Recordable DVDs mean the end of videotaping TV shows on VHS tapes. If you're replacing your dying VCR, check our list of top-performing models at CustomerBestBuy.

There's now just one standard for high-definition DVDs, but that doesn't mean standard-def DVD players are dead. Our expert buying advice helps you decide if you need to jump to a high-def DVD player.

DVD players are one of the electronics industry's biggest success stories and also one of its most affordable. A transition from standard-definition to high-definition DVD discs is currently under way but there are reasons, ranging from price to format maturity, that you might want to delay buying a high-def DVD player. Many standard DVD players can play a variety of disc types, including recordable DVDs and CDs burned with music files and digital photos. CustomerBestBuy has both types of DVD players.

Home-entertainment options are expanding. Regular DVD players are still going strong, while Blu-ray players let you enjoy high-definition video. Digital recorders can capture HDTV content and standard-definition video. And portable DVD players let you take the show on the road.

Getting a DVD player with all the right features will increase your long-term satisfaction and enjoyment.

Connections

All high-def players have HDMI and component-video connections, which are required to view high-definition pictures on an HDTV. Most standard DVD players also have these connections now, plus S-video and composite-video outputs. All high-def players we've seen have composite-video outputs, and all but one had an S-video connection. When used with high-def discs, all players will support at least 5.1-channel sound through the digital audio outputs.

Disc capacity

Most standard players and all Blu-ray players accommodate a single disc at a time. Other standard players have carousels that can hold several (generally three or five) discs. DVD jukeboxes are able to hold 100 discs or more.

Disc formats

In addition to commercial DVD titles, DVD players often support playback or display of many other formats. They include CD-R/RW recordings of standard audio CDs; the recordable DVD formats DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and DVD-RAM; Video CD (VCD); and DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD). They can also play CD-R/RW discs containing MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) files and JPEG picture files. All Blu-ray players can play commercial Blu-ray discs and standard DVDs. There are still a few hybrid players, from Samsung and LG, that can play Blu-ray and HD DVD titles, though we expect they won't be continued. Most, but not all, Blu-ray players will play commercially released CDs, plus CDs burned with MP3 files. A given model may or may not play JPEG, WMA, or video CDs, or DVD-/+/R/RW or DVD-RAM discs you've recorded.

Picture control

DVD players give you all sorts of control over the picture. The Aspect-ratio control DVD player feature lets you choose between the squarish 4:3 viewing format of conventional TVs (4 inches wide for every 3 inches high) and the 16:9 ratio of newer wide-screen sets. Picture zoom lets you zoom in on a specific frame. Black-level adjustment brings out the detail in dark parts of the screen image. If you've ever wanted to see certain action scenes from different angles, multiangle capability gives you that opportunity when used with discs that include this feature.

Navigation

A DVD player enables you to navigate the disc in a number of ways. Unlike a VHS tape, most DVDs are sectioned. Chapter preview lets you scan the opening seconds of each section or chapter until you find what you want. A related DVD player feature, chapter gallery, shows thumbnails of section or chapter opening scenes. Go-to by time lets you enter how many hours and minutes into the disc you'd like to skip to. Marker functions allow easy indexing of specific sections. Blu-ray interactivity allows you to navigate the disc's menus and other content without leaving the movie.

Surround Sound

Another benefit of both Blu-ray and standard DVD players is the ability to enjoy movies with multichannel surround sound. To reap the full sound experience of the audio encoded into standard DVD titles, you'll need a Dolby Digital receiver and six speakers, including a subwoofer. (For 6.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, you'll need seven or eight speakers.) Dolby Digital decoding built-in refers to a DVD player that decodes the multichannel audio before it gets to the receiver. Without the built-in circuitry, you'd need a decoder built into the receiver or, in rare instances, a separate decoder box to take advantage of the audio. (A Dolby Digital receiver will also decode an older format, Dolby Pro Logic.) Most players also support Digital Theater System (DTS) decoding for titles using 5.1-, 6.1-, or 7.1-channel encoding format.

