Let's talk recording DVD players!
 

Just saw that Phillips recordable DVD player commercial (where they were burning DVD copies of all their vCR tapes) and it has gotten me thinking - I have a bunch of VCR tapes I recorded of Simpsons and stuff that I would love to transfer to DVD. Here's the deal:

I have a DVD burner and player built into my Dell (not a laptop) but have yet to figure out how to use it (in my defense I just had a son so it has thrown off my free time deverely!). Do DVD burners in computers usually have the ability to burn from VCR's or camcorder - not much info on it in my manual or instruction portion. Am I crazy to want a stand alone burner when I have one in my computer? The stand alones seem much easier.

The ones I'm looking at for $500 - panasonic - I assume they play DVD's as well as normal players? Also do they record whatever is on the TV - so I would just pop in the VCR tape and burn? It also would be nice to burn directly from my TIVO.

Should I wait until tech has uniformed- I know it is early for this format - it probably will be clearer and cheaper in 6-12 months.

Any help with these questions would be appreciated!

I have owned a Philips 985 recorder since last Spring. A wonderful machine. Great transfers...highly reccomended it.

At what quality were the VHS tapes recorded? Many of my old tapes were recorded in SLP to save space and they would make a horrible source for a DVD. Even at best a VHS tape is going to make a poor DVD.

Most of the tapes are not good quality - EP from 1990-. I am not looking for top notch quality but rather a way to streamline my collection from all those clunky looking tapes. I save my sound/visual quality for movies - LOTR! If I get one of these DVD burners, can I simply play the tapes on the Tv and burn them? Anyone have TIVO attached?

My bro just checked in and is going to try and hook up the VCR and video camera to my burner in the computer. I'll let you guys know if it works!