Stay Away! Review for the less technically-minded consumer

I bought this DVD player a year ago based on recommendations by Consumer Reports.  For some reason, they really liked this one.

I have had nothing but trouble with it.  I have managed to record ONE program with it.  Every time I turn it on or change the channel, I need to scroll through the input options to get a signal.  I had it auto program itself for the (cable) channels, and it only picked up a handful of them.  I can't manually program the missed channels; it simply can't pick them up.

The biggest problem is that I really didn't start trying to record with it until after the warranty was already up on it.  I should have tried returning it anyway.  We only use it for playback now; I could have spent $100 for a player.

Something I didn't realize is that some of these types of recorders (including this one) only record on either DVD+ or DVD- discs, not both (truth be told, I didn't even notice the + on the package!).  I didn't figure that one out until after I opened the package of DVD+ discs!

It does have a Digital ATSC tuner, so if I ever do give up cable TV, I'll be able to watch the new digital broadcasts through the DVD player.  That is, if I can get it to pick up the channels!

All in all, I have been extremely disappointed in this DVD Recorder.  What good is a recorder if you have to be there to scroll through inputs until the channel shows up?!  You can't record anything unless you're already there to watch it.