Editorial Review:

Item Description:
Toshiba RS-TX20 DVD Recorder And Digital Media Server - Optical TosLink Digital Audio Output DVD/DVD-R/RW/VCD/CD/CD-R/RW/MP3 Playback TiVo Basic Service included 120 GB hard drive for up to 120 hours of video record time Up to 3 days advance program guide to record your favorite programs Control Live TV - pause, rewind, instant replay Fully upgradeable to TiVo Plus Service and Tivo Home Media Option (Subscription fee required. For details visit www.tivo.com) Easy-to-use TiVo User Interface Front Panel TiVo Service & DVD Controls Instant Replay IR Blaster for Cable and DBS Box Control Front Panel A/V, S-Video & IEEE1394 Firewire DV Input for camcorder connection

Amazon.com Item Description:
Toshiba's RS-TX20 Digital Media Server is two high-tech components in one: a full-featured DVD recorder/player and a TiVo Series2 digital video recorder with free TiVo Basic service included with purchase. The unit's high-capacity, 120 GB hard-disk drive (HDD) stores up to 140 hours of audio/video storage (depending on the quality level you select), while DVD recording gives you the option for archiving your VHS and camcorder footage and for easy recording of your favorite TV programs. A convenient, front-panel DV input (IEEE 1394) is perfect for quick transfers of camcorder material onto the hard-disk drive and then to DVD.

The unit also comes with a 45-day free trial of the TiVo Plus service so you can try features unique to the TiVo Plus service, including the ability to search for programs by title, set up Season Pass recordings for your favorite shows, and create actor, director, and keyword WishLists searches.

With TiVo Basic Service included and without paying a subscription fee, you can record your favorite TV shows onto the HDD and watch them on your schedule. You can also record content from the hard disk drive to a DVD media (DVD-R or DVD-RW--does not record to DVD-RAM discs) quickly and easily. The easy-to-use TiVo interface can automatically create a DVD menu for easy navigation. DVDs can be named according to your program selections, or you may manually enter a title.

This is a great DVD player, too. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of 'someday,' the RS-TX20 will deliver the full potential of your commercial DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, gives you higher resolution and sharper images than standard 480i signals while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Toshiba's Digital Cinema Progressive feature (3:2 pulldown detection and reversal) digitally corrects frame distortion in film-based material to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

The recorder/player offers 1 set of ColorStream Pro component-video outputs (selectable for 480p/480i), 2 composite-video-based AV inputs, 1 S-video input, and 1 RF coaxial input (for an antenna signal or a feed from an older VCR or cable box). A set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions, while both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's Toslink optical digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

The DVD drive is fully compatible with your MP3 and WMA music CDs and will even play discs full of your favorite JPEG digital photos for ready-made slide shows right in your living room.

A supplied IR blaster cable for cable-box and satellite receiver control (C3 Control) connects to the back of the recorder and transmits an infrared (IR) signal to change channels on your cable or satellite box, as needed, for advance recording--freeing you from having to pretune the correct channel ahead of time.

The included, no-fee TiVo Basic service features a 3-day rolling program guide, TV 'Trick Play' features (such as the ability to pause and rewind live TV), instant replay/instant skip, and manual recording capability with repeat function. The unit is fully upgradeable to the TiVo Plus Service (subscription required: $12.95 per month or a 'product lifetime' fee of $299 that's good for as long as your RS-TX20 remains operational), which includes TiVo's Home Media Option for remote (online) scheduling, access to MP3/JPEG digital media files from your PC, and multi-room viewing with no additional TiVo receivers.

What's in the Box
DVD/HDD recorder/player, a remote control, remote batteries, an IR blaster cable, a user's manual, a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and warranty/registration information.



