Audio Video News

DVD recorders should eventually surpass the popularity of VCRs. Manufacturers who understand this are making great strides in affordability and user friendliness of new models.

GoVideo is one such company. In mid-June, the Scottsdale, AZ-based manufacturer announced its new line of DVD recorders. The three new models (the R6540, R6640, and R6740) are said to offer powerful editing capabilities while also being easy to use - in particular, the R6640, which has big buttons on the front panel and an intuitive interface for easy navigation. The R6640 and R6740 share a sleek design and incorporate GoVideo's "YourDVD" feature, which permanently stores the set-up preferences that on most other DVD players need to be checked or unchecked every time you load a new DVD.

The R6740 features an integrated "EZ-Guide" said to "make the DVD recording experience easy and fun by walking users step-by-step through recording a variety of content to DVD." Movie and video fans with little time to waste will like the player's "AutoPlay" feature that automatically skips ads, trailers and menus, jumping right to the start of the movie.

The latest GoVideo DVD recorders are compatible with DVD+R and DVD+RW discs, and offer five levels of recording quality settings ranging from one to six hours. The machines can play many formats of optical disc, including DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, music CD, and MP3 audio and JPEG image files on CD-R/RW. The recorders also feature inboard 181-channel cable-ready tuners and timer recording, making TV recording easier than ever. A FireWire connection on each machine's front panel makes dubbing from camcorders a breeze. GoVideo has also provided for home theater purists in offering progressive scan video output, and both coaxial and optical digital audio output.

In a move that should be adopted throughout the electronics industry, GoVideo includes recordable discs with each machine, and offers a "White Glove Customer Care" service that includes free customer support in setting up and using the machine the first time. GoVideo€™s new DVD recorders are available now. The R6540 model is priced at $249.99; the R6640 and R6740 models retail for $299.99.