Rating: 
Summary: useful
Review: I have this gadget hooked to my satellite receiver. It is not able to change channels so I have to preset the channel I want it to record but for me, that is no problem. I have been using it to mostly record movies late at night either to the hard drive or DVD-R discs. Both are quite simply done. I also have been transferring home movies from VHS to disc and this has been very simple to do. It has menu creating and titling capabilities I haven't yet used but overall has been one of my better purchases.
Rating:
Summary: Toshiba sd-h400 vs. Panasonic dmr-e80h
Review: This is a dual review, for the Panasonic DVD-R Recorder DMR-E80H and the Toshiba sd-h400. Hopefully it can help those deciding between the two. I had done the research and was on my way to collect the Panasonic when the video store I had called told me they were just unloading the new Toshibas. It was a hundred plus less than the Panasonic and included TIVO. My fiscal side took over and I figured I'd give it whirl. I have an extended digital cable box and the Sony KP57WV700 57" HDTV that I was going to interface this with, pretty straightforward system. Here is the simple layout of what I wanted to do: 1. cable in to digital cable box, out via component cables [red, green, blue] to HDTV [this produces the best signal and HD channel output on the TV]. 2. cable in to Toshiba/Panasonic for recording basic cable Ch. 1-98. 3. Video [composite?] out from digital cable box to Toshiba/Panasonic to record HDTV or whatever channel is on, on the digital cable box. First off neither the Toshiba or Panasonic boxes has component in, so they couldn't receive the best signal from the component out on the digital cable box. The Toshiba touts and comes with Tivo basic, which gets you 3 days advance programming via their guide, chasing playback, etc. This was the first experience I had had with a Tivo product. The setup for the Toshiba took a long time [multiple phone calls and data manipulation], and compounding things it was required that a phone line be utilised for the connection. A bad thing if you don't have a jack around, so I had to string one across hallways in ungainly fashion. Not good. I should say, you can buy a wireless USB adapter if you want, or a USB Ethernet connector to get your updates if you want. Second hit against the Toshiba/Tivo, and this is what bothered me the most: they do not allow recording / timer recording from a second video input source unless you upgrade to the Tivo Plus service. This bit of info is nestled in the middle of the manual during extended setup. So for my set up which had cable signal in via RF and composite video in from the digital cable box, it meant I couldn't record as line in from the digital cable box. Finally, the recording quality of the Toshiba ranged between three levels, taking their appropriate chunk of the HD. The Panasonic offered more flexibility here with more levels and their times. Tivo also is constantly writing to the HD to maintain their 'manipulate live tv' functionality. The DVD playback output between the two was comparable, you can choose between progressive and interlaced if you have a TV that supports it. So I took the Toshiba back and got the Panasonic which I should have done I the first place. It has a much more professional finish, there are no fourth grader designed graphics/buttons on it like the Tivo. The Panasonic allowed me to hook up three more video inputs and record against them and do timer recordings on them. Bingo. The picture quality is very close to source using the second to top recording mode which gets you 36 hours of record time, 104 for EP, 74 for the next, and 18 for the top of the line. The Panasonic also has the time slip functions that let you watch a prior recorded item from the HD if you're currently recording, and it lets you watch the beginning of a recorded item *while* it's recording. Nice if you show up for the program 10 mins. late. It also records to DVD-RAM and DVD-R if you want to dub your VHS tapes or something you watch on broadcast TV, but that's a secondary feature to me so I didn't get too into it. And so, for my setup, the Panasonic was the superior choice I should have exercised the first go around. Be alert to the limitations of the Toshiba if interested in it. I'm definitely enjoying the functions and features of the new Panasonic and can recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: great recorder; correction to specs
Review: This is a great recorder, the HD space of a Tivo (but no channel guide, bummer), together with the DVD-R/RAM disk read/write capability of the panasonic recorders- a perfect match. Correction for the posted specs:
the E80H model (w/ hard drive) does NOT have a digital Firewire input, and does NOT have coax digital audio out (optical only.)
The E60S (no hard drive) and the older HS2 model (smaller harddrive, more $$) have firewire input. This player does play MP3s, and will actually also play DVD-Audio disks (but I think only in stereo , not 6channel sound.)
Rating: 
Summary: Great Machine!
Review: Great piece of technology for an industry still groping for standards. Hard drive allows you to perform acrobatics with the DVD recorder. One of my favorite features - the commercial zapper. Improvements needed: the remote needs to be able to "learn" new functions. Big pain to transfer all of this machines functions onto another remote. Also, the machine does not control the cable box (more the cable company's fault). You need to program the cable box yourself to switch channels when you are away.
Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: As soon as I install it, I will let you know. I'm all excited, since a friend of mine has one and told me its awesome. Daniel Moser
Rating: 
Summary: D-VHS beats DVD recorders and PVR's hands down!
Review: Don't be fooled people. The industry is making a killing with DVD and there is no end in sight. Chances are if you've visited your local electronics retailer they haven't even mentioned to you that D-VHS is here. Don't sigh yet. D-VHS is not your tired old VCR. It records better and longer than DVD and it'll fit the equivalent of 10 DVD's on one tape so it saves a lot of space.
I have this DVD recorder (so I can make stuff that grandma can enjoy) and while it's nice to pause live TV it is no match for D-VHS picture quality!
