Lite-On LVW-5045 160GB HDD+DVD Recorder Review

To many advertisers' dismay, VCRs changed the way people watched TV over 30 years ago. Recording a show and watching it later allowed viewers to fast forward through commercials and watch only what they wanted to watch. Today, it's only gotten better (or worse, depending on what side of the commercials you are on) with products like TiVo and home theater PCs.

If you aren't quite ready to have a PC in your living room, then a TiVo or other hard drive recorder would make a great DVR (digital video recorder) for you. With its 160GB LVW-5045, Lite-On enters the hard drive recorder market with an affordable offering that has a lot of potential. The LVW-5045 not only features recording to hard drive but also to DVD and CD media, building on the capabilities of the LVW-5005 I previously reviewed.

Features

• HDD Video Recording

  The massive 160 GB hard disk drive integrated into the LVW-5045 provides up to 198 hours of recording time, depending on the recording mode/quality that you select. This is the equivalent of approximately 8 days of continuous 24/7 recording allowing you to watch “what you want; when you want”.

• HDD to Disc Backup / One-Touch Dubbing

  With the LVW-5045, you can record your most memorable moments from DV compatible camcorders to the hard disk drive. One Touch Dubbing allows you to easily copy your digital portfolios from the hard disk drive to the DVD, and vice-versa. This is a great way to archive and share those treasured events with family and friends.

• Disc to HDD Copy
• Pause Live TV / Time Shift

  The final episode of your favorite program is on the air. Your favorite character is getting ready to provide the most important clue to the series finale. The phone always rings at the most inopportune time. Don’t worry, the LVW-5045 lets you pause any live TV show so you’ll never miss another moment. Simply press the “Time Shift” button; then “Play” to return to the live broadcast at any time.

• Record & Playback
• AllWrite Technology

  This new technology allows users to record to DVD -/+R, DVD +/-RW and CD-R/RW. There is no longer confusion to what type of media your recorder can write to. Now all formats work.

• DV Link (IEEE 1394) Input Connection

  DV Link (IEEE 1394) Preserves the content in its original digital quality Vibrant video colors and pulsating audio sounds are carried through the DV Link connection.

• MP3 & WMA Playback
• Easy Guider 2 On-Screen Menu

  Press the “Guider” button on the remote control and move the cursor to the desired operation - Playback discs, Record content, finalize the DVD+R or DVD-R disc for playback in other DVD player, Erase the contents of the current disc. Nothing else comes close.

• Manual or VCR Plus+ Timer Recording

Specifications