I recorded my complete video tape collection onto DVD's, but being a complete novice, I did not finalize them.
I used a Sony recorder. The discs replayed on this machine OK, but will not play on either my PC, or on any other DVD player.
(The recorder had a cooling fan fault and was returned for a refund) I do n9ot have a recorder now.
I have a Matsui dvd recorder and I find the instruction book is very uninformative. It does not explain what finalizing is and when to do it and what type of discs you can do it to.
I have now found out from a tv wizard I know. I now know that you fill the disc ,then finalise a non erazable only.
the disavantage of dvd over vcr is you cannot erase one recording or part of as you can with tape