Originally Posted by NOTS3W

I'm easing my way into HD. I had a 20" Quasar CRT TV with built-in VCR in our bedroom. I also had a cheap DVD player attached. I'm on SD Dish Network and don't plan to upgrade to HD for awhile. Last week, we replaced the TV with a shiny (matte, actually) new 32" 720p LCD TV with one HDMI input. Now, I need a VCR and want to upgrade the DVD player. I'll use the VCR to (rarely) watch some old VHS tapes and more often to record shows when we're not home so we can watch them later. I don't plan to transfer VHS to DVD but I'd like to not be restricted from doing so if I ever want to.

Because this is a bedroom setup, I really don't want to spend a fortune. I don't need a tuner but I do need a record timer and I would like an upconverting DVD player. My first thought is to buy a DVD/VCR combo but the ratings are all over the charts. Here's what I've found so far:

Samsung DVD-V9700 DVD player & VCR $100
Toshiba D-VR600 DVD recorder & VCR $170
Samsung DVD-VR357 DVD recorder & VCR $170
LG RC700N DVD recorder & VCR $190

They each have their share of negative comments on Amazon. Does anyone here have any personal thoughts or experience with any of these?

For $250 I can go to the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK but at that price, I think I can buy two separate components and be no worse off. From what I've read, most combo systems require two connections to the TV anyway.

Am I missing anything in the sub-$200 range or is mediocre as good as it gets? Am I barking up the wrong tree looking for a combo system? Is realibility better or worse for a combo system or separate components? Am I better off, for casual recording, using a DVD recorder and just looking for a cheap VHS player (do they still make them)?

Point me in the right direction, please.

Thanks for your help.