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Toshiba RS-TX20 DVD Recorder with 120 GB TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder
 
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $699.99
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Product Description
Toshiba's RS-TX20 Digital Media Server is two high-tech components in one: a full-featured DVD recorder/player and a TiVo Series2 digital video recorder with free TiVo Basic service included with purchase. The unit's high-capacity, 120 GB hard-disk drive (HDD) stores up to 140 hours of audio/video storage (depending on the quality level you select), while DVD recording gives you the option for archiving your VHS and camcorder footage and for easy recording of your favorite TV programs. A convenient, front-panel DV input (IEEE 1394) is perfect for quick transfers of camcorder material onto the hard-disk drive and then to DVD.

The unit also comes with a 45-day free trial of the TiVo Plus service so you can try features unique to the TiVo Plus service, including the ability to search for programs by title, set up Season Pass recordings for your favorite shows, and create actor, director, and keyword WishLists searches.

With TiVo Basic Service included and without paying a subscription fee, you can record your favorite TV shows onto the HDD and watch them on your schedule. You can also record content from the hard disk drive to a DVD media (DVD-R or DVD-RW--does not record to DVD-RAM discs) quickly and easily. The easy-to-use TiVo interface can automatically create a DVD menu for easy navigation. DVDs can be named according to your program selections, or you may manually enter a title.

This is a great DVD player, too. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the RS-TX20 will deliver the full potential of your commercial DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, gives you higher resolution and sharper images than standard 480i signals while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Toshiba's Digital Cinema Progressive feature (3:2 pulldown detection and reversal) digitally corrects frame distortion in film-based material to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

The recorder/player offers 1 set of ColorStream Pro component-video outputs (selectable for 480p/480i), 2 composite-video-based AV inputs, 1 S-video input, and 1 RF coaxial input (for an antenna signal or a feed from an older VCR or cable box). A set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions, while both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's Toslink optical digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

The DVD drive is fully compatible with your MP3 and WMA music CDs and will even play discs full of your favorite JPEG digital photos for ready-made slide shows right in your living room.

A supplied IR blaster cable for cable-box and satellite receiver control (C3 Control) connects to the back of the recorder and transmits an infrared (IR) signal to change channels on your cable or satellite box, as needed, for advance recording--freeing you from having to pretune the correct channel ahead of time.

The included, no-fee TiVo Basic service features a 3-day rolling program guide, TV "Trick Play" features (such as the ability to pause and rewind live TV), instant replay/instant skip, and manual recording capability with repeat function. The unit is fully upgradeable to the TiVo Plus Service (subscription required: $12.95 per month or a "product lifetime" fee of $299 that's good for as long as your RS-TX20 remains operational), which includes TiVo's Home Media Option for remote (online) scheduling, access to MP3/JPEG digital media files from your PC, and multi-room viewing with no additional TiVo receivers.

What's in the Box
DVD/HDD recorder/player, a remote control, remote batteries, an IR blaster cable, a user's manual, a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and warranty/registration information.

Product Details
  • DVD recorder/player with built-in 120 GB hard drive and free TiVo Basic service (pause, rewind, instant replay, 3-day advance recording)
  • Up to 140 hours of audio/video storage on hard-disk drive (HDD); records to DVD-R or DVD-RW
  • DVD offers ColorStream Pro progressive-scan output for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs
  • Front-panel IEEE 1394/DV input provides a quick and easy connection with a compatible digital camcorder
  • Measures 16.5 x 3.3 x 13 inches (W x H x D)

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews
MUCH better than a VCR
 
Review Date: November 9, 2004
Reviewer: Mom of 3 Boys, California, United States
After having 4 different companies, including Amazon.com, cancel my order for this machine I finally have it and love it!

The setup is as easy as can be. It walks you through every step. I'm impressed that it comes with all the cables and connectors you need for the various scenarios a user might have (i.e. by-pass cable, telephone split line gadget, etc).

I do have a normal TV so I don't have the problems that the other reviewer has. No more not recording an episode because I didn't turn the VCR off. In fact, I can still use my VCR for watching a movie or recording something while TiVo runs in the background recording something else.

I haven't tried it out yet, but am looking forward to using it to convert my VHS camcorder home movies to DVD.
Toshiba's part good, Tivo's part (TV programming service) crappy!
 
Review Date: February 2, 2006
Reviewer: DISenchanted, NM USA -Land of DISenchantment
The unit has worked well for like 5 months now.
Only minor problem was one time it had a DVD drive error, which cleared itself by my cycling the AC power off and then back on.

