Hi, everybody!

I just joined 'cause it seems like you guys really know your stuff!

I'm looking to buy a DVD recorder w/HDD and I was wondering what you'd recommend. You should know that I'm in Canada, so I don't believe the TV Guide feature will work here. Also: I seem to recall reading that on some decks you can customize the recording mode (e.g. set it so that a 100-minute program uses all of the remaining space on a DVD, rather than leaving "20 minutes" blank)?

Your input is much appreciated!

P.S. Is anyone familiar with Sony's RDRHX730?

In case you haven't read through many postings yet, you need to be aware that the situation down here in the US is unsettled right now, because as of March 1 no new devices with only analog (NTSC) tuners can be produced or imported. All new TV's and recorders that can receive over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts must include a digital (ATSC) tuner. This is to get ready for the shutdown of all analog TV broadcasts here in February 2009.

Therefore, down here the old DVD/HDD recorder models with only NTSC tuners are disappearing from dealers' shelves, and so far only a couple of new models with ATSC tuners have been heard of (but not seen) so far.

Canada doesn't have an analog shutdown in the cards, so the market forces are different. You may very well have NTSC-only models available that we don't know about (or at least are no longer available) here.

Check out the Pioneer DVR-640HS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=646240) (US model; Canadian model 643?)

That unit certainly allows you to set the record duration to fit into a DVD. If you peruse this forum, this is one of the more favored HDD units. It also have easy editing functions (as opposed to the 2006 Polaroid, Phillips and Liteon's) and very good recording quality (through to about LP/4-hour mode).

I have an older Panny model (E80, 2003/4 model?) that also allowed for filling up an entire DVD for various recording lengths. Panasonic should still have that feature available.

Much appreciated, guys!