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Rating: - * Tivo service is great, but the DVD burner is un-reliable ... I have had this product for over 1 year. At the beginning, I tried to get by with Tivo basic service -- it simply wasn't working. After I subscribed to the Tivo-Plus, I got hooked with the service, it was my dream came true. I had some initial troubles with my DSL service because the program guide was downloaded through the phone line shared by DSL. But, some weeks later, the problem disappeared. Another issue is, sometime the download will cause my phone line to be "busy". The phone company test shows that I have a phone somewhere in my home which has not hung up (Tivo phone). Fortunately, the problem occurs rarely, and once I know it, it can be fixed easily (just unplug the phone line from Tivo and re-plug). The problem came about 2 months ago, the DVD bruner broke. We have used the DVD burner to store TV programs, because even it said it can store 140 hours of program, in reality, only the highest quality video is acceptable, and that makes the total program time to be less than 70 hours. Without the DVD burner, the Toshiba unit lose more than 50% of its value. I guesse Toshiba knows the issue now, because I don't see them actively selling this unit. Also, when you subscribe to Tivo Plus service, make sure you also subscribe to more cable channels. That makes your 13 dollar Tivo-plus monthly fee worth-while. One more thing-- Tivo records analog TV signal. For HD, it is already digital, so you need another type of DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for it. Right now, several digital cable & satellite TV companies provide those boxes as part of the service package. Unfortunately, they don't include DVD burner. It may be due to copy right concern. Rating: - * Tivo is Great, DVD recorder is unreliable ... I bought this unit in October 2005 - purchased for the TIVO with DVD burning capability. The Tivo was easy to setup, easy to use. DVD burning worked well for 4 months then,I began to get error messages "saving failed - internal error". Resetting/restarting did not solve the problem. Toshiba tech support was no help. The unit had to be sent in for repair - 2 weeks later I received a "reconditioned" unit. The reconditioned unit worked for 30 days, then began with the same error message. Tech supports only answer "unplug it and then plug it in - if that doesn't solve the problem, you will have to send it in for repair". Toshiba paid the shipping costs for the 2nd return. 3 weeks later I received the 3rd unit - reconditioned. On the first day, I got the same error message. Tivo works fine, I am able to record and view programs, but not able to burn DVD's. It seems a shame since I paid extra for this capability. I don't know what Toshiba will do at this point. After 3 failed units, I think it is fairly certain that reliability is poor for the DVD burning option. Rating: - * A good deal, especially if you don't want more than Basic TIVO ... I bought this unit a year ago on sale (at a ridiculously low price) and have found it to be just great. It offers everything you might want in a TIVO and DVD player/recorder unit (although it does not HD-record, if that is what you need). It is especially good for those who don't need all the bells and whistles of full TIVO service and who only need the basic TIVO service (which is just fine) WITHOUT A RECURRING MONTHLY CHARGE (that is the great benefit of this unit). I had TIVO Basic for about 9 months and was satisfied with it (and especially with no recurring charges). Having said that, I did upgrade to full TIVO service, but only because TIVO was changing its business model and was eliminating lifetime subscription service--if I had to decide what to do now without that possibility, I would get this unit and live quite contentedly with TIVO basic. I mean, Season Passes and wishlists are great, as well as a 2-week look at listings, but not at $150+ a year for me (no cable here, which makes a difference as well, as there is less to search). The Basic service makes the unit into the equivalent of a charged videotape recorder. By the way, despite what is written below, other boxes do NOT all come with Basic TIVO service--you must get a TIVO subscription with most. Again, that is the great benefit of this box, especially for those of us with more limited TV service or needs, or who do not want yet more monthly charges or the equivalent. Rating: - * Know what you are buying ... Think of this equipment as a space saving unit that will replace your Tivo recorder and DVD recorder/player. But that's it. Giving bad ratings because it's not capable of recording HD, having bad basic Tivo programming capabilities, or not outputting recorded materials to digital audio is like criticizing it for not cooking your dinner. Free basic Tivo service comes with the ALL Tivo recorders (this isn't exclusive to Toshiba machines). Tivo has always offered 3 days advance programming without Season pass and other extra features found in paid service. Think of it as a test drive feature that'll suck you into paying for subscription, which, by the way, is worth it. Tivo Series 2 was never meant to record HD. If you have a standard TV, the recording quality at High setting is perfecly fine (both Tivo and recorded DVD). Yes, you can see digital compression artifacts (especially on large screen HDTVs). If you are looking for recording HD look else where--or Get the Toshiba HD DVD, wait for Tivo Series 3, or get satellite service and pay a lot for HD DVR. If you are happy with your standard cable, this machine will make you happier. Rating: - * nothing but problems ... I purchased this as a gift and the first time we used the DVD player, the menu was all pixillated. You couldn't see anything or play the DVD. I tried several different DVDs and none worked. I returned it and received another Toshiba RS-TX20 DVD recorder and it had nothing but the unit. No cords, no instructions, nothing. I returned it and will never use Amazon again.