Great picture and sound quality, plus relatively low prices, made the digital video disc one of the most successful consumer-electronics formats ever. But while DVDs remain the clearest, sharpest medium for viewing recorded movies and programs on regular TVs, they can't yet deliver high-definition (HD) picture quality.

That's set to change this year, as manufacturers introduce DVD formats that can take advantage of HDTV's potential. Expect to see high prices for these first HD players (HD recorders may be longer in coming), as well as a limited selection of recorded movies and other titles.

If you're shopping for digital video gear now, zero in on the type of machine that meets your needs and budget. Decide, for instance, whether you just want to play DVDs, or play them and record onto them or to a hard drive. Here are some options:

• Players. People who simply want an inexpensive machine for watching DVDs can find single-disc players starting at $25. Larger and more expensive are DVD changers ($100 to $400), which also permit playing multiple CDs. People who want a DVD player and a VCR — but have room for only one machine — can get a combo unit for $90 to $140.

• Recorders. If you want to play and record, there are two choices. Assuming you're satisfied with VCR-like functionality on a digital platform, first consider a DVD recorder. At $100 to $300, it's the least expensive way to record on DVDs — and the easiest way to copy digital camcorder movies onto DVD. However, if you record often — and mainly TV fare — you might consider a digital video recorder. DVRs cost $100 to $1,000 and can record 40 to 100 hours of TV programs on their built-in hard drives. Some also have an onscreen program guide that makes recording a snap.

Then again, you might be better off renting a DVR through your cable provider or satellite company. For about $5 to $10 a month, a rented set-top box with an integrated DVR spares you from buying recording hardware that might become obsolete when TV broadcasters make the switch from analog to digital, now slated for early 2009. Another reason to rent: Cable and satellite services offer DVRs that can record in high definition. The few stand-alone DVR models that record HD are expensive, in the range of $700 to $1,000.

If you're going to buy a DVR, think about a unit incorporating a DVD recorder, so you can archive. Three models stood out from Consumer Reports' previous tests. Two Pioneer units — the DVR-633H-S ($420) and the DVR-533H-S ($400) — provide the best images from the widest range of recorded DVDs and have a TV Guide On Screen program guide. The Humax DRT-400 ($375) has the more advanced TiVo guide.

For basic TV recording onto a DVD, Consumer Reports likes the Panasonic DMR-E65S ($190) and the Sony RDR-GX300 ($280). The Panasonic is the lone DVD-only model tested that has TV Guide On Screen. It also has a slot for the SD memory cards used by many digital cameras. While the Panasonic controls a cable box only, the Sony can control a cable box or a satellite receiver.

While you can use any DVD player with your HDTV, Consumer Reports' tests identified two — the Panasonic DVD-S77 ($220) and the Denon DVD-1920 ($300) — that are significantly better at "smoothing" progressive-scan images on an HDTV set.

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