Rating:
Summary: The DMR E80H is a good DVD Recorder
Review: Panasonic DMR E80H Let me start by saying that I am not a very technical person. I'm just an average user of electronic products. Therefore, please look at this review in that light. I wanted the DMR E80H for several reasons: First, I wanted to be able to transfer my home 8MM and Hi 8 videos to a DVDs while doing some editing. Second, I wanted to transfer some commercial VHS tapes to DVD. Third, I wanted to be able to record some movies and televisions shows and in some very few instances, transfer them to a DVD. The DMR E80H does a good job with each of these objectives. In my opinion, the manual, although very comprehensive, is not very clear in a number of areas. For instance, the manual and other Panasonic documents, indicates that the DMR E80H is multi-regional. Well, what does that mean? I thought that it meant that I could play a DVD from any region of the world (say Europe or Japan). What I thought is somewhat true from what I could read about the subject but not exactly. My point is that I also thought the manual would help me understand but the manual helps little in this area. There are other examples where the manual did not help nor did the Customer Care Center. See below. The unit performs fairly well with my first objective. Panasonic told me ahead of time that I would not be able to do a lot of editing when I transfer my home video tapes. I was told I would be able to create a program and then I would be able to edit my program into a play list. The creation of the play list is fairly straightforward. However, it did take some experimentation to get it right (again, the manual is not very clear). I thought I would be able to put titles on each scene of the Play List but haven't found I can do that. The most disappointing thing about the Play List function is the fact that when you go to dub onto a DVD Disc from the Hard Drive, if you opt to do that using a Play List, you cannot use the speed-dubbing feature. You must dub in real time. I asked Panasonic several times why this is so and they could not give me a satisfactory answer. I found out why trough experimentation. When you create a Play List you do not really change the program. So, let's say you have a program that you divide into 5 scenes, you delete scenes 2 and 4, and then you want to write a DVD. If you choose to dub the Program you will dub all 5 scenes because you have not really erased the 2 scenes from the Program. You have erased the 2 scenes only from the Play List. If you chose to dub the Play List, you will only transfer the 3 scenes that remain in the Play List to the DVD but you must do the dubbing in real time. This fact is a major limitation to my objectives. Panasonic told me I could not dub in background music when I dub from the Hard Drive to a DVD. I found that I could accomplish the same thing by replacing one of the audio feeds from the camera with an audio feed from a CD player. This also works very nicely when I use an audio feed from a CD player while I am coping still pictures from my Digital Camera. My second objective is really impaired because Panasonic chose to use technology to prevent the coping of tapes that are copy-protected by the manufacturer. The manual says, "This unit incorporates copyright protection technology for recording equipment known as CPRM". WHY? I thought that a Supreme Court ruling said that I had the right to make back-up copies and that I had the right to record from broadcasts that play through my TV. This feature Panasonic chose to include may help manufacturers of DVDs but is a major limitation for me. After all, I don't want to make copies so that I can sell them! Those who do would not like the speed of copying anyway and I'm sure they have ways of beating the system. This copy protection feature also limits my third objective but I can still make use of it for the most part. This feature is really excellent. No longer need I hunt for a tape when I want to record something. Considering everything, I think the DMR E80H is well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Does the 80GB Hard Disk for DMR-E80H be upgradable.
Review: Can we upgrade the 80GB Hard Disk later. I want to know if anyone has thought about that.
Rating: 
Summary: Panasonic quality control
Review: Conceptually, the unit is 5 stars. As shipped, everything worked fine except the DVD part would not recognize the DVD RAM disc that came with the unit. Messages on the screen were "cannot read disc" and "incompatible disc". I attempted to format the disc, but this was not possible because of the "incompatible disc" message. The Unit had the same response to a RAM disc purchased separately and to a prerecorded DVD. I tried the Panasonic "customer sevice hot line which had no useful advice other than the name of a local panasonic certified repair shop. I am very dissatisfied with such lax quality control by the manufacturer. Perhaps if it can be repaired, I will be slightly less dissatisfied, but not much. One lesson learned: If I had spent the extra money to buy from a local retailer rather than on the web, I would be able to take the unit back to the store and get a replacement. I don't know if all web retailers have the same policy, but the invoice from ABE's Of Maine basically says their standard policy is they won't take back a defective unit and it's up to me to get it repaired. I later foundd that Abe's was willing to exchange the unit, although I had to pay for shipping to them.
The second unit shipped worked and I am still experimenting with its features. So far I am not impressed with the logic of the controls or options available. For instance, if you are interupted when watching a recorded DVD you must remember to push the "remember position" button before you turn the unit off. If you don't you will start at the beginning of the DVD when you turn it back on again later.
I recorded some old 8mm tapes on an DVD-R disc and found that after I finalized it the disc may have been subdivided into chapters as the manual said it would. However, those chapters are inaccessible from any button I've been able to find. So far the only way I have found to get to a particular part of a disc is to use the high speed playback button. There is no "go to" button. Seems pretty clunky to me. "Playlists" can be created and edited on DVD-RAM and I think you can access particular scenes via the play lists, but I'm still experimenting with that.
You can't dub from a finalized DVD-R to the HDD. If you try to erase a segment via the "erase" button it erases the entire program. If you try to erase another way by shortening a segment, you hit the buttons and it takes you back to the beginning of the DVD rather than starting from the point you paused play. Actually, I can't believe the editing functions are as bad as they seem and hope that as I become more familiar with the device it will be easier to use.
Rating:
Summary: q/correction: no Firewire input, coaxial output; MP3?
Review: Correction to posted specs:
According to other sites and Panasonic's own site/specs, this model does NOT have Firewire/1394 input (like the DMR-E60 or the old DMR-HS2.
Also, it only has digital optical audio out, not coaxial audio. Can someone confirm it plays MP3's OK, not just audio CDs? Pana's website doesn't mention MP3 format...
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