Sorry I returned Toshiba D-R400 for the reason that the remote control command does not respond what I see on a screen. I predict some thing wrong with R-400 machine or software inside the machine.

One review I read indicated that DVD recorders might not record movies from HBO or pay per view. I haven't tried pay per view but there was not any trouble recording HBO and HBO on Demand. When you put in a blank DVD, it only takes about 20 seconds until the D-R400 is ready to start recording.

The six and eight hour video recording rates are too grainy looking for me. The manual is okay, but needs more clarification on some recording features. I like the input access on the front panel for my computer connections using either standard video or S-video connections.

The remote is light and intuitive, but response could be a bit quicker. The D-R400 is somewhat noisy, but not like my old Lite-On, and the Lite-On was notorious for burning coasters galore.

Playback of media files, however, is where this unit falls short. It has problems with with widescreen DivX files and 4:3 televisions. Most DivX players will simply letterbox them, but the Toshiba crops the side edges and stretches the height.

It started out OK, but within 10 days it could not even recognize disks which it had recorded.

After I make the original I tried to copy in computer using a video program but I am having problem with this any one know any short cuts or do I have to record them in a different mode on the DVD recorder, after I make a copies on the computer they only play on the computer Forked River, NJ

(But you can play the DVD's on the D-R400 without finalizing them.) For playback, there is commercial skip as well as fast forward and fast reverse (up to 40x) plus slow forward and slow reverse. It also has chasing playback during recording so that you can play back what you are recording without waiting until the recording is completed. Some have said that the D-R400 will not record closed caption information; however they were wrong.

I was hoping I could record all my Disney tapes but you can't. Overall I really like the quality of this unit. I could not get the recorder to switch to the front jacks, I called the hot line and in no time I had it working.

xp=1 hour, slp=4 hours or whatever it is.(Like a VCR) One of the first discs I recorded came out pretty crappy at 6 hours. I changed it so I could only record 4 hours and it looks much better. I was recording through the Tivo box so not sure if that makes a difference or not.

You can choose to record in 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 hour, 6 hour, or 8 hour mode, although the quality of 6 hour or 8 hour mode will not be as good. Although the D-R400 does not have a tuner, it does have a timer (12 timers) that you can set to record TV programs.

I realize it is called a "tunerless" recorder but it didn't dawn on me that a digital tv wasn't good enough. I have tried looking at places for external tv tuners and have turned up a big goose egg. So now I have just another dvd player.

It even played back some material that had been recorded on the Insignia which the Insignia had decided was now on an "unknown disc." This model is nothing fancy, but if you're just ready to finally make the switch from VHS to DVD, this might be right for you. Be aware that---like most of the less expensive DVD recorders---it has no built-in tuner.

I gave 4 stars because it does NOT record CLOSED CAPTIONS. If you need closed captions in your viewing later, it is not possible.

I haven't used it for playing back on a HD TV set, since I don't have one yet. But I bought it for that purpose after reading the reviews on using it with HD sets. I'll buy a 1080 HD set later this year, but won't be too disappointed in the playback upconverting quality, since I know its limitations from the other reviews.

Eventhough the quality of the converted image is not obviously the same as if it was direct 1080p, the image is still very good.

Whatever. Toshiba makes a wonderful product, and the D-R400 is no exception, while they are available. Since they are no longer manufacturing HD-DVD, now is the time to buy.

We bought the Toshiba hoping we could at least watch the ones that were finalized. When we got it home we found that we could actually watch the ones that were not finalized as well.

I am sorry HD-DVD's will dwindle in the future, but this unit will still record and play most formats until the next "big thing".

The instruction book is very detailed, but good at explaining all the features. The remote control could be easier to read, but I am geting used to it. The bottom line is that the D-R400 is a very good choice for all your basic DVD recording needs at a reasonable price.

One review I read indicated that DVD recorders might not record movies from HBO or pay per view. I haven't tried pay per view but there was not any trouble recording HBO and HBO on Demand. When you put in a blank DVD, it only takes about 20 seconds until the D-R400 is ready to start recording.

The six and eight hour video recording rates are too grainy looking for me. The manual is okay, but needs more clarification on some recording features. I like the input access on the front panel for my computer connections using either standard video or S-video connections.

(But you can play the DVD's on the D-R400 without finalizing them.) For playback, there is commercial skip as well as fast forward and fast reverse (up to 40x) plus slow forward and slow reverse. It also has chasing playback during recording so that you can play back what you are recording without waiting until the recording is completed. Some have said that the D-R400 will not record closed caption information; however they were wrong.

xp=1 hour, slp=4 hours or whatever it is.(Like a VCR) One of the first discs I recorded came out pretty crappy at 6 hours. I changed it so I could only record 4 hours and it looks much better. I was recording through the Tivo box so not sure if that makes a difference or not.