When you're watching a movie on DVD, dynamic audio-range controls help keep explosions and other noisy sound effects from seeming too loud. Some Blu-ray players support a few additional multichannel formats, including Dolby Digital Plus and DTS High Resolution Audio, higher-resolution 7.1-channel audio, and new lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master formats that are bit-for-bit reproductions of the movie's master soundtrack.

Most DVD players also provide features such as multilingual support, which lets you choose dialog or subtitles in different languages for a movie. Parental control is a DVD player feature lets you lock out films by their rating code.

There are big differences among the top-three video-game consoles: Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3. But those differences actually make it easier to choose which is best for you. Grab the Wii if you're looking to get off the couch and play games with the family; the Xbox 360 if you're a hard-core gamer; and the PlayStation 3 if multimedia and movie-watching are as high a priority as popping in a game. Your preference in games could also come into play, since some consoles are better known for particular games than others.

How much you’re willing to spend might also sway you. The Wii, from Nintendo, costs the least at $250. Microsoft's Xbox consoles range from $300 to $400 (we don't recommend the stripped-down Xbox Arcade). And the Sony PlayStation 3 costs the most, from $400 to $500. A couple of the consoles let you watch high-definition movies: The PlayStation has a built-in Blu-ray player; you can also download standard- and high-def movies via Sony's PlayStation Network video service. Though it doesn't play Blu-ray movies, a recent Xbox Live enables Xbox to stream high-def movies from the Netflix video service, making it the first Netflix-enabled device capable of accessing high-def content.

Start shopping as soon as you've nailed down your choice. The Wii in particular has been hard to find even during non-holiday times. Be flexible with your budget— many retailers are selling systems only in bundles, with extra controllers, games, and other accessories. Speaking of budgets, keep this money-saving tidbit in mind: Leaving your PlayStation 3 running all the time can add about $135 a year to your electric bill, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Xbox 360 can add $103. Because of its simpler graphics, the Wii's energy usage is lower—it’ll add only $10 a year. The NRDC's study also found that if 50 percent of gamers are leaving their systems turned on 24/7, they're using enough electricity to power the city of San Diego for a year. So turn that console off when you're done playing, or enable the automatic turn-off feature built into the Xbox and PlayStation.

Models that record home videos in standard-definition resolutions are relatively inexpensive but not all deliver great quality.

If you have a high-definition TV, is it time to buy a high-def camcorder, too? Our expert advice will help you weigh the pros and cons of jumping to HD home videos.

For those who remember the early, shoulder-crushing video cameras, today's small, sleek, digital camcorders are a welcome advance. The number of analog camcorder models has dwindled and digital camcorders account for the vast majority of new models and purchases. When buying a digital camcorder, you should decide which storage format suits you best.

You can expect most digital camcorders to deliver good to very good video, as their Ratings scores demonstrate. Although there are fewer MiniDV camcorders available in the marketplace than in the past, they still win on price, making them the type that most people should consider first.

For convenience, digital camcorders that record directly onto small DVD discs are for people who want ease of playback above all else. For those who want longer recording times, consider hard-drive models. And for versatility of recording formats, look for a combination-format camcorder, such as a camcorder that allows you to store video on both a hard-drive and a memory card. However, hard-drive and combination-format models can be pricier than MiniDV or DVD models.

Most camcorders weigh about a pound, give or take a few ounces. As camcorders get smaller and lighter, image-stabilization features become more important. A lightweight camcorder is harder to hold steady than a heavy one. Fortunately, most did an excellent job of minimizing the shakes.The Ratings rank models strictly on performance. Recommended models considers other factors such as features, reliability, and value.

The moment you decide to buy a camcorder, you're inundated with a dizzying array of jargon: HDD, HD, AVCHD, SDHC, HDV. You'll come across camcorders that cost as little as $100 and those that cost thousands. And the sales staff could even confuse you more. Use our guide will help find the right camcorder for your needs.