I pretty badly did want a HDD. However, I know I am pretty sure I will buy this recorder. So I am just saying it isn't the end of the world if I don't have the HDD. I would very much like to have it, but I feel like the picture quality would be a big enough deal for me to feel like I should have got the Sony if I get something else. Yes the smart thing to do would be to wait until the Sony HDD model comes out. I was planning on waiting at least until the Summer to hear more details. However, I just really want a dvd recorder now. I am getting impatient. I already have wanted one for a long time and I am just tired of waiting.
I had decided to get the Toshiba D-R1, but Mike Up's comments made me change my mind on that. The clock I could overlook, but not the black level bug. I had decided at one point on a Panasonic. But then I hear over and over about the PQ being "average" according to some and "terrible" according to others.
No i do not have a good dvd player already. It's a Toshiba SD-2109. I got it back when there weren't many people even buying dvd players yet. But I have not purchased a new one since. And I would not buy a Sony because the only way I would buy a new player is if it has zoom. Sony only has it on the dvd/vcr combos now I believe.
The Sony just seems well-built and the quality seems good. I have no desire whatsoever to use the + format discs. So the extra money I am paying is basically for something I won't use. They hype up the "dual format" of the recorder and I bet that is exactly why it is still expensive. Still, either way, the PQ will be better.
And when you think about it, I am not really overpaying by much. I am getting it from an authorized Sony dealer for under $550. I have not checked closely on the Panasonics, but I think the 80 is about the same price and the 100 is hundreds of dollars more. So how am I overpaying? You could maybe argue I am overpaying because it does not have the HDD, but as far as how much money is leaving my possession, I am "equally" paying. Just basically for the same price I am getting better PQ in exchange for losing the HDD.
By the way, using a separate player would also mean putting my cable box BACK on top of my tv.
All I know is I hope I totally make up my mind later today because I was planning on ordering it today. If you notice what owners of this recorder keep saying on this forum, almost every one of them say something similar to "I am very pleased with my choice so far". I honestly notice a few problems with it. But I am just trying to think of the best recorder for me. And given that I don't have a good player, I would probably rather press pause when recording than have the more convenient, but worse player in the HDD panasonics.
I am definitely not trying to pretend Sony's is perfect. The retail price is ridiculous, they made the rw formats have less editing capabilities, one person reported that it takes a few seconds before it starts recording, it does not ahve playback zoom, and it does not have a HDD.
Otherwise, it's perfect.
