The Toshiba is definitely both a recorder and a player, as they advertise it will upconvert standard DVDs, so it must be able to play those DVDs. That's one point where I haven't been too confused, I'm pretty sure most if not all of them play and record. Apparently not all DVRs will record all TV broadcasts though. And I have standard cable, but most listings for DVRs seem to be for people with antennas.

The Toshiba and a Panasonic model both keep coming up on lists of DVRs with decent customer reviews (although the reviews are all either really positive or really negative, the other brands are universally negative.) And they both come with and without the VCR. Right now it's looking like I'll get one or the other brand. The other possibility right now is to keep using the old VCR until FiOS comes to my area in a couple months, and then see what the costs are for Verizon and their DVR.