This review covers three DVRs for comparison purposes:
Panasonic DMR-EH55S (200 GB hard drive) (Most expensive)
Phillips DVDR3455/37 (160 GB hard drive)
Polaroid DRM-2001G (80 GB) (least expensive)

Here are some of my observations on these three DVRs. I would call the Phillips and Polaroid "half-baked" and I returned them and would not recommend them. The Panasonic is nice and I recommend it, but it's not perfect.

In my review, strengths are marked with a +, weaknesses with a -.

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***<Late breaking addition (April 5, 2010)>:
#1: I have gotten some feedback that some of my points made in regard of the buggy operating system on the Polaroid and Phillips units have since been corrected. So it's possible that later versions of this operating system are improved. That's great, but they should be ashamed and driven out of business for releasing a... Read more

This was my first (and only) experience with a DVR, which I got as an impulse purchase when I ran across a low price. I'm quite pleased. Sure the features and controls took a little getting used to (and the remote's labeling could be a lot more intuitive), but after you use it a few times it's old hat. Playback of HQ recordings are indistinguishable from the originals to my eyes. Skipping across commercials is a snap. I've never tried recording direct to DVD or copying to DVD, so I can't comment on those features. But basic recording and playback are perfectly satisfactory and all recordings have been glitch-free during my 4 months of ownership. And, of course, there's all that room on the hard drive. There may be better low-cost DVDs out there, but if you find this for a good price, don't be scared off by the negative reviews (which, if memory serves, mainly complain about the remote and the manual - not the performance of this unit).

I've had my Polaroid DRM-2001G since November 2006, and am generally very happy with it. I did have to exchange it twice due to defective burners, but now I have a "good" one. It was $219 at Walmart. Make sure you fully test it during the 90-day warrenty period. Before choosing this unit, I did a TON of research by reading endless threads on several online specialty discussion boards, with postings by "Power Users" who have tested and anlyzed this unit endlessly -- most agree it's a great buy. I got mine to mostly to transfer my huge library of video camera tapes to DVD -- so far I've burned about 100 DVDs worth of home videos, the sources being VHS, 8mm, and Hi8 Digital tapes. I'm using DVD+R discs, and am burning at the SP speed (2 hrs per disc). I'm using the YesDVD feature to create the intelligent menus with thumbnails, and to print covers. I actually like that feature! I also use it to record TV shows, completely replacing my VCR, and I've also started to burn some discs from... Read more