Lite-On LVW-5005 DVD Recorder - Your source for NVIDIA news

AllWrite is a Blatant lie

Strengths: Haven't found any

Weakness: Doesn't do what it is advertised to do, i.e., write on just about any format of blank DVD

I own one of these units and the advertising that this unit will record on just about any DVD is a bold faced lie. When I first received this unit, I had to buy three different brands of blank DVDs before I could find one that worked. Then, when I ran out of the ones I bought, I went out and bought more of the exact same brand, capacity, speed and format. They would not work in the machine. I...
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By PappyTinker - Mar 25, 2007

I purchased this DVD recorder so I...

Strengths: Records and plays all formats, records from Tivo

Weakness: A little noisy, on the slow side when powering up, can't fast forward unless you have remote

I purchased this DVD recorder so I could put all of my home movies onto DVD. I chose the Lite-On All-Write model because I was fearful of what would play on the majority of my DVD players I had already owned. The first time I recorded I used an Imation DVD-R, and it worked perfectly on 3 different brands of DVD players as well as my laptop and desktop computers. This is the format I will use for...
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I purchased this DVD recorder so I could put all of my home movies onto DVD. I chose the Lite-On All-Write model because I was fearful of what would play on the majority of my DVD players I had already owned. The first time I recorded I used an Imation DVD-R, and it worked perfectly on 3 different brands of DVD players as well as my laptop and desktop computers. This is the format I will use for now. The system did come with a DVD+RW which I used to test various situations out.

If I didn't have Tivo I would probably use this more to record my favorite shows. Also, for you Tivo users, you are able to transfer a show to DVD. Just go through the menu saying you are going to transfer to a VHS tape but actually start your DVD recorder (of course you have to have it hooked up correctly).

I did go to the Lite-On website to find what brand of media they recommend. I had read reviews before I bought that stated people had all kinds of problems finding a brand that worked. I stuck with a couple of brands given from the list (there are many to choose from but not ones I could go out to a local store to buy). I have had success with Imation DVD-R ($1.50 each with a case) which I bought at a local office store as well as Ritek G04 DVD-R ($.50 each on a spindle) which I found online. Both brands have worked for me, so I have no plans of trying any other.

There is an easy guider button that guides you through the recording process. You do have to make sure you finalize your DVD-R before trying to view it on another DVD player, but it's no big deal. You have different recording modes to select from: 1 hour, 2 hrs., 4hrs., and 6 hrs. I have only used the 2 hour mode but have actually had it record up to 3 minutes over before it stopped.

The only real negative I have found about this unit is that you can't move forward or backward through a DVD unless you have the remote. There is an eject, play, play-slow motion, and stop on the front but no fast forward or rewind. That seems a little strange but not something that would stop me from buying this model.

I felt I got a great price 3 weeks ago, but you can get them even cheaper now. I did make sure I went to a website that offered me to return it for credit if I wasn't completely happy with it. There were several websites that only offered to replace it with an identical model which always makes me skeptical. You still get a 1 year warranty on parts and labor, but I'm not sure why some won't let you return it if you are not satisfied. Anyway, I was going to wait until Christmas time to actually buy one thinking I would get a great price then, but I love that I went ahead and purchased this model. Watching home movies on DVD is so much nicer than watching it on tape. I will be using my DVD recorder a lot!

By tweb24 - Aug 11, 2004

I have to admit, after reading...

Strengths: Records to both DVD -R/-RW & +R/+RW, great GUI interface makes use a breeze, good documentation, easy to use remote, 1 year warranty on both parts and labor, and recording quality is great.

Weakness: While it does not have some of the extra features of more expensive models (Guide+, etc.), I have not found any other real weakness in this entry level price range model.

I have to admit, after reading some of the reviews of other entry level DVD Recorders (and the problems people encountered), I was not sure I was ready for the step up to a DVD Recorder. Then I saw the Liteon LVW5005 at one of the major Warehouse Clubs for a great price. It also featured All-Write technology, which means it would write to both of the major DVD Recordable media standards (+/-)....
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I have to admit, after reading some of the reviews of other entry level DVD Recorders (and the problems people encountered), I was not sure I was ready for the step up to a DVD Recorder. Then I saw the Liteon LVW5005 at one of the major Warehouse Clubs for a great price. It also featured All-Write technology, which means it would write to both of the major DVD Recordable media standards (+/-). Since the Warehouse Club had a good return policy, I decided to give it a try. I couldn't be happier with my decision.

I found unit setup to be easy, and user guide documentation good. This Liteon model has great screen display interfaces, making internal setup also a breeze. Most impressive is their "Easy Guider" GUI interface. Just hit "Easy Guider" on the remote, and a graphical interface leads you through whatever you want to do - playback, record, format, finalize, etc. In fact, I was able to record, edit titles, finalize, etc. even before thoroughly reading the manual, just by using the "Easy Guider" interface. This is one feature Liteon has done a great job with.

I have already made several recordings, from both TV and VHS media, without any problems. After finalizing the DVD media (be sure to finalize if you want to be able to playback on regular DVD players), I had no compatibility problems with my two DVD players (one of which is a few years old). I have finalized several disks so far without any problems or glitches. Even the ones I recorded at EP mode have great playback quality.

This unit can also record audio on CD-R/RW media. It can also do VCD/SVCD recordings. I have not used these features yet, so can not comment. But is is great this unit has those potentials. It has line in jacks on the front, as well as a DV-Link, behind a hidden panel. On the back it features s-video and composite inputs, as well as component, composite, and s-video outputs. It also has both coaxial and optical outputs for digital audio.

Again most impressive to me is the ease of use of this recorder, and it's logical interfaces for both setup (including channel setup), and use ("Easy Guider"). Again, it does't have some of the "other" extras of the higher priced machines - but for a DVD Recorder at a good price, for a first time user (that also being me), I couldn't be happier.

By jonathan7 - Oct 31, 2004

I have shopped around really well...

Strengths: Recording capabilities in all formats. Easy to use controls and software. Recording and playback quality. Great value for the features.

Weakness: None in terms of quality. The only comment i have is that there are few controls on the unit itself in which you would really need the remote control and there is no DVI cable included.

I have shopped around really well before I ended up buying this model. I'll be honest, I am big fan of bigger electronic names out there like Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba in which almost all models in this level I already compared to this one, nothing comes close to the this Lite-on model particularly. For the price, the value just gets better and better with the amount of features availbale. One...
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By jopipramiscal - Dec 12, 2004

Some have said it has a slow...

Strengths: *** "ALL-WRITE" Technology: write to DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-R/RW *** Good menus *** The recorded DVD-R disks work in my Honda Odyssey's factory dvd player

Weakness: The weaknesses are negligible: no FWD/REW buttons on box, as noisy as any recorder will be, no s-video cable included.

Some have said it has a slow startup, but compared to my first DVD-Recorder (Go-Video 6530), the LVW-5005 has a quicker startup and response to commands, and it's less noisy. The noise occurs only when it is spinning up to start recording or finalizing, I guarantee it will not bother you at all. You don't hear a thing while it is recording the program. I have Dish Network with the PVR. When I...
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By jpot328 - Oct 26, 2004