Toshiba came with the FREE BASIC service, plus 45 days of the PLUS service, as a free trial.
The 45 days of PLUS service is broken up for some reason?
(Into a 6 or 7-day period, then an automatic extension of like
37 days, to equal "roughly" a 45-day trial period: total).

Only reason to keep the PLUS service beyond the 45 day trial period "MIGHT" be for the service called "SEASON PASS". Which records every episode of any TV show you request; skipping any reruns. The ONLY reason I see for getting it.

You also get like 2-3 week's advance TV guide with PLUS, vs. a day or two in advance with Basic service.

The Basic service is SO pathetically basic; I cannot fathom why other 3rd party Tivo manufacturer's units even bother to come without it.
Toshiba's selling point was "Free Basic service included".

I thought, "Hey. Basic will be fine."
What I found out was, you can manually setup a weekly recording schedule based on a fixed time to start and end, but what about those times when programs are delayed?
(Due to a special event, like sports events, Olympics, Presidential speeches, natural disasters news reports, etc).

The answer seems to be; all bets are off.

Your recordings will be cutoff by the amount of the start and/or stop delay time.

Downloading TV guide and tivo Updates -
2 choices. Phone or network.
- via the telephone they can be painfully SLOW. It's like a 56K modem built-in, I think I read somewhere.
- Via the network - I use a Belkin USB-to-10/100 ethernet adapter and plug it directly into a cable modem router.
TV Guide updates and email from Tivo are much faster via the USB/ETHERNET port setup.
Network setup was pretty much plug-N-play, automatic setup.


Conclusion:

Pros: Toshiba is great. Tivo bites!
I like the Toshiba unit and it's features.
Glad I got this unit with the 120GB hard drive and DVD burner and network connection ability.

Cons: My only complaints are with the service provider; TIVO.

I still can't believe that Tivo passes off a barely usable level of service as BASIC.

Had I known that Tivo's basic service was as pitifully crappy as it is, I would have simply bought a PC add-on, like a 2-tuner PCI card (like a hodge-podge pvr or an ATI pvr card)

Or a usb-external unit (like Xtreme TV by DiamondMM) and simply used my PC for recording.
With snapstream as the TV guide service.

Tivo's Basic service should be called:
- Tivo-SUBstandard or
- Tivo "craptastic" service.

The PLUS service should be re-labeled as Basic service.

A true PLUS service implies EXTRA features, beyond those features that are NECESSARY for basic functioning.

My vision of a PLUS service would have real bells and whistles, such as having features like A wireless TV guide lookup via your cell phone or PDA. Programming over the Internet or via cell phone, etc.
Know what you are buying
 
Review Date: May 24, 2006
Reviewer: SL, RI
Think of this equipment as a space saving unit that will replace your Tivo recorder and DVD recorder/player. But that's it. Giving bad ratings because it's not capable of recording HD, having bad basic Tivo programming capabilities, or not outputting recorded materials to digital audio is like criticizing it for not cooking your dinner. Free basic Tivo service comes with the ALL Tivo recorders (this isn't exclusive to Toshiba machines). Tivo has always offered 3 days advance programming without Season pass and other extra features found in paid service. Think of it as a test drive feature that'll suck you into paying for subscription, which, by the way, is worth it. Tivo Series 2 was never meant to record HD. If you have a standard TV, the recording quality at High setting is perfecly fine (both Tivo and recorded DVD). Yes, you can see digital compression artifacts (especially on large screen HDTVs). If you are looking for recording HD look else where--or Get the Toshiba HD DVD, wait for Tivo Series 3, or get satellite service and pay a lot for HD DVR. If you are happy with your standard cable, this machine will make you happier.
everything promised
 
Review Date: August 14, 2005
Reviewer: jth, Arizona
This machine does everything promised. Set up was a pain mostly because my TV remote control doesn't have an "input" (TV/VCR) button -- I ended up programming the TIVO remote first so that did the job for me. Otherwise, this is a great product, been reliable so far, and even with the TIVO Basic service (which is free) it's so much better than a VCR. If you want to shell out for the full TIVO service, it's even better.
TIVO is great, but you don't need to overpay
 
Review Date: May 6, 2009
Reviewer: Jack, atlanta, ga United States
TIVO is a fantastic product that will surely change the way you watch TV. Some things to know, with basic service you must have a phone line in order to receive the TV schedule, the only downside to this product. However, the price being asked is way out of line. You can find the exact same item on auction for less than half the price being asked here. Go find one and you will never regret it.

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