Editorial Review:Item Description:HDMI / Easy Record / Component Video / Composite
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
-
* Don't Buy! ...
We have had this DVD-VR357 for over a year now, and would not recommend it to anyone. We love being able to record onto DVDs, and wanted to transfer some old VHSs over to DVD. For this, it worked fine. The problems we've had are numerous, and here are a few:
It's VERY slow. Put your DVD in and wait. and wait. OK, no big deal. But when you record something, when you're finished, it takes several minutes to 'stop' - and I'm not talking finalizing-that's another 5-6 minutes. Guess I was spoiled with our Toshiba, it was at least 3x's faster.
The disc also has to be sparkling clean to play, or "no disc" displayed.
The worst problem was with an entire batch of Sony DVD-RW discs, they would make the machine do all sorts of strange stuff, and then the dvd would'nt play anymore. Anything recorded was lost. We are using Memorex now and it doesn't happen so much, but we don't use RW at all anymore.
We taped a favorite program just this week (NCIS) and when we sat down to view, it was botched. That is what brought me here, to warn anyone thinking of buying this model. One of the reasons we chose this model is the high ratings it had at the time. I notice that others are having problems now, too.
I probably wouldn't even use Samsung again to be safe. We had a Toshiba last time, good chance that'll be our next purchase, which looks like it will be soon!
On a positive note, the VHS works fine, tho we didn't use it much. The FF features worked good, too.
Rating: 
-
* Well it worked, for a while - annoying remote control ...
Very annoying remote. The tiny buttons are in very inconvenient spots and you have to press them VERY hard to make them work. I spotted one at a neighbor's and she had the same complaint.
The DVD worked fine for about 11 months, then a DVD got stuck in the drive during a write operation. I could not get it to eject. Took it to Best Buy Geek Squad and they removed it for me free, but wanted $75 to make the door open and close again. And who knows if it still worked! The VCR lives on.
I spent another month trying to find anything to prove its still in warranty, so now in the 12th month, I am stuck. I ordered a new Toshiba today and will guard the paperwork this time......
Rating: 
-
* Samsung combo vcr/dvd (refurbished) ...
The product worked as it should, however there were parts missing and broken, not a good image for Samsung.
Rating: -
* I had to return the product ...
It may be a good product, I'll never know. When we opened the box, there was no user manual. Now, I know I can download and print it out, but it was 88 pages of printing. When I phoned Samsung to ask them to send us a manual, the lady said it's Samsung's policy not to send out manuals. So, we were left with either buying a manual or returning the recorder, so we returned the recorder to the store. Don't think we will be buying a Samsung product again.
Rating: 
-
* S-L-O-W and Unreliable ...
I've never cursed more than when I drive in New York City traffic, but using this machine is very much a close runner up in my list of things-that-most-annoy-me. Holy sweet mother of Jesus! This machine takes 3 whole minutes just stop a recording, and write the table information to disc. If you are in the middle of recording a live show and had to switch discs, good luck - you're not going to make it. Commercial time is usually 3 to 3.5 minutes. After agonizing over how slow it's taking to stop the first disc, you'll have to wait for the machine to "initialize" the new disc (not long in this case, just a few seconds), wait for it to then "load" the newly initialized disc before continuing with your record process. The whole process can take 5 minutes! Regardless of what you are recording, if you're like me, you wouldn't want to wait 5 minutes for this thing to do something other machines do in mere seconds. These minutes add up over time. This is just one of the machines that I currently have, and I've had plenty over the years. But this one is by far the slowest.
There is one plus this machine has going for it, it extends the high quality (XP) record time to 1 hour and 12 minutes. Other DVD recorders will do 1 hour plus 2 to 3 minutes. And yes, I have experience difficulties playing discs recorded on this machine, when using a DVD player of a different brand. But all my computers can read these discs just fine.
BTW, some brand of discs simply does not go down well with this thing, it doesn't like the TDK brand for instance. It does seem to like Sony discs. Also, the DVD-R format seems to be preferred over DVD+R's. Although Sony brand DVD+R's works fine, go figure.
If you are looking for a DVD Recorder, I recommend buying another brand. But if you are looking to get a machine just to transfer your video tapes to DVD, then go for it. May Allah and the Force Be With You, not to mention the Leprechauns.
Just so you know, I have yet to find the perfect machine. They all crap out in a year or so. I recommend using a lens cleaner (a disc with a tiny brush attached to it) from time to time, it helped extend the life of one of my machines, when I thought that it was about to be a candidate for the scrap heap.
Luckily I purchased an extended warranty when I bought this machine; so I'll be swapping it for a Sony when this Samsung finally kicks the bucket. I expect it to be soon.
