OTHER TECH

DVDirect portable DVD-recorder/drive No standalone DVD recorder connects to a computer - except Sony's $260 VRD-VC20 DVDirect. Though it lacks a TV tuner, it's a compact, portable recorder that makes DVDs directly from non-copy-protected analog or digital sources (the latter through an i.Link connection). Patch it into a computer via its USB 2 port, and it's also a high-speed drive/burner for CD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and dual-layer DVD+R discs. Make DVDs in the standalone, direct-to-disc mode, and you automatically get reasonably attractive menus, but using the computer-connected mode with the bundled Nero software gives you much greater editing and menu-creation flexibility. Hint: before committing footage to the standalone mode, practice using the recorder with an erasable DVD. The Sony is very easy to use, but the limited display capability and lack of a video output can mean you sometimes end up with DVD coasters. An impressively simple way to make your own DVDs. - David Ranada sonystyle.com

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