I used to have a video, it was great. Then I bought a DVD. At first they didn

I got a Philips DVD recorder a couple of years ago and I'm able to hop through the TV channels while any promos or copyright warnings are playing. None of the problems you highlight. The recording starts very quickly, plus I have control over where to put chapter markers, etc. so that I can easily go straight to selected parts of the disc without any of the old fast forwarding. Plus, with a VHS also linked to the TV I can record a show while watching a DVD. I also like the fact that I can store about 5 DVDs in the space of one VHS, cutting down on shelf space.

Maybe you just need to play about with your machine more and find out how best to take advantage of what it offers.

Couldn't agree more, Moaner. My DVD recorder started by picking and choosing what it wanted to record, and now consistently fails to record anything on my timer, telling me there's no disc space, even with a brand new disc. Pathetic.

I have never worked out my DVD/video recorder save for pressing play.
It seemed a "must have" at the time.
It also has an irritating habit, of when you use it as a cd player, the screen goes blank after about 20 minutes.
I prefer the Sky box, but still don`t know what most of the bits do on that either, sadly!

This is like a "Grumpy Old Men"thread!

FULL sympathy from me here.

Working on the inside in the electronics industry, what is actually best for the consumer is smothered by what they want us to think is the best.

"It is digital sir" seems to be dealer speak for 'the absolute best'. I can attest to the quality of DVD, but so much now is being foisted upon us that we do not want. Like the piracy warnings and trailers, not to forget the lengthy intros that you have to sit through even getting to the first menu.

It need not be this way though, but due to the meddling actions of unseen legal teams it has become the norm and is not questioned enough. You USED to be able to have your DVD played modified at a small cost to skip all the intros and flashy screens. Link Electronics did mine in 2000 - put a disk in and press 'title' and all the crap was skipped past. No waiting. Such modifacations are now illegal! Why?

Concerning the DVD recorders, I have one, and whilst I admire the quality of recording, I have no love for the whirring and lenghty startup times. What about the days of recording something and lending the tape to a friend? Not any more - you must ensure that you use a DVD format that they can play (plus-r/minus-r). So much faffing about for not much gain it seems.

Anyone who struggles has my full sympathy.

Getting back to enjoying VHS recently;) !

RT