Philips DVDR985 Progressive-Scan DVD Recorder and Player

Philips DVDR985 Progressive-Scan DVD Recorder and Player

Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Based on DVD+RW technology, the Philips recordable DVDR985 delivers DVD-level video and lets you transfer your camcorder footage--birthday parties, holidays, vacations--on a DVD+RW or DVD+R disc. You then can play the recordings back on most existing and future DVD players.

DVD+RW discs are great for editing and re-recording on DVDs, and a DVD+R is the lower-cost alternative for preserving special occasions like your daughter's wedding; it won't allow someone to mistakenly record over those treasured moments. A digital i.Link data transfer connection (IEEE-1394) transfers MiniDV camcorder video to DVD, preserving the footage in high-quality digital picture and sound. It also includes a component-video input, which offers a high-quality analog connection to turn your collections of VHS tapes into higher-quality digital recordings.

To simplify recording so that anyone in the family can create a home movie, the recorders create an index picture screen automatically. Similar to a prerecorded DVD movie, the picture screen lets you see what has been recorded and how much disc space is available. With the push of a button on the remote control, you can start playing a recording--no winding or rewinding and no need for a visual search. Now family reunions, dance recitals, and little league baseball games can be captured in digital quality forever and enjoyed immediately.

Using the recorder to capture your favorite TV show or baseball game on DVD is as easy as pressing a button. Any time during the program, you can press the record button, and the DVD recorder will start to time-shift automatically. And Philips DVD recorders not only record, they also offer convenient editing features that allow you to do linear editing directly on the recorder, using the TV as a display.

In addition, the DVD+RW discs are interchangeable between PCs and TVs. You can record something with a camcorder, store or edit it onto a DVD+RW or DVD+R disc with a Philips DVD recorder, edit it through a Philips DVD+RW PC drive, and play it back on most existing DVD players or DVD-ROM drives. The next time you want to show someone at the office your improved golf stroke from your latest golf lesson, it may be as easy as popping the DVD into your computer.

To ensure compatibilty between discs recorded on Philips DVD recorders, and for enhanced picture quality, the recorders make use of the same Variable Bit-rate Recording (VBR) system used for pre-packaged DVD-Video movies. This lets you enjoy the same digital quality you enjoy with pre-recorded DVDs. With four time settings, VBR adjusts the data rate of the recordings based on the amount of motion in the recorded material. The DVR985 also features a built-in TV tuner and an AC-3 decoder/encoder for superior sound quality.

Philips DVD recorders also employ the Crystal Clear Pro Progressive-Scan system with a sophisticated Motion Adaptive System (DCDi chip by Faroudja), which corrects visual artifacts and optimizes the video image for superior pictures.

In addition to DVD+RW, DVD+R, and DVD-Video discs, the DVDR985 is compatible with CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, S-VCD, and VCD discs.

Philips DVDR985 Progressive-Scan DVD Recorder and Player
Average customer rating:

POS

Biggest piece of crap you can waste your money on.

Problem with 1x - 8x DVD+R Discs

Great When It Worked, but Rarely Worked

don't buy a philips dvd recorder

Philips DVDR985 Progressive-Scan DVD Recorder and Player

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

DVD+RW and DVD+R recorder

Save TV shows and camcorder footage on recordable DVDs

Plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, SVCD, and VCD discs

Built-in TV tuner; Dolby Digital decoding accommodates AV receivers with 5.1-channel analog inputs

Progressive-scan video output renders pristine, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs

ASIN: B00005YXZE

Product Description

Imagine being able to record from TV or digital camera directly on to a DVD. Imagine the possibilities; digital quality never degrades. Precious memories captured on digital video at the touch of a button. With the introduction of Philips Recordable DVD, the possibility is a reality with Dolby Digital Sound.The Philips DVDR985 records from TV in digital quality on ReWritable DVDs and copies your favorite camcorder tapes onto DVD for life. You get digital picture and sound quality for the ultimate viewing experience plus direct access to your recordings - no more winding or rewinding. Crystal Clear Pro progressive scan video provides razor-sharp pictures. Digital connection (i.LINK) enables high-quality copying from digital camcorders. Component video input (YPB/PR) ensures the best recording quality from analog sources. Edit your home movies easily with Favorite Scene Selection. Play DVD and audio-CD(R/RW); your recorded discs will play on most DVD-Video players! The Philips DVDR985 features a large display with disc-bar for instant disc content overview as well as a universal remote control.

