I was all set to buy the Es25. The few extra options is offered was worth the extra $15-20. Now BB has the ES15 for $109. Would I be a fool for getting the ES25 for $60 more?

no care to chime in?

Not sure about whether the ES25 is a better bet than the ES15 (although it does have upconversion), however, the $109 price was just too good to resist. I already have a Directv DVR and just wanted a recorder to use to pull off shows for archiving or saving a series. This device works perfect for my use - burn to DVD-RAM, take to my computer, use TMPGENC DVD Author to read the disc, edit out commercials, give it a nice menu, and burn to DVD-R. Works great and for the price - it is so close to the lower priced units from Funai and refurbed Samsungs - I couldn't resist.

I wonder if its worth waiting for the ATSC tuner so I can contnue using it as a VCR...ir not need a cable box. Thats wahat that tuner does right...eliminate the need for the cable box?

I wonder if its worth waiting for the ATSC tuner so I can contnue using it as a VCR...ir not need a cable box. Thats wahat that tuner does right...eliminate the need for the cable box?

For digital broadcasts, cable uses QAM, both clear(basic) and encrypted. You can usually (depends on cable provider) get clear channels with just any kind of cable service and a QAM tuner; you need the cable box for encrypted. You need to check the recorder of interest for QAM(new Pannys do QAM). ATSC is the tuner for digital Over The Air (OTA) with an antenna.

I would save the $60 and put it toward an upconverting dvd player (non-recorder). That way you get almost 2 for 1. Tiger Direct has the Panasonic DVD-S52k DVD Player, for 69.95 and it also plays RAM and is upconverting.