The LVW-5005's most appealing attribute is the simplicity that runs through every aspect of its setup and operation. The manual is nearly identical to the GoVideo's, as are the front and back panels and menu-based control system. As a result, it took just 66 minutes to unpack and install the unit, and record an hour-long show.

Recording at the higher two of the player's quality settings yielded very good images on our 36-inch CRT-based standard TV. The two high-capacity/low-resolution modes were considerably less impressive, with 6-hour picture quality far worse than that of a 6-hour VHS recording. The timer-based recording system is easy to program, and can save up to five events from any of the external sources or the internal tuner. The absence of an infrared repeater or VCR Plus means that if one of those sources is a cable box, it'll have to be turned on and set to the right channel for the recording to work. In all, this is a good, basic recorder, and a good value.