Installation is quick and easy, with a single-sheet Quick Install Guide provided in the box so you don't even have to open the manual. The DVDR70 auto-installs any available channels and, if your TV features "Easy Link" technology, will even store them automatically in the same order as on your telly. Dual SCARTs make connecting the machine to satellite or cable similarly simple.

Once the DVDR70 is up and running, you use it much like a VCR. A one-touch recording system makes recording manually simplicity itself, with timed recordings using a friendly step-by-step process much like any standard VCR. VideoPlus is also included to make things even easier. The only stumbling block is the DVR70's unusual menu system, which may be a little confusing at first but should be second nature after a few minutes.

Depending on how much you want to fit on to a disc there are six available recording settings. The default setting gives two hours recording at the same quality as on a pre-recorded DVD but up to six hours are possible, with picture quality decreasing as recording-time increases. The Super Long Play option (providing picture quality approximating VHS) is acceptable for relatively static scenes but flounders slightly with fast-moving sequences. The default settings, however, provide fantastic images, virtually undistinguishable from the digital TV channels they were recorded from, especially when connected using RGB via SCART.

The DVDR70 also works as a fully-fledged DVD player and will happily play a number of additional formats including VCD, MP3 and standard audio CDs. DVD playback is impressive with good colour handling even on tricky scenes containing a wide range of blacks and greys.

All in all this is a fantastic machine and once you've had your hands on it you'll never want to look a VHS cassette in the face again. The DVD recording revolution, it would seem, is here at last. --Adi Himpson