The instruction book is very detailed, but good at explaining all the features. The remote control could be easier to read, but I am geting used to it. The bottom line is that the D-R400 is a very good choice for all your basic DVD recording needs at a reasonable price.

It's good but not awesome. Anyway I want to note my experience that recording to Maxell and Verbatim +rw discs was dissapointing. Then I tried Maxell dvd-rw discs and that worked well; much better than a vcr.

I was hoping I could record all my Disney tapes but you can't. Overall I really like the quality of this unit. I could not get the recorder to switch to the front jacks, I called the hot line and in no time I had it working.

You can choose to record in 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 hour, 6 hour, or 8 hour mode, although the quality of 6 hour or 8 hour mode will not be as good. Although the D-R400 does not have a tuner, it does have a timer (12 timers) that you can set to record TV programs.

I haven't used it for playing back on a HD TV set, since I don't have one yet. But I bought it for that purpose after reading the reviews on using it with HD sets. I'll buy a 1080 HD set later this year, but won't be too disappointed in the playback upconverting quality, since I know its limitations from the other reviews.

Eventhough the quality of the converted image is not obviously the same as if it was direct 1080p, the image is still very good.

Delivers very good quality picture on my 52" HDTV. Remote a bit busy but buttons are clearly labled.

The quality of the picture seemed to be the same as when I originally watched it on tv. The upconverting that the product does to regular DVDs is pretty good.

I realize it is called a "tunerless" recorder but it didn't dawn on me that a digital tv wasn't good enough. I have tried looking at places for external tv tuners and have turned up a big goose egg. So now I have just another dvd player.

No HDMI cables come with it, but getting HDMI cables is not an expensive option anymore. The other part of the D-R400 is the DVD player itself.

No hdmi cables come with it, but getting hdmi cables is not an expensive option anymore. The other part of the D-R400 is the DVD player itself.

There is only a hdmi output on the product, which means that the input is either AV or S-video, which leaves room for some distortion.

If you're buying this unit to record movies or lenthy shows off the (HD) TV, forget it and go with a high end video recorder for much less. If you record a show in excess of one hour in time length, the playback picture is downright lousy (grainy & blury). The picture on regular store bought movies was just average.

Delivers very good quality picture on my 52" HDTV. Remote a bit busy but buttons are clearly labled.

The quality of the picture seemed to be the same as when I originally watched it on tv. The upconverting that the product does to regular DVDs is pretty good.

The six and eight hour video recording rates are too grainy looking for me. The manual is okay, but needs more clarification on some recording features. I like the input access on the front panel for my computer connections using either standard video or S-video connections.

There is only a HDMI output on the product, which means that the input is either AV or S-video, which leaves room for some distortion.

It started out OK, but within 10 days it could not even recognize disks which it had recorded.

Sorry I returned Toshiba D-R400 for the reason that the remote control command does not respond what I see on a screen. I predict some thing wrong with R-400 machine or software inside the machine.

The remote is light and intuitive, but response could be a bit quicker. The D-R400 is somewhat noisy, but not like my old Lite-On, and the Lite-On was notorious for burning coasters galore.

The instruction book is very detailed, but good at explaining all the features. The remote control could be easier to read, but I am geting used to it. The bottom line is that the D-R400 is a very good choice for all your basic DVD recording needs at a reasonable price.

The remote reminds you of the bigger, thicker ones but doesn't bother me. There is no subtitles button the remote, which would have made it easier as I almost always have the sub-titles on.

Delivers very good quality picture on my 52" HDTV. remote a bit busy but buttons are clearly labled.

remote control buttons are too small and the labels on them are hard to read, but other than that the unit functions quite well.

The six and eight hour video recording rates are too grainy looking for me. The manual is okay, but needs more clarification on some recording features. I like the input access on the front panel for my computer connections using either standard video or S-video connections.

After I make the original I tried to copy in computer using a video program but I am having problem with this any one know any short cuts or do I have to record them in a different mode on the DVD recorder, after I make a copies on the computer they only play on the computer Forked River, NJ

I didn't really make out any difference between the video outputs from playing the camcorder directly on TV or playing the DVD created. Of course, I am not a professional. For me all that mattered was my then 5 month old son's cherised video still great to look at.

If you're buying this unit to record movies or lenthy shows off the (HD) TV, forget it and go with a high end video recorder for much less. If you record a show in excess of one hour in time length, the playback picture is downright lousy (grainy & blury). The picture on regular store bought movies was just average.

There is only a HDMI output on the product, which means that the input is either AV or S-video, which leaves room for some distortion.

It even played back some material that had been recorded on the Insignia which the Insignia had decided was now on an "unknown disc." This model is nothing fancy, but if you're just ready to finally make the switch from VHS to DVD, this might be right for you. Be aware that---like most of the less expensive DVD recorders---it has no built-in tuner.