectly normal operation. I have had it happen a different way each time, 6 or 7 times. Once by inserting a severely scratched brand-new (damaged in the pkg) pre-recorded DVD. And one time it happened when everything was no more than 4 weeks old. But that was my fault, something I recorded from an unstable source destabilized the HDD, and I knew it. Since then I record onto DVDs when I'm not sure of the quality of the source. I have lost all my HDD content about 6 or 7 times in 2 and a half years, so all in all that's pretty good. But it is kinda crushing when it happens. I have learned the hard way to back up anything I really would hate losing to a DVD-RW, Verbatim makes a 30 disc spindle, and they are awesome when you can get them on sale. I use post it notes on them so I can reuse them, because whatever you write in Sharpie will stay on them.
The machine is sensitive, and you have to use common sense, but isn't that so with everything? Once you know how to operate it, it becomes fairly intuitive. I'm still learning (small) things to this day. It has so many features and extras, you will never learn all of them, but I'll settle for nearly all. The machine suits my purposes, and I will never go back to cumbersome and boxy VHS tapes. And, bonus points for no subscription requirement!
Hope this helps someone out there!! It's a great machine when you learn thru the manual and the 800 tech support how to use it properly. As Neil Young said, "long may you run", old friend. I think the song was about a car. :o)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Toshiba RD-XS34SU a good recorder
Comment: I bought this recorder July 2005. The TV Guide on screen system worked fine until yesterday, April 12, 2008. I called Comcast Cable company and asked what happened, but was told they don't support third-party DVD recorders. Further they stated my recorder was not getting its information on scheduling from their service (obviously false - it gets show schedule info from somewhere, and there is nothing else connected to the machine). I will continue to use the recorder setting the programs manually, but it has lost a great deal of its appeal now that the TV Guide no longer works. I recommend this machine, but a better one is the Pioneer DVD 640H, which does not have TV Guide and is easier to use when editing recordings.
UPDATE: About 3 weeks after writing the above review, suddenly the Toshiba again began getting TV Guide information. It is still working to this day, Feb 1, 2009. The Toshiba is a great machine. It has one failing - editing a DVD recording to remove commercials from a TV show is very difficult and time consuming.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Really great features, manual not so much
Comment: If you do not want to read thick instruction manuals, do NOT buy this product.
However, no one has commented on two super features of this machine: (1) Fast dubbing from hard disk to DVD-R discs. At LP speed, 4 hours 15 minutes of program content can be burned in about 25-30 minutes onto one blank 4.7 GB disc, so much better than at agonizingly slow 1:1 speeds on cheaper machines with fewer features! (2) When playing back a DVD or hard disk program at 150% speed, the sound is chopped but understandable, with no high-pitched "Alvin & the Chipmunks" effect. So when commercials are skipped, a one-hour documentary, talking head lecture or discussion group, a sporting event, or boring program can be played back in about 30 minutes and you can hear all the words! Even music is listenable, though the tempo is 50% faster. If you missed a play in sports or a word in speech, you just have to reverse and play back at regular speed; the sound IS cut out of course when playback is at half, one-eighth or one-sixteenth speed. I also have an RD-XS32 machine which does not have the TV GUIDE feature (you just program timer recorder settings manually) and also an RD-XS35 machine which is similar to the XS34 (with TV GUIDE). The RD-XS32 machine has only an 80 GB hard disk, half that on the other machines; my XS32's built-in tuner produces unwanted picture noise on low Cable Channels 2 and 3, so I don't use it as much as the others. The XS32 IS more convenient when I am away from home for more than 8 days, because the timer programming can be extended over a year, whereas the TV GUIDE feature doesn't work unless you use the WEEKLY or REGULARLY frequency setting, and for other programs you are limited to 8 days advance programming.
As others have pointed out, it IS possible to manually program timer recordings on the XS34 and XS35, but the manual is poorly written: immediately under the major heading "Setting a recording", the manual should offer two options - "see p. 50 for manual setting, or continue below (on p.47) for automatic setting using TV GUIDE". The TOSHIBA corporation (and other Japanese companies) should hire a North American English-speaking person to edit the final copy [I am a third-generation Japanese-Canadian, so please don't accuse me of racism]; for example, the SMALL heading "Set recording by specifying details manually" on p.50 would have been more comprehensible if it had read "Setting timer recordings manually without TV GUIDE", or words to that effect. It's a shame that an otherwise brilliant machine has received bad reviews because of weaknesses in the Owner's Manual. I desperately want to purchase at least two more XS34 or XS35 units (I have already purchased separately two extra remote controls because I have worn out a few buttons on one, and the machine can be useless if even one button, e.g. the Down control, doesn't work). If TOSHIBA has been traumatized by the vitriolic response to their XS34 and is phasing it and its successors out, could anyone tell me of any competitor's machine which has the two great features I have noted above?
Another confusing section in the manual concerns setting the default settings for recording. The factory has set the SP speed as the default recording speed, which allows for about 2 hours on a blank 4.7 GB DVD-R disc. Since the picture is only slightly degraded at LP speed, and much better than a VHS SP recording, I prefer to record 4+ hours on one disc at LP speed. Although you can choose the LP default setting for timer recordings by going to the Service Bar and then Setup, if the power goes out and you do not reset this, the machine automatically goes back to the SP setting. The machine also records at SP if you manually hit the Record button. It IS possible to change the machine default record setting, but the instructions are on p.161 and are confusing; IMO this important detail ought to be described and clearly explained in the Introduction and set very early on in the operation of the machine.
Some have complained that the machine cannot copy Copyright-protected movies onto the hard disk for use in producing DVD copies. I think the producers of movies have the right to insist on this feature!
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Editorial Reviews:
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Still using videotapes? Come to DVD and enjoy recording and playing your own. With a built-in TV tuner you can record your favorite TV shows and there's an integrated programmable timer for absolute simplicity. No discs? This recorder also has a digital hard-drive. Toshiba RCXS34 takes the chore out of recording. With a 160GB hard disk drive, this amazing unit can store recorded programming and dubbed content, then transfer it from the hard drive to a DVD-RAM, DVD-R, or DVD-RW without any deterioration. The incredible chase play feature allows you to begin watching a recording that is already in progress, and live chase play lets you "pause" live recordings and return to it when you're ready! Plays a variety of formats, including DVDs, CDs, MP3s, and JPEG photos. ColorStream Pro component video input Y/Pr/Pb, S-video, RCA-video, L/R audio, optical out, RF, IR blaster outputs / S-video, RCA-video, L/R audio, RF inputs IEEE-1394 Firewire DV port for transferring digital video directly from digital camcorder or from a comparably equipped Windows PC or Macintosh computer Digital Cinema Progressive (3/2 Pulldown) - Delivers the smoothest, most film-like images to any progressive scan television, such as an HD-compatible one, and ensures maximum resolution. Interactive Program Guide provides an easy to read listing of the television programs available to view or record. It offers an 8-day program listing, flexibility of recording directly to DVD or the HDD, the ability to perform keyword searches for locating favorite programs and includes the G-Link IR Blaster for controlling cable boxes. When recording television programs, the name of the show, along with the channel and date, are automatically captured 3D Virtual Surround Sound Auto Clock, Daylight Savings Time Adjust, Time Zone Adjust VCR Plus+ for easy selection of TV shows you want to record One-Touch Record Remote Control Universal w/T
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