Have you recorded TV to DVD?

Looking at buying a DVD recorder, ridiculously quick too.

If you have a recorder you'd recommend please advise as well why. Researched but Im so technically challenged this stuff goes over my head. Ideally would like one I can 'edit' (which I read requires a hard drive. Ive read) but not required . Also understand might be able to use regular recorder and then a computer program to edit  either the DVD or parts DVDs onto another DVD.

Ive no desire for the VHS / DVD option.

Ive got ancient TVs and cable service through a cable box. 

** Also I have a DVR from my cable company and have recorded items which I'd like to convert to DVD but again not required.  Any experience or suggestions regarding recorders and recording is appreciated since Im starting from square one.

PS Ive got someone to hook it up so thats not a concern.

Hi Sun,

My husband and I bought a DVD recorder fairly recently and we really like it.  It's a Philips DVDR 3505.  It doesn't have a hard drive, but we haven't found a need for one yet.  It works very much like a VCR, only the quality is 100X better.  Ours has an HDMI input/output, so it works with HD TVs and if I remember correctly it is possible to hook it up to a DVR and record previously recorded shows from it.  The only real complaint people had about our model when we purchased it was that the load times were slow, which they can tend to be, but I give it a break since it is loading a lot of information...It's a recorder, not just a player, so it's loading extra options and that takes time.

What I love about this device in general is that now I can record my favorite TV shows and watch them while I run on the treadmill, using my laptop! 

i've had my DVD recorder for a little over three years and use it almost daily.  it's a toshiba (which is a cut-rate panasonic).  the only gliches are that it only works with Panasonic discs (or, at least, it didn't work with other discs i tried, so i tried panasonic discs, and it worked), and the discs don't always play on other machines.