Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 Plus Digital Video Recorder

Does the MPEG-4 Recorder 2 Plus need a major makeover to become easier to use? Yes. Are there errors in the instruction manual that will confuse the new user? Yes. Is the tiny remote easy to lose, transforming the Recorder 2 Plus into an expensive paperweight? Yes. Is the remote one of those horrendous membrane type remotes without real buttons or tactile feedback to the user? Yes. But....The Recorder 2 Plus reminds me of the first VCR's; a new technology with a clumsy interface. But just like the first VCR's, it is so much fun to use! It gives us the ability to record the content we want and to watch it when and WHERE we want. Before the Recorder 2 Plus, I burned from my DVR onto a DVD and then ripped the content into MP4 files on my PC and then transferred them to PSP and IPod. Obviously, an extended process. The Recorder 2 Plus does all this directly in one step and I never have the audio/video synchronization problem that I sometimes have with ripped files.But the learning curve is steep and that may scare off new users, especially since the manual has numerous errors. A prime example is in the Recording Video section of the manual (page 24), selecting Resolution. This is to give you access to a Record Menu; settings like length of recording, quality of the recording, timer recording, manual recording. The little things that a user might want to access! The manual states to "Highlight the record section and press <enter> to access the Record Menu." Well, the new user can press <enter> all they want, that Record Menu isn't going to show up. There is another button on the remote that looks like stacked file folders, THAT button accesses the Record Menu after you press <enter>.So should a person buy the Recorder 2 Plus? Maybe, as long as they don't expect DVR ease and functionality. The interface reminds me of software from the nineties and it needs a complete update. But for the person who really wants portable video content and is willing to work a little (the Neuros user forums are very helpful), the Neuros Recorder 2 Plus can be a great machine.And a bit of advice for those of you who decide to buy the 2 Plus. Amazon sells both the older 2 and the 2 PLUS. The boxes and the paperwork inside are the same. I returned two because I thought Amazon shipping was messing up. When you get your 2 Plus look at the P/N on the side. The P/N for the 2 PLUS is 4030500.

The recorder works just fine, but I found the manual not as clear about some of the operations as I would have liked. It took me over an hour to figure out how to complete some of the operations, and I've been working with electronic products for over 30 years. That's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I use this recorder with my home survellience system, as I have 2 cameras monitoring my home when I am gone. I have to use it in the 640 resolution because my monitor is a TV set, and in this highest resolution it will only record for 5 hours. But that's better than the 2 hours I was getting when recording to my DVD recorder.

The Neuros MPEG-4 records video very well. I record alot of my favorite Family Guy clips off of my TIVO and then put them on my IMAC or my PSP. They look and sound great. My only gripes are that the interface is a little confusing and the remote control for the device is a little clumsy. These are really the only two things holding it back from getting 5 stars. It does get the job done and is well worth the money!

i did some research before i bought this ,and i just love the neuros . i recorded some of my bands videos from a dvd on to a compact flash card ,then i put the flash card into my card reader and into the usb on my computer,then i saved the files and uploaded them onto you tube,they came out great. my computer doesn't have a dvd player or a memory card slot.it an old dell. then i just got a sony psp . so i wanted to put some videos on that. my sony memory stick duo pro didnt come with a adapter , you will need that for the neuros , the adapter usually comes with the memory stick when you buy it. so i ran my dvd player into the neuros ,with the memory stick in the neuros and recorded on to it. i put it in the psp and it worked perfectly. great videos. make sure that you format the memory stick in the psp before you record on it.there are instructions in the sony psp manual on formatting the memory stick.

I only gave this product a star because I couldn't go any lower. This machine is completely unreliable. When it works it works wonderful, but it has not worked more than it has worked for me. The main problem was the formating requirements to make the memory card compatible with the recorder. If your really computer savvy it may be worth buying. But it your not, like me, I would strongly recommend against it.

a little hard to deal with menus and does not recover from a power loss without intervention but does what it is advertised to do.