Customer Reviews:

POS.......2005-10-15

Most expensive paper wt in the world.
Bought on line. Worked well first 2 months. Made about 30 DVD's and discarded about 30 ruined ones. Then the problems began.
*Wouldn't shut down
* Wouldn't start up
*Disc error
*Stop recording in middle of program
*Firmware upgrades didn't work

If Philips is the standard of Euro technology, they are in for an apocalpyse-terrible quality control.

Just ordered a brand new Toshiba-of Japanese origins.
Put me down as a dissatisfied Philips owner.

Biggest piece of crap you can waste your money on........2005-09-29

I paid about $650 for this thing (out of box) at CircuitCity, with an extended warranty about 2 or 3 years ago (good thing I got the extended warranty!). I was plagued with "Disc Error"s while recording. It got progressively worse. Eventually, it wouldn't play rented or brand new movie DVDs. I took it back for repairs. When it came back, it worked again, but only for about a month and started getting the errors again. I took it back. This time they swapped it for another out of box unit just like it. This one worked for a couple of months then started experiencing the same disc errors. I took it back. When I got it back, it worked for a while, then started doing it again. So, of course, I took it back yet again. I told them I didn't want it repaired. I wanted my money back. I found that many many people were having the same problems on the internet. (I even downloaded and installed the latest firmware).

CircuitCity honored the extended warranty and gave me in-store credit of $551.xx plus they'll be sending me a check for the remaining balance on my extended warranty! With that credit, I bought a Panasonic DVD recorder (2 years newer and IN the box!), which records on DVD+r/rw *AND* DVD-r/rw and also has the firewire input that I must have. AND I bought a dual-layer DVD+-r/w drive for my computer, AND I still have $268 left PLUS that unknown check amount... I think I'll get a TiVo with the rest!

I'll never buy another Phillips product again (And I live in Phillips' hometown of Knoxville TN!)

Problem with 1x - 8x DVD+R Discs.......2005-08-14

I've owned a Philips DVDR985 DVD recorder unit for several years now. The first unit I owned developed problems that my then-purchased extended warranty/service provider could not resolve. Eventually, I was given a new replacement unit DVDR985/172 that has been working well.

I just purchased two 25 pc. packages of Sony v1.2 DVD+R discs with a speed rating of 1x-8x. The DVDR985 recorder does not record to these discs but does record to the slower 1x-4x DVD+RW discs.

I contacted Philips technical support and they recommended that only 1x-4x discs (4x max. speed) be used in the recorder. When I queried them on firmware availability to fix the problem, I was not given any specific information other than to download and apply the firmware from http://www.p4c.philips.com (which I had already performed prior to contacting them). I found the specific firmware for my particular model here. The technician I spoke with recommended TDK discs and because I've already opened one of the two 25-peice packs, I'm pretty much stuck with about $40 of unusable and un-returnable merchandise.

Interestingly enough, I don't see any mention of the maximum disc speed limit in the recorder documentation. I am very disappointed with Philips' ability to provide better solutions/firmware support for these types of problems. When coupled with the problems from my initial unit, I doubt I will buy future electronics from Philips.

Great When It Worked, but Rarely Worked.......2005-07-09

I too bought this DVDR985 when it was $700. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I started having "Disk Error" problems within the first month. I kept all my receipts and documented in detail all my problems. The unit was repaired twice. After the last repair, Philips said my unit was defective. So I asked that they replace it with a unit that had all the features that I paid for. There is no other unit in production with the features of the 985. So I asked for a full refund. I consider myself lucky as I received all my money back.

Now for customer service... Other than having to wait a long time to talk to someone, I found all the live people I spoke to very helpful. I suppose I appealed to their common sense and often preceeded my complaint with "if you paid $700, how would you feel?"

I hope the executives at Philips would read some of the reviews on their products. They will learn a lot.

don't buy a philips dvd recorder.......2005-06-29

I, like untold numbers of others, have been saddled with a DVD recorder that doesn't work. I began having "disc error" problems within a few months of purchasing my DVDR985A. Customer service blew me off with telling me that it was due to bad (scratched/dirty) discs. The problem was intermittent until, of course, the warranty period expired, and then became permanent. Repair people then told me I may have a bad recording laser, but it would cost nearly $400 to replace, and no guarantee that it would cure the problem....I bought a SONY. I know learn that Philips is FULLY AWARE of the "disc error" problem, but a call to the customer service department today resulted in being told that "Philips knows nothing about this problem". Go to google, type in Philips dvdr985 disc error, and read the NUMEROUS reports of their knowledge...seems to be something about a glass laser that they replaced with a plastic laser. DON'T BUY>

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