Audio Systems: dvd recorder and vcr, hard disk recorder, computer harddisk

Question
I just saw on tv that Toshiba has a combination dvd recorder and vcr.  Is this something new? I have been interested in converting some old vhs tapes to dvd. Sure would appreciate information about this.

Answer
Not new.  Many of them around.

Beware, however, if the old tapes are commercial movies they will not record due to the copyguard protections. If they are home made amatuer movies they will record.

There is another alternative that is very popular now days as well calle a hard disk recorder.  This system converts the signal to digital just like the dvd recorder, but then records on on internal computer harddisk.  The advantage of this system is you can move the recordings around, delete and edit, etc.  Whereas with the dvd recorder you must purchase blank discs and once recorded they are fixed (unless you can use the read/write format discs on your machined - which are much more expensive).

Here is a good place to learn more:

http://hometheater.about.com/od/dvdrecorderfaqs/a/dvdrecfaqintro.htm

Thanks for a good question and good luck,
Cleggsan